MLB Player News

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said DeSclafani will open the season on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

According to Helfand, Falvey adds that DeSclafani will have his injury assessed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, after which the Twins should have a better idea on a treatment plan for the right-hander. DeSclafani had entered spring training as a frontrunner for a back-end spot in the Minnesota rotation, but he didn't make any Cactus League appearances while the Twins eased him back after his 2023 campaign was cut short by a right elbow flexor strain. DeSclafani was able to cover 1.2 innings in a minor-league spring training game over the weekend, but his forearm apparently didn't respond well. Though DeSclafani will be eligible to return from the IL around the middle of April, given the nature of his injury and his history of arm trouble, it wouldn't be surprising if he required a long-term absence, regardless of whether or not Meister recommends surgery. Louie Varland now looks to be the leading candidate to open the season as Minnesota's No. 5 starter.

Lynch has allowed four runs on nine hits and five walks with nine strikeouts over 13 innings across five Cactus League appearances (three starts).

Lynch's role is still to be determined, but he's stretched out enough to at least be a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. Alec Marsh, who is also in the rotation competition, has started just one of his five appearances, though he has covered 14 innings. Both Lynch and Marsh are pushing for the No. 5 starter spot, which could be available after Jordan Lyles has been slowed by back pain in spring training. Roster decisions are likely to come over the next week or so as manager Matt Quatraro trims down the spring roster ahead of Opening Day.

Bieber has allowed three runs on five hits and six walks while striking out 12 over 11.1 innings across three Cactus League starts.

Bieber racked up eight of those strikeouts over 5.2 innings Sunday versus the Reds. After dealing with elbow inflammation in 2023, the right-hander had no restrictions entering spring training and has delivered strong results. Nothing's set in stone yet, but it's likely Bieber will make one more spring start and figures to be in contention for the Opening Day start March 28 versus the Athletics.

Berrios gave up four runs, but only one earned, on six hits over 4.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The right-hander's own error led to a three-run second inning for Philly, but Berrios shook it off and stuck around long enough to build up to 78 pitches (53 strikes). He's allowed only two earned runs in 13 innings this spring with a 9:2 K:BB, and the 29-year-old could get the Opening Day start for the Blue Jays with Kevin Gausman (shoulder) looking at a delayed start to his season.

Manager Scott Servais said Monday that Castillo will start the Mariners' March 28 season opener versus the Red Sox at T-Mobile Park, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

The Mariners have better choices than most teams to take the ball Opening Day, but Castillo always loomed as the obvious option. The 31-year-old right-hander posted a 3.34 ERA and 219:56 K:BB over 197 innings covering 33 starts for Seattle in 2023.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that Verlander (shoulder) will face hitters "in the next day or two," Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The veteran right-hander threw another bullpen session Sunday and is poised for his first live batting practice session since he developed a shoulder issue. Verlander is expected to need multiple live BP sessions before being cleared to pitch in games, and it's not clear whether that will happen before the Grapefruit League schedule runs out. The Astros haven't divulged a timetable for Verlander's season debut, but he would seem to be tracking toward a return in late April or early May.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that Urquidy has been diagnosed with a forearm muscle strain and won't be available for the start of the regular season, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Urquidy has been shut down from throwing for at least the next few days after he suffered the forearm strain during his most recent spring training outing Saturday. Despite turning in an ugly 5.29 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 63 innings in the majors in 2023, Urquidy was in position to break camp as a member of the Astros' Opening Day rotation before sustaining the arm injury. With Urquidy, Justin Verlander (shoulder), Lance McCullers (forearm) and Luis Garcia (elbow) all set to open the season on the shelf, Houston should have back-end rotation spots available for both J.P. France and Ronel Blanco for much of April, if not longer. Unless Urquidy is able to resume his throwing progression before the end of spring training, he'll most likely spend more than the minimum 15 days on the injured list.

Nastrini allowed three hits and two walks while striking out two across four scoreless innings in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Athletics.

Nastrini has moved into the rotation picture due to a combination of his strong performances this spring and Dylan Cease being dealt away. He's yet to make his big-league debut but did close the 2023 campaign at Triple-A Charlotte, where he managed a 23:10 K:BB across 19.2 innings. Nastrini has continued to turn heads in the exhibition season, maintaining a 0.82 ERA and 0.82 WHIP with an 11:4 K:BB across 11 frames.

Javier will start the second game of the regular season against the Yankees, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Justin Verlander (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list, forcing each of Houston's pitchers to move one slot up in the rotation. That leaves Framber Valdez in line to start Opening Day with Javier to follow one game later. Javier will be looking to bounce back from a subpar 2023 campaign during which he posted a 4.56 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 162 innings.

Lyles (back) allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out one over three innings in a Cactus League game Saturday versus the Cubs. He did not walk a batter.

Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports Lyles was able to get to about 50 pitches with a bullpen session following the start. Lyles dealt with lower-back tightness earlier in March, which has slowed his ramp-up for the 2024 season. Rogers adds that Lyles should be built up enough to start at the beginning of the season, but there's no guarantee just yet that the right-hander will open the year in the rotation. Both Daniel Lynch and Alec Marsh have been solid in spring games, with Marsh showing the most upside with a four-inning piggyback appearance after Lyles' start Saturday.