MLB Player News

Athletics manager Bob Melvin confirmed Tuesday it appears Jesse Chavez and Tommy Milone will be in the opening day rotation. Melvin told reporters he is "very comfortable" with a rotation of Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, Dan Straily, Milone and Chavez.

The A's announced Monday starting pitcher Jarrod Parker is lost for the season due to Tommy John surgery. A.J. Griffin could also miss the first month with an elbow injury, which creates rotation spots for Chavez and Milone.

Angels pitcher Hector Santiago allowed three earned runs on four hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings while striking out five in his team's 8-7 win over the Giants Monday.

Santiago is tied with teammate C.J. Wilson for the spring strikeout lead with 19 after his five punchouts Monday and he has yet to surrender a home run, but he's given out six free passes in 16 1/3 innings while posting a 2.76 ERA. He's about to embark on his first season in Los Angeles after going 8-10 with a 3.41 ERA in 224 2/3 innings with the White Sox over the last three years.

Athletics pitcher Fernando Rodriguez will throw a simulated game Monday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Rodriguez is coming off Tommy John surgery, but the team has been impressed with his progress. He has already thrown a simulated game last week. Rodriguez posted a 5.37 ERA in 70 1/3 innings in 2012. 

The Astros reassigned five players to minor-league camp Sunday, including relievers Jose Cisnero and Chia-Jen Lo. The three other players demoted were Collin McHugh, Rudy Owens and Tyler Heineman.

The Blue Jays have optioned three players to the minors Sunday, according to MLB.com.

Sean Nolin, Kyle Drabek and Chad Jenkins will be sent down. All three players saw limited time in the majors last year, and could be in line for more work depending on how well the Blue Jays' rotation performs. 

Blue Jays left-hander pitcher Sean Nolin has been deemed a possible starter for the team at some point this year, but not if he continues to perform as he did Saturday.

Nolin was mashed by a Tampa Bay team using few starters for five runs and five hits in just 1 1/3 innings before being mercifully removed from the game. He walked three and fanned none.

He gave up six earned runs and got just four outs in major league debut late May against Baltimore and did not return to the Jays.

Lloyd McClendon has revealed that Mariners right-hander Brandon Maurer is experiencing back problems and might remain sidelined for a week, per MLB.com.

Maurer appears to be on the outside looking in at a rotation spot. He has given up five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings this spring. He showed little as a rookie in 2013 with a 5-8 record and 6.30 ERA.

The quest to replace setup man Joe Smith, who bolted for the Angels in free agency, is going quite well for the sizzling Indians, at least in spring training.

Both Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen appear capable of handling the load. The former has pitched five scoreless innings while the latter has surrendereed just one run in three innings.

Shaw and Allen gave indications in 2013 that they could do the job. Shaw compiled a 3.24 ERA, 1.173 WHIP and averaged 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Allen boasted a 2.43 ERA, 1.251 WHIP and 11 strikeouts per nine innings to place sixth in the American League Rookie of the Year balloting.

The two will serve behind new closer John Axford, but it remains to be seen what innings they generally handle. Terry Francona could be leaning toward Allen as his eighth inning guy.

Injuries to Athletics starters Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin that are likely to land both on the disabled list to start the season has probably thrust both right-hander Jesse Chavez and southpaw Tommy Milone into the rotation, the San Francisco Chronicle has speculated.

Chavez has earned consideration. He has been the team's best pitcher this spring. He has won all three decisions and has yet to give up a run in 12 2/3 innings. He has struck out 12.

Milone had been on the outside looking in despite a solid 2013 in which he won 12 of 21 decisions and managed a 4.14 ERA.

Athletics pitcher Fernando Rodriguez has progressed better than expected, according to CSN.

Rodriguez is coming off Tommy John surgery, but was able to toss a simulated game last week. He was initially ticketed to remain in Arizona for extended spring training, but the team has reconsidered after seeing his progress. There's still a possibility Rodriguez remains behind when the team leaves, but there's a chance he won't need it. 

Rodriguez posted a 5.37 ERA in 70 1/3 innings last season.