MLB Player News

Espino (shoulder) could be ready for game action as early as May, according to Guardians Prospective.

The flame-throwing righty has been throwing weighted plyo balls in Arizona. There was a report Feb. 20 that Espino wouldn't throw for eight weeks, but that may have been in reference to him getting back on a mound, which he has yet to do. Regardless, it's encouraging that this may not be a second lost season in a row for the talented 22-year-old.

Brown was scratched from his Grapefruit League start against the Mets on Wednesday due to lower-back tightness, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 24-year-old is penciled in as Houston's No. 5 starter to begin the season, but he won't make what was supposed to be his final start of spring training Wednesday due to the back issue. Brown's availability for the Opening Day rotation is now in question, which is another potential blow to a Houston rotation that is already starting the campaign without Lance McCullers (forearm).

Gonzales hasn't started an official Cactus League game since March 3 but threw four innings in a "B" game against the Padres on Thursday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Gonzales was supposed to log a start Wednesday until rain washed out that opportunity, but he was able to get his work in with the four frames on the Padres' side of the Peoria training complex the following morning. Gonzales' most recent time on the mound in official Cactus League action went well, as he fired 3.2 scoreless innings against Diamondbacks on March 3. However, the veteran left-hander does have some formidable competition for the No. 5 starter job in Chris Flexen, who's posted a 2-0 record, 2.08 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 13 innings this spring.

With Michael Lorenzen (groin) uncertain to make his final Grapefruit League start, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, Wentz could be an option to fill the fifth rotation spot to begin the regular season.

Lorenzen is projected to be the team's regular No. 5 starter, but his groin strain has his status up in the air heading into the regular season. Detroit is lined up to use its fifth starter April 4 against Houston, so Wentz or Beau Brieske may be needed if Lorenzen can't go. It seemed like Wentz was possibly ticketed for the minors out of camp, so any stay with the Tigers may be brief, though he did compile a solid 3.03 ERA across seven starts for the club last year.

Andrew hurled six scoreless innings during Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks.

Anderson allowed just three hits, walking two with four strikeouts. The left-hander has made just two spring appearances in 2023, but he has yet to allow a run while giving up just those three hits in eight innings of work. Anderson had a breakout season in 2023, and while those results aren't likely repeatable, he does have a chance to provide fantasy value this summer if he's a semblance of the pitcher he was with the Dodgers in 2022.

Bradish was tagged for nine runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out two over 2.1 innings versus the Phillies in Monday's Grapefruit League game.

Bradish's messy outing comes at an awful time for the right-hander, as the Orioles have started paring down their rotation candidates. Prior to Monday, he'd given up just two earned runs over nine innings, and it's encouraging he wasn't immediately optioned out after the poor start. He'll likely have one last audition before the Orioles break camp, but it's quite possible he ends up on the outside looking in. Whether that's at Triple-A Norfolk or as part of the big-league bullpen is to be determined.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday that Lorenzen (groin) is uncertain to make his final Grapefruit League start, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Specifically, Hinch said he had "no idea" whether Lorenzen -- who is dealing with a mild left groin strain -- would be able to make one more start this spring. If Lorenzen is unable to pitch before the end of the Grapefruit League slate, the right-hander surely wouldn't be ready for his first turn through the rotation during the regular season, either. Hinch wouldn't offer any hints as to who the potential fill-in for Lorenzen would be, but Joey Wentz and Beau Brieske would likely represent the top alternatives.

Lorenzen has been diagnosed with a mild left groin strain, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

The injury caused Lorenzen to be scratched from a Grapefruit League outing Monday. He'll be shut down from baseball activities for now but will ramp things back up as his symptoms dissipate. It doesn't sound like the injury should keep Lorenzen down long, but his Opening Day availability is in doubt.

Paxton (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Paxton returned to the mound with a bullpen session Saturday and it's a good sign that he was ready for another one three days later. The left-hander will not be ready for Opening Day due to a right hamstring strain, but he's trending toward a return sometime in April if he continues to progress.

Dunning allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits and struck out four over six innings in Monday's spring start against Cleveland.

Dunning was the first Rangers hurler to work six innings, but Texas manager Bruce Bochy won't need him in a starting role. The right-hander appears to be ticketed for a bullpen/long-relief role, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The Rangers have a couple of starters -- Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi -- that were delayed in camp and won't be stretched out to go deep into games. That leaves Dunning and lefty Cole Ragans as a potential piggyback options early in the season.