MLB Player News

Loup (elbow) is starting over in his recovery from a flexor strain, and he will start the season on the DL, John Lott of VICE Sports reports.

He had started to throw, then felt mild pain in his elbow and had a cortisone shot Tuesday, and now says the elbow feels fine. It was apparently some sore of impingement, but now that he is feeling better he will begin a throwing program Saturday. There is no timetable for his return, but late April seems like the most likely scenario at this point.

Burdi (forearm) will start his throwing program off flat ground Friday, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

He was shut down two weeks ago with right forearm tightness, but it is good to see he is already getting back to throwing. Burdi will begin the season on the disabled list at Double-A, but was not expected to contribute in the majors early in the season anyway. If his rehab and throwing program go as planned, he could join the Twins' bullpen sometime in the second half.

Burdi (forearm) will start the season on Double-A Chattanooga's disabled list, La Velle Neal of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

The Twins' top pitching prospect was reassigned to minor league camp earlier on in spring training, and now it has been announced that Burdi is dealing with tightness in his forearm. The hope is that Burdi will be able to get back on the mound in two weeks once the soreness subsides.

Smith (forearm) has been cleared medically to pick up a baseball and begin a throwing program, the Providence Journal reports. He's been sidelined with a strain in his right flexor mass.

Manager John Farrell said Smith has responded favorably to treatment and the recovery timelines have been on the short end. Three-to-five days for the swelling to go down, it was three days. Ten-to-fourteen days shutdown period before initiating a throwing program, it's been 10 days. It's all positive for Smith, but there's still no timetable for his return. Players with his type of injury have taken as little as a month or more than two months to come back.

Kelly has been named the Red Sox's third starter, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Kelly had been tentatively penciled in as the fourth starter, but will move ahead of Rick Porcello in the pecking order after a spring in which he posted a 2.63 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 24 innings. As long as manager John Ferrell sticks to this plan, Kelly will make his 2016 debut April 7 against Cleveland.

Farmer will move to the bullpen with Shane Greene winning the No. 5 starter role, MLive's Chris Iott reports.

Farmer is likely to make the bullpen, but he's in competition with Logan Kensing and Kyle Ryan for the final spot. The Detroit rotation and bullpen may be in flux early in the season with several injured pitchers.

Barnes has won a spot in Boston's bullpen, the Boston Herald reports.

Manager John Farrell made the announcement Wednesday, but anyone that's been watching spring training knew Barnes was going to make the team, particularly with injuries on the staff. The right-hander allowed one run while striking out 13 in 12.1 innings. He might have made the roster even if there weren't injuries to Eduardo Rodriguez (knee) and Carson Smith (forearm). Barnes will pick up some set up work, but also has multi-inning capability.

Betances could become the Yankees' Opening Day closer after a CT scan discovered a chip fracture in Andrew Miller's right wrist, as Jack Curry of YES Network reported.

Miller's full recovery timetable won't be available until he visits a hand specialist, and there's still a chance he is able to return by Opening Day. But wrist fractures rarely heal within a week, and even though Miller's injury is on his non-throwing hand, it's hard to imagine him on the mound on Opening Day. With Aroldis Chapman suspended for the season's first 30 games, Betances looks like he'll be closing in the Bronx to begin the campaign.

Andriese was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Andriese put together a strong spring, but couldn't quite crack the team's bullpen right out of camp. He'll certainly be in the mix as one of the team's first call-ups this season. He made 25 appearances last season for the Rays including eight starts, carrying a 4.11 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP in 65.2 innings.

Harvey (groin) felt better Wednesday, one day after suffering a groin strain, >MASN Sports reports.

A plethora of injuries have derailed Harvey from advancing through the minor leagues, but the most recent injury should be the least severe. There is no timetable on Harvey returning at this point. Once healthy, he is likely to begin the season at High-A.