MLB Player News

Fulmer allowed four runs on four hits and four walks while striking out one over one-plus innings in Sunday's game against the Padres.

Fulmer was unable to put hitters away with two strikes and struggled for a second straight spring start. He's allowed eight runs (five earned) on nine hits and five walks over 2.0 spring innings, allowing doubt to creep in about his readiness to serve as the White Sox's fifth starter. In looking at others who could wrest the final rotation spot from Fulmer, one only needs to look at the pitcher who replaced him Sunday, Hector Santiago, who struck out four Padres over 3.0 innings.

Green is expected to be used out of the bullpen when the upcoming season begins, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Green made his second Grapefruit League start on Sunday against the Rays. While the Yankees ultimately lost the game, Green played well and threw two shutout innings, over which he struck out four batters and gave up three hits. However, manager Aaron Boone said that the team's preference is for Green to return to the bullpen for the 2018 season. As a result, Jordan Montgomery will be in line to open the season as New York's fifth starter. Green dominated as a reliever last season, logging a 1.61 ERA and 100 strikeouts over 67 relief innings.

Whalen started Saturday's 4-2 Cactus League win over the Angels in place of Felix Hernandez (forearm) and racked up four strikeouts over three innings of one-hit, one-run ball.

The promising 23-year-old now has six whiffs over five spring frames following Saturday's encouraging outing. His one stumble came in the first, when he allowed a one-out solo homer to Martin Maldonado. Following the round tripper, Whalen settled down in impressive fashion, recording all four of his strikeouts over the final seven batters he faced. Greg Johns of MLB.com reports manager Scott Servais was especially pleased with Whalen's offspeed pitches and expressed that he has "no doubt" that the right-hander will help the big-league club at some point in the coming season.

Puk fired three scoreless innings in Saturday's 10-4 Cactus League loss to the Padres, allowing an unearned run on a hit and a walk while recording three strikeouts.

The towering prospect has now fired five scoreless frames across two spring appearances and has racked up four whiffs overall. Puk is in his second spring training with the Athletics after putting in a pair of appearances during last year's exhibition slate, and he's due for a much more extended stay this year. The 22-year-old appears to be on the fast track through the club's minor-league system, having ascended to Double-A Midland by the end of last season and generating an impressive 12.0 K/9 across 64 innings with the RockHounds. Control has been an Achilles' heel for the southpaw thus far, however, as the aforementioned strikeout rate was accompanied by an unsightly 3.52 BB/9. He'll look to continue refining his location with an eye on maintaining his rapid climb toward the majors this coming season.

Graveman (0-2) allowed four earned runs on four hits and two walks over 1.1 innings in Saturday's 10-4 Cactus League loss to the Padres. He did not record a strikeout.

The right-hander took a step back after having allowed an earned run on four hits over two innings in his first start against the White Sox last Monday, allowing RBI singles to Franchy Cordero and Hunter Renfroe in the first before getting charged for two additional runs that came home in the second after he'd exited. Graveman is under consideration for a second consecutive Opening Day start, although the results over his first two spring training appearances are far from a ringing endorsement. According to reports from Jane Lee of MLB.com, the 27-year-old opined after the game that his decision to experiment with not throwing at all on the day before his start likely had an adverse effect on his performance. "I didn't pick up a baseball [Friday]," Graveman said. "I've always thrown the day before to keep that arm slot, that feel. With the off-days this year, I wanted to kind of see how that worked out. The body felt great, but I think for me, personally, being the kind of pitcher that I am, I'm going to need to throw on those off-days if I'm going to start the day after."

Robertson hopes to see spring action soon but is currently dealing with an episode of food poisoning, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Robertson is on track to throw a simulated game Tuesday and should be ready for spring action in the days following that. The recent time on the shelf shouldn't affect his fantasy outlook heading into the 2018 campaign, where he should be a steady source of holds as a late-inning relief option.

Rumbelow hasn't pitched recently due to shoulder discomfort, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Rumbelow was lifted from his Seattle debut due to a cut on his thumb, but that doesn't appear to be the primary reason the bullpen hopeful hasn't pitched since. Consider the right-hander day-to-day for the time being, with each day on the shelf decreasing his chances of earning a major-league roster spot to open the year.

Paredes gave up one run on three hits while striking out one in his lone inning of work Saturday against the Mariners.

It was the first run the 22-year-old has allowed in three appearances this spring, but he has also surrendered five baserunners over that 2.1-inning span. Paredes is in the mix for a middle-relief role despite posting a lackluster 4.43 ERA over 22.1 innings last season due in large part to the Angels' lack of consistent middle-relief options. A low-leverage role in the bullpen combined with a pedestrian strikeout rate for a reliever (6.9 K/9) will keep him off the fantasy radar even if he does win a job out of spring training.

Johnson's fastball hit 95-96 mph on the radar gun during his second spring start Saturday, Nick Friar of the New Bedford Standard Times reports. The left-hander allowed two hits over two scoreless innings against the Yankees.

Johnson, who typically sits in the low-90s, couldn't explain the increased velocity, but speculated he's been focused on getting a good turn and driving with his backside. Whatever the cause, he's been impressive thus far, having thrown four scoreless innings over two starts, and he's making a case for a spot on the 25-man roster. That could be in a bullpen role, or as a temporary fill-in fifth starter while Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) works his way back.

Infante has been slowed by shoulder inflammation this spring, Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Infante, who is expected to throw a bullpen session Sunday or Monday, appeared in 52 games last season and is looking to secure a spot in Chicago's rebuilt bullpen. In order to do that, the right-hander will need to get back on the field and go full tilt.