MLB Player News

Montas (finger) will be on the Athletics' active roster to start the season.

Montas is tentatively lined up to start Monday against the Dodgers despite the fact that he left his final Cactus League start with a ripped cuticle. The fact that he's avoided the injured list to start the year supports the idea that he won't have to miss a turn in the rotation.

Valdez (finger) was placed on the 10-day injured list as expected Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Valdez won't need the season-ending surgery that he was originally reported to require after fracturing the ring finger on his pitching hand in early March, but his timeline remains unclear. Pitching coach Brent Strom seemed very optimistic about the lefty's outlook earlier in the week but didn't offer any concrete return date.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Houck will start Saturday's game against the Orioles, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

As anticipated, Houck will be part of the Opening Day rotation after a replacement was needed for Eduardo Rodriguez (dead arm), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday. Considering that Rodriguez is scheduled to pitch a simulated game at Triple-A Worcester on Friday, he wouldn't seem to be at risk at missing more than one or two turns through the rotation. Assuming that's the case, Houck's time with the big club will likely be short-lived.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Sale (elbow) will remain limited to throwing off flat ground as he shifts his rehab program from Florida to Boston, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Sale traveled north with the team for the start of the regular season, but he may return to the Red Sox's training facility in Fort Myers once he reaches the point in his rehab from Tommy John surgery where he's deemed ready to face hitters. Before that happens, he still has a major hurdle to clear in getting back on the mound. Cora said that Sale remains without a clear timeline to resume throwing bullpen sessions, making it difficult to predict when or if the southpaw will pitch for Boston in 2021.

Rodriguez (arm) is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game at Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Though Boston formally placed Rodriguez on the injured list Thursday while he works through a case of dead arm, the fact that the lefty is facing hitters again suggests he'll likely be in store for little more than a minimum-length stay on the shelf. Tanner Houck is expected to fill in for Rodriguez when his first turn in the rotation comes up this weekend, but if the sim game goes well, Rodriguez could be ready to start as soon as April 8 against the Orioles.

Irvin appears to be the Athletics' temporary fifth starter after both A.J. Puk and Daulton Jefferies were optioned Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Irvin probably won't make too many starts in the role, as Mike Fiers (hip) doesn't appear to be facing a long-term absence. Though he had an excellent spring, Irvin holds limited fantasy appeal, as he owns a 6.75 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 17.2 percent strikeout rate in 45.1 career major-league innings.

The Rangers recalled Allard from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

Allard initially appeared set to miss out on the Opening Day roster, but the Rangers elected to bring him back as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. Texas plans to use rotation members Jordan Lyles and Dane Dunning as tandem starters for the first outings of the season Sunday in Kansas City and Tuesday versus Toronto, respectively, but Allard isn't expected to piggyback either pitcher. Instead, Taylor Hearn appears on track to follow Lyles, while Wes Benjamin will follow Dunning.

Rodriguez (arm) will begin the season on the injured list as expected, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Though his stint will technically last 10 days, Rodriguez may not need to miss more than one turn in the rotation. The move can be backdated to Monday, leaving Rodriguez eligible to return on April 8. That would have been the first time the Red Sox needed a fifth starter, but their Opening Day contest against the Orioles was rained out Thursday and postponed to Friday, eliminating their early off day. The Red Sox have yet to confirm whether Rodriguez will return when first eligible.

Manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday that Turnbull (COVID-19 health and safety protocols) has been cleared to report to the Tigers' spring-training complex in Lakeland, Fla. to resume workouts, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

After nearly two weeks away from the team while he waited to clear protocols, Turnbull will need some time to fully ramp up before Detroit activates him from the COVID-19 injured list. He's expected to throw at least a couple of bullpen sessions in Lakeland before moving on to the organization's alternate site in Toledo, where he'll likely complete a simulated game or two to finish out his throwing progression. Assuming he experiences no snags in the build-up process, Turnbull could be ready to rejoin the Detroit rotation at some point in the second half of April.

Means and the Orioles won't play the Red Sox on Thursday after their Opening Day game was postponed due to rain, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The two teams are now scheduled to play their season opener Friday, which was initially set to be an off day for both sides. Means and the other four members of the Orioles' Opening Day rotation will presumably all be pushed back a day in the pitching schedule.