MLB Player News

Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced Sunday that Sale won't pitch Opening Day against the Orioles, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Cora says that the plan all along was for Sale not to get the nod for the opener, and that there's a "good chance" that Corey Kluber will instead get that honor against Baltimore. Sale has battled injuries over the past few seasons, and it sounds like Boston will give its presumed ace a few more days of rest before he opens the season, although there's no plan yet as to when he'll make his 2023 debut. Sale offers significant fantasy reward with his ability to miss bats, but there's plenty of risk based on his lack of action over the past three seasons.

The Astros optioned France to their minor-league camp Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

France was added to Houston's 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, but he won't open 2023 in the majors. The 27-year-old had a 3.90 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 136:51 K:BB over 110.2 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land last year and could make his MLB debut this season.

The Astros optioned Whitley to minor-league camp Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Whitley has made a pair of appearances in Grapefruit League games, throwing four innings and allowing two runs with a 3:1 K:BB ratio. Once ranked as the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, Whitley has struggled with injuries and command and also dealt with a PED suspension, but the 25-year-old has a good chance to make his MLB debut at some point this summer with Houston.

McCullers (forearm) resumed playing catch Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers threw off flat ground approximately 30 times in what marked his first throwing activity since a Feb. 14 bullpen session in which he experienced arm soreness. He was later diagnosed with a small muscle strain in his right forearm, and after being shut down from throwing for the past three weeks, he won't be on track to open the season with the Astros. The fact that McCullers is now playing catch again can be viewed as a positive sign, however, and if he continues to avoid setbacks in what will likely be a month-long buildup program, he could be ready to slot back into the Houston rotation at some point in the second half of April.

Flexen has allowed one run on eight hits and two walks while recording six strikeouts across 8.1 innings in three Cactus League appearances.

The veteran right-hander worked all the way up to 50 pitches in his most recent outing Saturday against the Rockies as he continues to try and make a case for a back-end rotation spot. Flexen's 8-9 record last season was, on the surface, a step back from his career-best 14-6 mark in 2021. However, the 28-year-old's 3.73 ERA was his second straight sub-4.00 mark and was only slightly higher than the career-low 3.61 figure he'd generated a season prior.

Brito was optioned Saturday to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre by the Yankees and reassigned to minor-league camp.

Brito was protected from the Rule 5 draft in November by being placed on the 40-man roster. The right-hander reached Triple-A last year and posted a 2.96 ERA with a 91:35 K:BB in 112.2 innings with Double-A Somerset and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. It's possible that Brito could make starts for the Yankees before the end of 2023.

The Yankees optioned Vasquez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday and reassigned him to minor-league camp.

Vasquez was added to the 40-man roster in November and is one of the organization's top pitching prospects, but he never had a chance of breaking camp with the big club given that he's yet to pitch beyond the Double-A level. The right-hander will open the season in the minors and will look to build upon a solid campaign at Double-A last year that included a 3.90 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 120:41 K:BB over 115.1 innings.

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters Saturday that Glasnow (oblique) has not started throwing as of yet, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

"Just treatment," Cash said on Saturday before their Grapefruit League game. The right-hander was diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain on February 27 while throwing to hitters during a live batting practice session. He's expected to miss at least six weeks with the injury, but it could progress longer since Tampa Bay is sure to be cautious with Glasnow.

Cortes (hamstring) is tentatively scheduled for a live batting practice session Monday and a Grapefruit League appearance the following Sunday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cortes has been dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring strain since early in camp. The given timeline would mean he'll be getting into game action just 11 days before the regular season begins, so it's possible he'll be on a pitch count for his first few outings of the year, but he should still be able to avoid the injured list if all goes well.

Lyles allowed two hits and struck out two over three innings in Friday's Cactus League game versus the Padres.

Lyles has struck out six over eight innings this spring while allowing two earned runs, six hits and a walk. The right-hander was an effective innings-eater with the Orioles in 2022, posting a 4.42 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 144:52 K:BB across 179 innings. He should be a lock for the Royals' rotation after signing a two-year deal in December, though his ratios will likely continue to be just okay across the board.