MLB Player News

Lynn will start Thursday's spring game against the Giants, Daryl Van Shouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The White Sox will start rolling out their regular starters beginning Tuesday with Lucas Giolito. Lynn's start Thursday puts him on a five-day schedule for the third game of the season, suggesting that the left-handed Dallas Keuchel will slot in between the two right-handers.

Giolito is scheduled to start Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Rangers, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The White Sox are using non-roster invitees to start the first two games of spring and will then incorporate their rotation regulars. Tuesday's start puts Giolito on schedule to start Opening Day on April 1 against the Angels.

Blackburn cleared waivers Saturday and will remain in camp as a non-roster invitee, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Blackburn and his 5.69 career ERA were unsurprisingly not a hot commodity on waivers. He'll remain in an organizational depth role for Oakland going forward.

Teheran said he didn't have his usual arm or leg strength after contracting COVID-19 last summer, impacting his mechanics during the season, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Teheran posted an atrocious 10.05 ERA in 31.1 innings with the Angels, so it's clear he was never quite right after his COVID-19 diagnosis. He ended up signing a minor-league contract with the Tigers earlier this month, but he could earn a rotation spot if he's back to full strength. The righty posted a much better 3.64 ERA with Atlanta from 2013 through 2019.

Verlander (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Verlander's shift to the 60-day injured list is simply procedural, as the 38-year-old is expected to miss the entire 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early October. His removal from the 40-man roster will clear room for Robel Garcia, who was claimed off waivers in a corresponding move. Although Verlander is slated to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2021 campaign, he's expressed interest in continuing his career when he's healthy.

Severino (elbow) is expected to throw off a mound within the next two weeks, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Severino is past the midpoint of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, a procedure he underwent back in February of last year, but he still has plenty of work to do. He won't throw off a mound next week but is expected to do so during the following week as he targets a return sometime over the summer.

Montas, who was cleared to join spring training Thursday after a stay on the COVID-19 injured list, has already begun his ramp-up process, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has already begun a throwing program, and manager Bob Melvin has confirmed Montas will be on the same schedule as the rest of the staff, but just a bit behind in the actual implementation. Montas is expected to progress from throwing bullpens to facing hitters in simulated situations in coming days, and he'll naturally have a chance to see action in multiple Cactus League games.

Schmidt's elbow injury is considered minor, and he hopes to return soon, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Schmidt has been shut down to begin spring training due to an extensor strain in his elbow, but he said Saturday that the injury is a minor one. It's not yet clear whether the right-hander will return in time to build up enough ahead of Opening Day, but he appears to have avoided a long-term issue.

Greinke completed intake testing and joined the Astros at spring training Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Greinke got a late start to spring training for a second straight season, but he joined the team ahead of the league's mandatory report date. The right-hander should still have plenty of time to prepare for Opening Day following his brief absence.

Sale (elbow) will stretch his flat-ground throwing program out to 90 feet Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Sale, who has not yet thrown off a mound, continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery last March. While he has no set timetable for returning, the left-hander is expected to pitch at some point during the 2021 season.