MLB Player News

Gipson-Long (groin) will throw in a simulated game Tuesday in Lakeland, Fla., Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Gipson-Long has been battling a left groin strain he sustained in the first week of spring training. He was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, and he will participate in his first simulated game Tuesday. Gipson-Long made four starts for the Tigers towards the end of the 2023 season, finishing 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB over 20 innings.

Urquidy (forearm) played catch Friday, marking the first time he's done so since his injury, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Urquidy was removed from a minor-league game March 15 due to a right forearm strain, and he was placed on the team's 15-day injured list March 28. The plan is for Urquidy to play catch again Sunday while the team monitors him.

Gausman will start Sunday's game against the Rays in Tampa Bay, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The Blue Jays were debating whether to start Gausman or Bowden Francis on Sunday. Gausman convinced the team that he is good to go by fanning seven over three-plus innings in a Grapefruit League game Monday, then completing a bullpen session Friday. That means Francis will move back to Monday's series opener in Houston. A bout of shoulder fatigue disrupted Gausman's spring training, but he progressed quickly enough to avoid the injured list to open 2024, and it looks like he will have a full first half to make his case for a third All-Star selection in four years.

Means (forearm) will begin his rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Norfolk.

Means didn't pitch in spring training, so he'll continue ramping up in the minors. He had a flare-up with his surgically repaired left elbow in October, putting him behind in the spring. Means is likely to need just about all of his 30-day rehab window to get up to speed, so his major-league season debut should be expected in mid-to-late April if he avoids setbacks.

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey revealed Saturday that DeSclafani will be out for the season after undergoing flexor tendon surgery on his right elbow, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

The silver lining is that DeSclafani did not undergo Tommy John surgery, but the right-hander will be sidelined for the season. DeSclafani experienced right elbow soreness at the beginning of March, and while he was able to throw some bullpen sessions and a minor-league game, he will ultimately not play in 2024. Louie Varland is now cemented as the Twins' fifth starting pitcher.

Bradish (elbow) is headed to Sarasota on Saturday to continue his throwing rehab program, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Bradish threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Friday after being placed on the team's 15-day injured list Thursday. There's no exact timeline for his return, but Bradish was able to utilize all of his pitches during his throwing session, and GM Mike Elias said previously that he expected Bradish back early in the first half. With the Orioles in 2023, Bradish went 12-7 over 30 starts while recording a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 168:44 K:BB over 168.2 innings.

Civale (1-0) picked up the win Friday over the Blue Jays, allowing one run on four hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out six.

A George Springer solo shot in the third inning accounted for the only damage off Civale. The 28-year-old right-hander tossed 53 of 86 pitches for strikes but only generated five swinging strikes, a reminder that he's never delivered big strikeouts numbers in his career over a prolonged stretch. Civale did post a 58:11 K:BB over 45.1 innings after joining the Rays last season from the Guardians, but that came with a 5.36 ERA thanks to seven homers allowed, and a 1.37 WHIP.

Bassitt (0-1) took the loss Friday against the Rays, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.

Two errors behind him by Bo Bichette did Bassitt no favors, but most of the damage off the veteran right-hander came when he left a cutter over the middle of the plate in the third inning and Brandon Lowe crushed it for a grand slam. Bassitt threw 95 pitches (63 strikes) and generated an impressive 31 called or swinging strikes, but after serving up 28 homers in 200 innings last season -- both career highs -- his ability to keep the ball in the park is worth monitoring in 2024.

Kirby (1-0) earned the win in Friday's 1-0 victory over the Red Sox, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out eight over 6.2 scoreless innings.

Kirby settled in after issuing a pair of walks in the first inning, allowing just two baserunners over his final 5.2 frames en route to a 1-0 victory. The 26-year-old right-hander went 13-10 last year with a 3.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and a stellar 172:19 K:BB across 31 starts. Kirby's next start is expected to come Tuesday in the Mariners' home matchup with the Guardians.

Stripling (0-1) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks over five innings Friday, striking out six in a 6-4 loss to Cleveland.

Stripling struggled right out of the gate by yielding three runs in the first inning, including a two-run shot from Jose Ramirez. Stripling managed to turn in a few scoreless frames before Cleveland pushed two more runs across in the fifth. His velocity was down a bit, with his fastball averaging just under 91.0 mph after he averaged 92.0 mph with the Giants last season. The veteran righty is currently in line to face the Red Sox at home next week.