MLB Player News

Brown (back) did not throw Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

It might have just been another rest day for Brown's lower-back tightness, which caused him to miss a scheduled Grapefruit League start Wednesday against the Mets. Astros manager Dusty Baker offered no update on the status of the 24-year-old right-hander, who had been cruising toward the final spot in Houston's Opening Day rotation before the injury surfaced.

Whitlock (hip) will begin the season on the 10-day injured list, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Whitlock made his first spring training start Monday, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the 26-year-old righty will need to make three more starts before he's ready to rejoin Boston's rotation. Those three outings (plus four rest days between each start) put him in line to return sometime in mid-April.

Bello (forearm) will begin the regular season on the 10-day injured list as he builds up for a starter's workload, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

As expected, Bello, who battled forearm tightness earlier in the spring, will spend at least a couple more weeks building up for the regular season. Once ready, the right-handed prospect figures to enter Boston's rotation and build upon his rookie campaign in 2022, when he posted a 4.71 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 57.1 innings.

Crawford will break camp as a member of the Red Sox' rotation, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Crawford will start the fourth game of the season at home against the Pirates. It's possible it will be the only start he gets before Garrett Whitlock (hip) joins the rotation, with James Paxton (hamstring) and Brayan Bello (forearm) hopefully not far behind. Crawford earned the spot by posting a 2.03 ERA and 14:3 K:BB over 13.1 innings this spring. He was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday, but it appears that was just about lining him up for his regular-season outing.

Garcia was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Garcia has allowed just two runs over 12.1 innings this spring but still finds himself on the outside looking in for a roster spot. It's not clear whether the 27-year-old will be used as a starter or reliever -- or both -- at Triple-A Sugar Land.

Rodon (forearm) threw a 15-pitch, all-fastball bullpen session Thursday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

It was his first time on the bump since he went down with a left forearm strain in early March. Rodon is slated to play catch Friday and throw another bullpen session in a few days, mixing in some breaking balls that time. The southpaw is expected to need 2--to-4 bullpen sessions and a couple live batting practice sessions before being cleared for a rehab assignment.

Rodon (forearm) will throw a bullpen session Thursday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

It will be his first time throwing off a mound since he was diagnosed with a forearm muscle strain back on March 9. Rodon is expected to throw at least two bullpen sessions before progressing to a couple live batting practice sessions and then a rehab assignment. That would seem to rule him out until at least late April, although a clearer timetable should be available as he continues his progression.

Manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Crawford (undisclosed) and Josh Winckowski are both expected to be part of the Red Sox' Opening Day roster, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

One of the two will be in the rotation until Garrett Whitlock (hip) is ready, although manager Alex Cora wouldn't say who. Crawford was scratched from a scheduled Grapefruit League start Thursday due to undisclosed reasons, but it would appear whatever he's dealing with isn't a concern. Winckowski is making the start in his place.

Maeda (elbow) threw a live bullpen session Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. He gave up five earned runs and two home runs in his last spring outing March 19 and has a 6.23 ERA this spring with a 8:7 K:BB ratio in 8.2 innings.

Maeda hadn't thrown a competitive pitch before this spring since August of 2021 when he underwent Tommy John surgery. By all accounts he's healthy and ready for the start of the regular season, though e's struggled with his control this spring, which could be just the result of a veteran getting in his work and not as worried about results. However, it could also be a sign his command isn't sharp in his initial return from the procedure. Watch his final spring outing and performance early in the season, but he looks set to begin the year in the Minnesota rotation, and there hasn't ye been talk of a six-man rotation to ease him into action.

Manning allowed an unearned run on six hits across four innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta. He walked two and struck out six.

Manning allowed plenty of baserunners but was mostly able to avoid trouble. He still has a rough 6.43 ERA this spring, though his last two starts have been better, as he's allowed no earned runs across 7.2 innings with 10 strikeouts. Manning should slot in as the Tigers' fourth starter and could be ready to take a step forward after showing some promising signs during an injury-shortened 2022 campaign.