MLB Player News

Rangers general manager Chris Young said Wednesday that Lorenzen will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

According to Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com, Lorenzen isn't dealing with an actual injury, so it'll be interesting to see how Texas lists him once he's formally placed on the IL ahead of Thursday's season opener versus the Cubs. Because he was a free agent all offseason until he signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with Texas on March 20, Lorenzen simply didn't have enough time to get built up for a starting role due to his late arrival at spring training. Assuming he's able to complete his buildup program while on the shelf, Lorenzen should be ready to return from the IL when first eligible April 9. At that point, Lorenzen could displace Cody Bradford as the Rangers' No. 5 starter.

Scherzer (back) was spotted playing catch Wednesday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer is in the initial stages of his throwing program as he makes his way back from his December surgery to address a herniated disc in his back. Manager Bruce Bochy said earlier this month that the organization is hopeful Scherzer will be ready to make his season debut at some point in June, though a clear target date for the right-hander's return probably won't come into focus until he reaches the point in his rehab where he's facing hitters.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Manoah (shoulder) completed a two-inning, 34-pitch simulated game Wednesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Manoah has two minor-league options remaining, but Schneider noted that the Blue Jays are likely to stash the right-hander on the 15-day injured list rather than sending him to Triple-A Buffalo. Coming off a confounding 2023 season in which his command and control completely betrayed him, Manoah may not be guaranteed a rotation spot once he moves past his right shoulder injury -- an improbable development for a young pitcher who performed as a frontline starter in 2021 and 2022. He'll likely steadily build up his arm at the Blue Jays' spring training facility before joining a minor-league affiliate for a rehab assignment. Once Manoah is deemed to be healthy, his performance on his rehab assignment as well as the state of the Toronto rotation will likely determine what role he fills for the big club.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Gausman (shoulder) will make his season debut either Sunday in Tampa Bay or Monday in Houston, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Gausman looked terrific in his one and only Grapefruit League outing Monday and will be able to avoid the injured list following a bout with shoulder fatigue. Signs had pointed to him making his season debut Monday, and while that could still happen, Sunday is evidently on the table, as well. Bowden Francis would get the ball on whichever of those days Gausman does not start.

Manager John Schneider confirmed Wednesday that Parsons will be part of the Blue Jays' Opening Day bullpen, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Parsons and Nate Pearson appear to have won the final two spots in Toronto's Opening Day bullpen with the team optioning Zach Pop and Yariel Rodriguez to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday and with Jordan Romano (elbow) and Erik Swanson (forearm) set to go on the injured list Thursday. Though he made just one appearance for the big club in 2023 -- his first in the majors since 2019 -- Parsons was able to secure his place in the bullpen to begin the upcoming season after striking out eight batters while posting a 4.22 ERA over 10.2 innings in Grapefruit League play. He'll likely be ticketed for a low-leverage role.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Odorizzi has been reassigned to Triple-A Durham to begin the season, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Odorizzi signed a minor-league deal with the Rays on March 15 and didn't have sufficient time to make a case for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, but the organization isn't closing the door on him filling a starting role with the big club once he's fully stretched out. According to Cash, Odorizzi will make his first start with Durham on Tuesday, and the Rays will go "start-to-start" with him in the minors before deciding if or when he'll be called up. The 34-year-old Odorizzi owns a lifetime 3.99 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 1,253.1 innings in the majors, but his outlook is murky after he missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder.

Canning started five games this spring, posting a 3.78 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB over 16.2 innings.

Canning tossed 91 pitches Sunday against the Dodgers in his final outing of the spring, so he appears ready for nearly a full workload as the regular season approaches. The right-hander gave up four runs over 4.2 frames in that start but also struck out eight batters, and he is coming off a 2023 campaign during which he registered a career-best 9.9 K/9. Canning's fantasy outlook is helped by the fact that the Angels will use a five-man rotation this season following the departure of Shohei Ohtani, and there's some strikeout upside in his arsenal, though he gave up plenty of hard contact last season and has been vulnerable to the long ball throughout his big-league career.

Stroman finished the Grapefruit League slate with a 2.61 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 16:7 K:BB over 20.2 innings across five starts.

Stroman signed a two-year deal with the Yankees in January, and his role with the club took on added importance when Gerrit Cole was diagnosed with an elbow injury that will likely cost him at least the first two months of the season. Though Stroman drew some criticism for turning down an opportunity to take Cole's place as the team's Opening Day starter, his reason for doing so was tied to sticking to his pitching schedule, per Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, and the right-handed hurler remains a critical component of New York's chance at success this season. Stroman certainly appears ready for the beginning of the campaign after finishing spring play with six shutout innings against Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Wentz will make the Tigers' Opening Day roster in a bullpen role, Julie Kreuz of MLB.com reports.

Wentz struggled mightily as a starter last season, but he will stick around in Detroit as a reliever. The lefty was effective in spring training, posting a 2.93 ERA and striking out 15 batters over 15.1 innings. Wentz may not see high-leverage work right out of the gate, though as a southpaw, he has a chance to earn trust quickly if he can retire left-handed hitters on a regular basis.

Faedo will make the Tigers' Opening Day roster in a bullpen role, Julie Kreuz of MLB.com reports.

Faedo pitched well this spring, compiling a 1.35 ERA across 13.1 innings, and it was enough to secure his first Opening Day roster spot in the majors. The one-time first-round pick hasn't found his footing as an MLB starter yet, though he could emerge as an effective reliever if his stuff plays up. However, Faedo likely won't see enough high-leverage work initially to warrant fantasy attention.