MLB Player News

Rodriguez (arm) threw a successful bullpen session Saturday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Rodriguez was pushed back from starting Opening Day after he experienced a dead arm period, but manager Alex Cora was impressed with the left-hander's performance during his throwing session Saturday. Rodriguez threw all of his pitches and had good control, and the team will see how he reacts Sunday. A better timetable for his return could be revealed once the Red Sox complete their evaluation.

Whitlock will break camp with the Red Sox, Mark Feisand of MLB.com reports.

Whitlock, the Rule 5 draft pick from the Yankees, hasn't appeared during the regular season since 2019 when he went 3-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 14 starts for Double-A Trenton. He'll work out of Boston's bullpen in 2021 after giving up one run on eight hits while striking out 12 and walking none over nine Grapefruit League innings. It's expected he'll be used as a multi-inning reliever.

McCullers will pitch the third game of the regular season, Chandler Rowe of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Astros manager Dusty Baker set the rotation for the first four games, and McCullers slots in for the third game, although he's viewed as the team's second-best starter. Zack Greinke will start Opening Day followed by Cristian Javier. McCullers, who is ready to go after throwing 90 pitches in a "B" game Wednesday, finished Grapefruit League play with two runs allowed on five hits and two walks while striking out 11 over seven innings.

Javier will start the Astros' second game of the regular season Friday against the Athletics, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Astros manager Dusty Baker named the first four starters of the regular season and has Javier following Opening Day starter Zack Greinke. Javier's start will likely involve heavy bullpen management, as the right-hander's preseason buildup was impacted by a week-long absence due to issues related to COVID-19. He's thrown just three innings during Grapefruit League play, which means someone like Brandon Bielak or Bryan Abreu could be asked to pitch multiple innings that day.

Rodon allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six over 4.2 innings in Friday's spring game against Milwaukee.

Rodon allowed a first-inning solo home run, his first run allowed during Cactus League play, then was charged with another after leaving the game. He finishes up the spring with two runs allowed on nine hits and one walk while striking out 16 over 13.2 innings. The left-hander will serve as Chicago's fifth starter.

Cole pitched 5.2 innings against Baltimore in a Grapefruit League game Friday, allowing no runs on two hits and no walks while striking out five.

Cole threw 88 pitches in his final warmup before taking the mound for the Yankees on Opening Day. He finishes spring play with a 2.45 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 24:3 K:BB across 18.1 innings and has looked every bit the ace that fantasy managers who invested a first-round draft pick on the right-hander expect him to be.

Ryu has been named the Blue Jays' Opening Day starter, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Ryu posted a 3.60 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 10 innings across three Grapefruit League starts this spring, and manager Charlie Montoyo confirmed Friday the southpaw will take the mound against the Yankees on April 1. Ryu made 12 starts for the Blue Jays last year and recorded a 2.69 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 72:17 K:BB in 67 innings.

Kikuchi threw 91 pitches in a simulated game Friday afternoon and allowed five hits and three walks while recording seven strikeouts, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Kikuchi has already logged 8.1 innings of Cactus League action across three starts, and Friday's workload pushed him to the brink of regular-season readiness. The southpaw lines up to next take the ball for the Mariners' third game of the regular season against the Giants on Saturday, April 3.

Wacha allowed an earned run on four hits, a walk and a hit batsman across five innings in a Grapefruit League loss to Atlanta on Thursday. He struck out five.

The right-hander continued his spring dominance while facing an Atlanta lineup that had plenty of regulars. Wacha now has a minuscule 0.75 ERA across 12 innings, and he'll take the mound once more in Grapefruit League play against the Tigers on Tuesday before opening the regular season as the No. 3 starter.

German appears to be lined up as the Yankees' fifth starter after Deivi Garcia was optioned Friday, James Wagner of The New York Times reports.

German significantly outperformed Garcia this spring, making the Yankees' decision seemingly a fairly easy one. Garcia struck out 14 batters in 14 innings, but he also walked eight and allowed seven runs (six earned). Meanwhile, German tossed nine scoreless innings, striking out 13 while walking just one. He showed what he was capable of in 2019, backing up a respectable 4.03 ERA with a 25.8 percent strikeout rate and 6.6 percent walk rate, though exactly how much he'll resemble that pitcher this year after missing last year while suspended for domestic violence remains to be seen.