MLB Player News

Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday starting pitcher Scott Feldman will start the second game of the season on April 8 against the Indians, per the Houston Chronicle. He also added Collin McHugh will also start the third or fourth game.

“Feldman’s lined up to pitch right behind (Dallas) Keuchel, which is good,” Hinch said. “And then somewhere in the third or fourth game you’ll see Collin McHugh. We got to sort out some health (issues) and some competition for the other guys.

"I caution lining it too perfectly too early just because a lot of things can happen, but Keuchel one, Feldman two is a good lineup.”

Rays general manager Matthew Silverman confirmed that Alex Cobb will be shut down for approximately a week because of tendinitis in his right forearm, and is no longer the starter for Tampa Bay on Opening Day, per the Tampa Bay Times.

Cobb left Tuesday's Grapefruit League game with the injury after tossing three perfect innings. He will be evaluated again after at least seven days of rest, and is not expected back in games until April at the earliest per the Tampa Tribune.

Silverman would not reveal his Opening Day plans, citing that he's more focused on putting a staff together, internally and externally. Manager Kevin Cash told reporters that there's a lot of moving pieces in the rotation, but he likes what he's seen out of Nathan Karns, Burch Smith and Matt Andriese this spring, per the Tribune.

Red Sox starting pitcher Joe Kelly, who left his last spring start Monday against the Mets due to biceps tightness, will throw a bullpen session Thursday, manager John Farrell said. The team will then decide if Kelly makes his next spring start Sunday against the Phillies.

Orioles pitcher Ryan Webb will take the mound to face live hitters on Thursday, which is expected to be his final hurdle in his rehab from a left knee injury. If he makes it through without any discomfort, he'll be soon cleared for Grapefruit League cation, according to MASN Sports.

"That will be the last step," Webb said. "I will have had three bullpens and I'm ready to go.

"Everything feels good. It's stronger than a week ago. I'm looking forward to getting out there and seeing how that translates."

The Red Sox are looking at Matt Barnes as a reliever, after using him in a starter's role early in the spring. 

The Sox plan to use Barnes more often, in shorter stints, instead of working to stretch him out, according to WEEI's Rob Bradford. 

“I wanted to take a look at him earlier in the game against more of the ‘A’ type lineups as opposed to the first couple of times out and today was the first exposure to that,” manager John Farrell said after Monday's one-inning outing. “We’re still taking a look at him in shorter stints right now.”

Twins manager Paul Molitor said that pitchers Trevor May and Tommy Milone "threw the ball well" in minor-league action Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

"They both threw the ball well," Molitor said of the two rotation candidates. "Milone gave up a two-run homer in the first on I think a cutter that didn't get in far enough. But they both threw strikes."

Molitor watched the outing from behind the plate rather than at his normal post in the dugout.

"I had a different perspective watching from behind, which I don't normally," Molitor said. "But it gave me a better feel on how their pitches were looking and moving. I thought May did a good job using all of his pitches. His command of his secondary pitches was good, and for him that's something I've been concerned about. And they both did well with the running game and got through it clean for the most part."

May and Milone are competing with Mike Pelfrey and Alex Meyer for the final spot in the team's rotation.

Orioles pitcher Ryan Webb is scheduled to throw one more bullpen, and if he makes it past the session without any reported issues, he'll be cleared for spring games, according to MASN Sports. Webb has not pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 6.

Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton is scheduled to take part in a simulated game on Tuesday, per the Tacoma News Tribune. Paxton, who is working his way back from a forearm injury, is scheduled to log three innings of 45 pitches. Tom Wilhelmsen and Fernando Rodney are also expected to make an appearance in the simulated game.

Paxton vowed that he'll be ready for the start of the regular season, per the Tribune.

Rays manager Kevin Cash was unable to provide an update on the condition of pitcher Alex Colome on Tuesday, according to the Tampa Tribune. Colome was hospitalized with pneumonia on Saturday, and could be in danger of missing the start of the season.

Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters that pitcher Joe Kelly is still scheduled to pitch Sunday, but may have his start pushed back depending on his status, MLB.com.

"The next couple of days will determine where he's going to be in terms of rotation," Farrell said, per WEEI. He's scheduled to start on Sunday. We will get him off the mound prior to the next time he gets into a game. There will probably be a couple of days of some rest, some rehab and maybe some light throwing. If that extends him out the sixth day, that's possible. But we'll know more in the coming days."

Kelly exited Monday's spring start in the middle of the third inning with tightness in his biceps. An MRI was not needed for the right-hander. Farrell added that Kelly's injury improved today but he still has some soreness in biceps. He will play catch on Wednesday and throw off a mound on Thursday, per WEEI.