MLB Player News

Montero (rotator cuff) allowed the first five men he faced to reach base and finished his outing surrendering four runs on four hits and two walks in just one inning of work Thursday.

Montero needed 39 pitches to complete that frame, as he struggled with his command and control. He likely will get a bit of a mulligan as it was his first start for the Mets since last April, when he began battling shoulder woes. Montero is expected to start the year at Triple-A Las Vegas and be an option for spot starts during the season.

Rusin (finger) will have his start skipped Friday, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

According to Saunders, Rusin is dealing with inflammation on his left (pitching) middle finger and will miss his start Friday. The Rockies have yet to determine who will start in his place Friday against Oakland, but this is a potentially concerning development for Rusin, who is battling for a spot in the rotation.

Pomeranz is competing for a rotation spot this spring, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The Padres will give Pomeranz a chance to secure one of the two available starting jobs, but they are also keeping the door open for a move to the bullpen. Pomeranz has a 4.60 career ERA as a starter, compared to a 2.14 mark as a reliever, and the Padres' bullpen is thin on lefties. Colin Rea, Brandon Maurer, Robbie Erlin, and Brandon Morrow are all in the mix as well.

Barraclough is auditioning for a role in the back end of Miami bullpen and could function as a potential closing option, according to the Miami Herald.

With both incumbent closer A.J. Ramos (calf) and challenger Carter Capps (elbow) missing time in early camp, the team is evaluating option to be next in line if either pitcher were to become unavailable during the season. Barraclough, who came over from the Cardinals in a trade last season, posted a 2.59 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 25 appearances with the Marlins last year but walked 18 batters in 24.1 innings pitched. He's got the velocity that managers look for in a closer, regularly sitting in the 96-98 MPH range with his fastball, and with Manager Don Mattingly looking for a "jump" from the reliever in his second year with the club, Barraclough is a name to file away as the Marlins' roster takes shape.

Stephenson threw two scoreless innings Wednesday in his spring training debut, striking out two while allowing a walk and a hit.

Control remains Stephenson's greatest concern. He threw 19 strikes and 14 balls in his first outing, and went to full counts on three of the four batters he faced in the second inning of work. Still, he's got an outside chance to win an Opening Day roster slot and will be up in the bigs barring an injury at some point.

Hernandez worked a perfect fourth inning in his spring debut Tuesday getting two groundouts and a fly out. "He threw strikes," manager Pete Mackanin told CSN Philadelphia. "I liked what I saw.

Hernandez hit 93 mph with his fastball. He is considered the favorite to open the season as the Phillies' closer. He is competing with Luis Garcia, Ernesto Frieri, Edward Mujica, and Andrew Bailey.

Sims will start Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, MLB.com reports.

He's not a candidate to start the year in the Braves' rotation, but Friday will serve as a sort of audition for a possible in-season promotion to the big club. Sims may pitch in relief during the second turn in the rotation this spring, but will eventually transition to the minor league side. The right-hander turned in a 3.40 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in nine starts after making the jump to Double-A last year despite issuing 29 free passes in 47.2 innings.

Rusin is in the mix for a rotation spot with the Rockies this spring, but he's out of minor league options and would have to be exposed to waivers in order to be sent to Triple-A, the Rockies' official site reports.

The Rockies could opt to keep Rusin in the bullpen if he's unable to secure a job in the rotation this spring, but he pitched well at times when the Rockies were desperate for starting pitching last summer. The overall results (5.33 ERA, 1.60 WHIP) suggest that he's a long shot to earn a rotation spot this spring, however, especially with a slew of younger arms returning to health with the hope of securing prominent roles in Colorado.

Matzek is scheduled to pitch in the Rockies' spring opener Wednesday, the Denver Post reports.

The Rockies are considering Matzek to be part of the competition for a rotation spot this spring, but he may stick as a reliever if he fails to win a starting role. The young lefty took time away from baseball last summer to deal with performance anxiety issues, but he's impressed during bullpen sessions early on this spring.

Montero (rotator cuff) will start the Mets' Grapefruit League opener Thursday against Washington, ESPN New York reports.

Montero's right shoulder, which cut his season short after April 30 last year, is reportedly healthy and he threw 12 innings on Winter Ball. He is slated to open the season in Triple-A but is on the short list of those as options to make spot starts during the year, assuming he is healthy.