MLB Player News

Mariners pitcher Brandon Maurer is back on a normal schedule, according to MLB.com.

Maurer's back issue has cleared up, and he's ready to go. He had a positive bullpen session Thursday, which led to him being cleared. Maurer will compete for a spot at the back of the club's rotation. 

He posted a 6.30 ERA in 90 innings last season.

Mariners closer Danny Farquhar made his spring debut Thursday, as he finished off a 7-1 win over the Padres. He pitched a single inning, retiring each hitter he faced in order, with one strikeout.

Farquhar took on the team's closer role last season, finishing with 16 saves in 20 opportunities as well as a 4.20 ERA in 55 2/3 innings. 

Red Sox pitcher Rubby De La Rosa worked as a reliever in his 11 appearances with the team last year, but will work throughout the spring as a starter. He made his first appearances Thursday against Boston College, tossing a pair of scoreless innings, with just one hit and two strikeouts in a 5-2 win.

De La Rosa is likely to return to the minors after spring training, where he posted a 4.26 ERA in 20 starts for Triple-A Pawtucket last season. 

The Blue Jays enter spring training with a spot open in their rotation, and a pair of contenders received their first cracks at the job in Thursday's game against the Phillies.

Esmil Rogers, who posted a 4.77 ERA in 137 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays last year, got the first turn. Unfortunately, he struggled, as he was tagged for two earned runs in one inning of work. He allowed one hit, a two-run home run following a walk, while adding one strikeout.

Rogers was followed out of the bullpen by Dustin McGowan, who appeared in 25 games a year ago, all as a reliever. He tossed one scoreless inning, retiring all three batters faced in order.

According to the Toronto Star, neither Rogers nor McGowan is considered a frontrunner for the final rotation spot, though both could wind up in the bullpen. 

Mariners right-hander Brandon Maurer, who is battling for a rotation spot, is slated to throw off flat ground on Wednesday, per MLB.com. Back tightness pushed him back and forced him to miss a bullpen session on Sunday.

Athletics pitcher Fernando Rodriguez faced batters Tuesday for the first time since last March as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, MLB.com reports.

"Not what I expected it to be, I guess, because I had such an adrenaline rush, so the ball was flying out of my hand," Rodriguez said. "It's kind of exciting. It's something I've been waiting for a while. I couldn't have asked for a better day for it being the first time throwing off the mound to hitters."

Rodriguez threw 20 pitches and impressed with improved mechanics in the batting-practice session. He'll progress to simulated games by the end of spring but is still uncertain to see any action in Cactus League games.

Indians pitcher Bryan Shaw is not scheduled to appear in the team's first three Cactus League games but will throw batting practice Wednesday and pitch in a bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports.

"[Cody Allen and Shaw] threw a lot last year," manager Terry Francona said, "and they will throw a lot again this year. We'd like to start them maybe a week later than the other guys. And it also gives us a chance to look at everybody else."

Shaw isn't dealing with an injury, and the team is just trying to manage his workload in the earlygoing. He made 70 appearances in 2013, going 7-3 with a 3.24 ERA and 73:28 K:BB ratio in 75 innings.

Astros pitcher Lucas Harrell will start with the club Friday, according to MLB.com.

Harrell will get the nod for the team's first game of the spring. He'll be following up by Matt Albers, Peter Moylan and Josh Fields. Both Fields and Albers are thought to be in contention for the closer role.

Harrell posted a 5.86 ERA in 153 2/3 innings last season.

It appears the work Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore put in during the offseason to improve his conditioning and add velocity to his fastball is paying off. Moore was pleased with how his first live bullpen session went Sunday, per The Tampa Tribune.

"Thinking back to where I was last year on the mound in that first live batting practice, I was a lot more encouraged walking off the hill (Sunday)," Moore said. "With the hitters' feedback, where the ball was winding up and where my effort level was, I think those things are all ahead of where we were this time 12 months ago."

Manager Joe Maddon was also happy with what he saw from the left-hander.

"Definitely a lot of hop on the ball," Maddon said. "I'd say for the first day I saw him pitch to live hitters, his velocity looked pretty impressive. I don't know exactly what it was, but there was a lot of jump on the ball and some pretty good break."

Mariners pitcher Brandon Maurer was unable to toss a bullpen session Sunday, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.

Maurer is dealing with tightness in his back, and was expected to throw Sunday. He said his back felt better, but wasn't good enough to start throwing. He'll be re-evaluated Monday.