MLB Player News

Blackburn (finger) is slated to throw off a mound Monday after his flat-ground session Thursday went well, the team's official site reports.

Manager Mark Kotsay noted that Blackburn was able to spin some curveballs during the flat-ground session without issue. Consequently, Monday's activity is considered the next step in the natural progression of his recovery. If the right-hander emerges from Monday's session without setbacks, a firmer regular-season debut date could come into focus.

McKenzie was removed from Sunday's Cactus League start against the Reds as a precautionary measure due to right arm tightness, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

The 25-year-old delivered a scoreless first inning during his final start of spring training Sunday but never returned to the mound. Any arm injury is a concerning development -- especially this late in spring training -- which leaves McKenzie's availability for the start of the regular season up in the air.

Wells allowed an unearned run on two hits and struck out two over five innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game versus the Pirates.

Wells has had shaky ratios with a 5.74 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 15.2 innings this spring, but he's also posted a 16:2 K:BB. The Orioles' rotation still has two spots up for grabs, with Wells, Grayson Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish all in contention. Of those three pitchers, Wells' numbers look the best on the surface, though he'd also be the easiest to move to a bullpen role if the Orioles want to open the year with all of them in the majors. For now, Wells is stretched out as a starter, but his placement to start the season will likely come down to a decision just before Opening Day.

Manager Aaron Boone said Brito could start the Yankees' third game of the season next Sunday versus the Giants in New York, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Boone didn't officially confirm that Brito would be part of the Opening Day rotation, but the 25-year-old righty appears to have all but clinched a starting role with all of Frankie Montas (shoulder), Carlos Rodon (forearm) and Luis Severino (lat) set to open the season on the injured list. Brito initially appeared in line to take the hill for the Yankees' fifth game of the season, but the team may be incentivized to move him up in the pitching schedule after he dazzled Sunday in his final Grapefruit League outing of the spring. Brito retired all 16 batters he faced in a 6-2 win over the Blue Jays, striking out three hitters while lowering his spring ERA to 2.08. If Brito ends up getting the starting nod for the Yankees' third game, Domingo German would presumably be pushed to the back of the team's pitching schedule.

Watkins was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Watkins had a 4.15 ERA and 10:4 K:BB over 13 innings during spring training but was unable to secure a spot at the back end of Baltimore's rotation. The 30-year-old had a 4.70 ERA in 23 outings for the Orioles last season and will be one of the top candidates for a call-up when the club requires spot starters this year.

Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said Sunday that Rucinski (hamstring) will begin the season on the injured list, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Rucinski's hamstring tightened up late during spring training, and he won't be available for the A's to open the campaign. The 34-year-old was recently throwing on flat ground and will need to resume mound work before there's any firm timetable for his return.

The Twins optioned Ober to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Ober made three appearances in the Grapefruit League, and he didn't allow a run while forging a 6:2 K:BB and 0.33 WHIP. The right-hander was not going to be a part of Minnesota's rotation, so he'll head to Triple-A to receive regular innings. Ober will likely make starts for the Twins before the end of the season, and he could be worth a look as a streamer on those occasions based on his success in 2022.

Ragans has given up nine runs (eight earned) over his last seven innings, all of which came as a reliever.

Ragans is one of several depth starters that will need to work as a reliever if he wins a roster spot. He made noise early in camp when starting but has run afoul in two recent relief outings. In Thursday's appearance, he struggled early with command, and the Rangers used the spring re-entry rule for him to start the next inning. He ended up giving them another three innings. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy will decide if Ragans is best suited for a multi-inning relief role in MLB or a starter's trajectory at Triple-A Round Rock.

Glasnow (oblique) is throwing on flat ground from 75 feet Sunday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 29-year-old is about a month removed from suffering a Grade 2 left oblique strain, and his return to throwing is an indication that his rehab is going well. Glasnow's initial recovery timeline was 6-to-8 weeks, and he appears to be trending toward the long end of the timeframe given he has to fully build up his arm after missing spring training. A return in early May should be possible if he can avoid any setbacks as he ramps up his workload.

Brown (back) felt good after throwing a 25-pitch bullpen session Sunday and is expected to throw a simulated game this week, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Assuming everything goes well during the simulated game this week, the 24-year-old should be good to go for Houston's first turn through the starting rotation. Brown could line up to start the Astros' home opener versus the Tigers on April 3.