MLB Player News

Stripling (finger) didn't factor into the decision in a Cactus League win over the Rangers on Sunday, allowing an unearned run on two hits and recording a strikeout over three innings.

Stripling came on in the fourth inning in relief of starter JP Sears, who pitched a dominant first three frames that included seven strikeouts. Stripling didn't come close to matching his southpaw rotation mate in that regard, but he equaled Sears' workload and escaped without an earned run on his line. The veteran right-hander was originally slated to work up to 45 pitches, but Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports that manager Mark Kotsay relayed Stripling needed to put in another inning's worth of work in the bullpen to reach that count because he'd been so efficient on the mound.

Bido was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday.

Bido has appeared in three games with the A's this spring, allowing three earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out three batters over three innings. The right-hander signed with Oakland in November after spending the 2023 campaign with the Pirates, posting a 5.86 ERA over 50.2 frames. He'll now look to carve out a role with the Athletics somewhere down the road.

Gil was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.

Gil made two Grapefruit League appearances and will shift to minor-league camp after he allowed two runs on a hit and two walks while striking out three. The right-hander is currently stretched out as a starter but could be shifted to a relief role, which would likely provide a clearer path to a roster spot in the majors. Gil missed most of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, though he returned for a couple minor-league rehab starts in September.

Verlander (shoulder) threw a 60-pitch bullpen session Sunday that appeared to include some breaking balls, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 41-year-old continues to ramp up his throwing program, with the next step potentially being to face live hitters. Manager Joe Espada indicated Verlander could still be ready by Opening Day but also said "we're running out of days [in spring training]," per Kawahara.

Houck allowed one hit and one walk while striking out five over three scoreless innings in Saturday's spring game against the Nationals.

Houck followed starter Brayan Bello and easily navigated the fourth through sixth innings. This was his second Grapefruit League outing; he pitched two perfect innings in a start last Monday. So far, so good for Houck, who's thrown five scoreless frames in his competition with Garrett Whitlock and Josh Winckowski for the final rotation spot.

Bello allowed two runs on one hit and one walk while striking out two over three innings in Saturday's spring start against the Nationals. The right-hander also hit two batters.

Bello, making his second Grapefruit League start, sandwiched two perfect innings around a funky second in which he walked a batter and plunked two others. He admitted to Ian Browne of MLB.com that his mechanics went awry during the second frame. Bello has allowed just one hit through two spring outings as he makes a bid to be Boston's Opening Day starter.

Stripling (finger) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Sunday against the Rangers, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Lefty JP Sears will draw the start for Oakland, but Stripling is likely to enter the contest behind him and pitch an inning or two. The Athletics have delayed Stripling's entry into the spring pitching schedule after he was scratched from a start last week due to a cut on his right index finger, but the minor injury shouldn't affect his readiness for Opening Day. Despite being deployed in relief Sunday, Stripling is still expected to occupy a spot in Oakland's rotation during the regular season.

Whitley (finger) is scheduled to play catch Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has been shut down for the past week due to middle finger inflammation, but he's poised to start up his throwing program again Tuesday. Whitley will need to build his arm back up after the shutdown period and is likely at least a couple weeks away from game action.

Bassitt gave up three runs on three hits over three innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta. He struck out one without walking a batter.

Jordan Luplow got hold of a fastball that Bassitt left over the heart of the plate in the first inning and launched a two-run homer, but the veteran right-hander settled down after that. Bassitt tossed 32 of 46 pitches for strikes in his first start and second appearance of the spring, and he appears on track to be ready for Opening Day after working a career-high 200 innings in 2023, posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 186:59 K:BB. The 35-year-old is being counted on for similar numbers this season as one of Toronto's mid-rotation stalwarts behind ace Kevin Gausman.

Gray allowed one hit and two walks while striking out four over three scoreless innings in Saturday's spring start against the White Sox.

Gray made his Cactus League debut after throwing two innings in an intrasquad game earlier in the week. He breezed through the first two innings, retiring all six batters faced, before pitching into a jam in the third. The right-hander managed to extricate himself from the one-out, bases-loaded situation. Gray told Matthew Postins of SI.com that he ran into trouble with the pitch clock, which contributed to the jam. He also noted the forearm issues that forced him to the injured list late last season are in the past. Gray engaged in an offseason workout program designed to strengthen his arm.