MLB Player News

Mengden's prospects for a starting rotation spot have seen a recent boost due to both the season-ending injury to Jharel Cotton (elbow) and his most recent start Friday against the Indians, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Six days prior to his Friday outing, Mengden was touched up for six earned runs over four innings against the Rangers, a performance that naturally did nothing to help his cause in his bid for a starting job. However, the confluence of Cotton's unfortunate season-ending injury and Mengden's strong effort against a solid Indians lineup has subsequently brightened his outlook. The right-hander allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks over 5.2 innings in Friday's win, which serves as the longest outing by an Athletics pitcher this spring. "I was getting ahead, changeup-fastball combo was good," Mengden said. "I feel like everything is coming together."

Johnson allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two over four scoreless innings in Sunday's start against the Pirates.

Johnson hasn't allowed a run in three of his four Grapefruit League starts, making manager Alex Cora more comfortable with the idea of Johnson as a temporary member of the rotation that opens the regular season. The left-hander, who was going to be used as a reliever, is starting while the Red Sox evaluate the progress of injured starters Steven Wright (knee), Drew Pomeranz (forearm) and Eduardo Rodriguez (knee). All three could open the season on the disabled list, which would grant Johnson at least one start. In an era when everyone's throwing hard, Johnson goes the other way. He works in the low-90s and needs to change speeds and mix his pitches to be effective. When the rotation is back at full strength, Johnson will move to the bullpen.

Fulmer will start against the Diamondbacks on Monday, Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Fulmer entered spring training with an inside track for the No. 5 starter role, but he has blown up this spring. Manager Rick Renteria gave him a vote of confidence last week after a particularly atrocious outing that left the young pitcher's Cactus League ERA at 18.90. "We're going to allow Fulmer to be who he is and see if he can have what everybody hopes to be a positive outing," Renteria said. "We believe we have a guy who has the capability of pitching in the big leagues successfully." The manager intends to evaluate the 24-year-old right-hander over two more spring starts, although it seems clear to many that Fulmer isn't ready. If the organization decides he needs more grooming at Triple-A Charlotte, Hector Santiago, who has allowed one run in 10 Cactus League innings, is expected to fill out the rotation.

Chavez had retired 18 consecutive batters before he allowed three runs in Saturday's appearance against the Royals.

Chavez retired all nine batters faced March 12 then was perfect through three innings Saturday before the Royals got to him in his fourth inning of work. The Rangers are giving him a good, long look this spring, using him as a long reliever and starter. It's a split role they envision for him in the regular season. If manager Jeff Banister follows through on his plan to use a sixth starter at times, Chavez will be considered for that role.

McHugh will most likely pitch out of the bullpen after manager A.J. Hinch set his starting rotation for the regular season, Glenn Sattell of MLB.com reports.

Once the Astros acquired Gerrit Cole from the Pirates, moving McHugh to the pen became the likely domino to fall out of the rotation. Hinch said the rotation will be Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Lance McCullers, Cole and Charlie Morton. "We want to continue to lengthen him out," Hinch said. "He's going to pitch a little more regularly as if we're planning for the bullpen." McHugh made a couple of spring starts but was used twice in the span of four days out of the pen this past week. He'll be the first in line for a spot start but could also be used in a trade should Houston want an upgrade elsewhere on the roster or a more seasoned relief arm.

Reed was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic Minnesota reports.

Although Reed allowed just one run over six innings this spring, he struggled keeping the opposition off base, as he gave up seven hits and walked four batters in that time. He'll likely be used from the bullpen at Triple-A Rochester this season, where he threw to the tune of a 2.05 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 22 games (30.2 innings) last year.

Armstrong was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday.

Once the season gets underway, Armstrong will likely report to Triple-A Tacoma. The 27-year-old threw 8.1 innings over six games this spring, during which he gave up one run on five hits and three walks.

The Rays reassigned Kolarek to their minor-league camp Sunday.

Kolarek reached the big leagues in 2017 and appeared in 12 games for the Rays, logging a 6.48 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 8.1 innings. Things went better this spring for the lefty, who tossed four scoreless frames, but Tampa Bay didn't have a need for an extra southpaw in the bullpen with Jose Alvarado and Dan Jennings in the fold.

The Rays optioned Stanek to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

Stanek's blazing fastball makes him more intriguing than the average reliever, but his lack of a quality second pitch hindered his success over 21 appearances in the majors last season. The 26-year-old finished with a 5.85 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in 20 innings, with much of the damage coming on the six home runs he allowed. He'll need to display more consistent success with his off-speed stuff at Durham before earning another look with the Rays.

The Rays optioned Banda to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

With manager Kevin Cash announcing earlier this spring that he intended to use a four-man rotation this season, Banda's odds of cracking the Opening Day roster took a significant hit. Injuries could eventually create openings in the rotation later this season, but Banda may not be first in line for an appointment with an experienced starter in Matt Andriese still kicking around in the bullpen.