MLB Player News

Cole said Saturday that he is dealing with nerve inflammation in his right elbow and won't throw for three-to-four weeks, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

A lengthy rest period was expected for Cole, although there is still plenty of room for him to appear later this season after it was determined his elbow won't require surgery. Cole remains without a firm timeline for his return to the Yankees' rotation, but a clearer picture may emerge after the end of his no-throw period.

Porter allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over one scoreless inning in Thursday's Spring Breakout game against the Reds.

Porter got the start for the Rangers' prospects and worked around a walk and single. The first batter he faced grounded out, but the comebacker hit Porter in the hamstring, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Following a brief injury timeout, the right-hander walked the next batter on four pitches. "I was fine, with the adrenaline and I didn't feel it, but the trainer just had to come out and make sure I was alright," Porter said. The 2022 fourth-round pick posted a 2.33 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 73.1 innings at Single-A Down East in 2023. The major red flag standing out was his 5.4 BB/9.

Scherzer (back) has been cleared for baseball activities, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Scherzer joined his teammates this week in camp after spending time at home rehabbing away from the club. He'll begin by tossing medicine balls to loosen up, then move onto sprinting, jumping and eventually throwing. June remains the target date for the right-hander's return.

Whitlock allowed two hits and one walk while striking out five over 4.1 scoreless innings in Friday's spring game against the Twins.

This was the best of Whitlock's five Grapefruit League starts and a reminder that he's not out of the competition for one of the two available slots in the rotation. He threw 62 pitches (44 strikes) and put batters away after getting ahead in the count. "The swings and misses from the get-go, that's a game changer," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com. "He's been working hard with his cutter and the slider/sweeper. The good thing about him is he's always ahead. It's about putting them away. Not only inducing them to weak contact, but swings and misses are good, too." Whitlock has a 3.45 ERA with 16 strikeouts and two walks over 15.2 spring innings. Tanner Houck, Cooper Criswell and, to an extent, Josh Winckowski are also competing for a rotation spot.

Manager Aaron Boone on Friday named Cortes the Yankees' starter for Opening Day against the Astros on March 28, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

The Yankees had to alter their pitching plans with Gerrit Cole (elbow) set to begin the season on the injured list, and Cortes will end up taking the ball for the opener. The veteran lefty was limited to 12 starts last season due to a shoulder strain and had a 4.97 ERA across 63.1 innings, but New York would benefit if he can return to the form that saw him post a 2.61 ERA between 2021 and 2022.

Astros manager Joe Espada announced Friday that Valdez will be the team's Opening Day starter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Valdez was the obvious choice with Justin Verlander (shoulder) on the shelf. The veteran left-hander held a 2.51 first-half ERA but a 4.66 ERA after the All-Star break last season. He will be taking on the Yankees at home March 28.

Urquidy pulled himself from an appearance in a minor-league game Friday due to right elbow discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Urquidy -- who threw 43 pitches in the outing before exiting -- is being examined by the Astros trainers Friday. The team reportedly was already on the lookout for rotation help with Justin Verlander (shoulder) opening the season on the injured list, and a serious injury to Urquidy could increase the urgency to sign someone like Blake Snell.

Verlander (shoulder) bounced back well from a bullpen session Thursday and said Friday that he's "definitely getting close to facing hitters," Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Verlander didn't rule out facing hitters the next time he throws but said that will be decided by the team. A stint on the injured list to begin the season awaits him, and given that he has not yet faced hitters, the IL stint could be longer than the minimum. The 41-year-old right-hander is trending in the right direction, however.

The Rays re-assigned McKay to minor-league camp Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McKay looked solid this spring after re-upping with the Rays on a minor-league contract, but the club wants him to knock some rust off in the minors first after missing so much time due to injury. The left-hander should open the season in Durham's rotation.

The Rays placed Springs (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Jacob Waguespack. Springs will be out until around midseason while working his way back from Tommy John surgery.