MLB Player News

Heaney said his back is fine and noted that he'll be ready to start the Angels' season opener Friday in Oakland, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

He dealt with some back tightness Saturday but said Sunday that he is fine physically. The Athletics ranked fourth in the majors with a 115 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers in 2019, so this is not an ideal matchup for Heaney on Opening Day.

Singer threw four scoreless innings and allowed three hits and zero walks in Friday's intrasquad game, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Manager Mike Matheny praised how quickly Singer works, pointing out that it helps his defense stay engaged. Singer has a chance to break camp in the big-league rotation despite having never pitched at Triple-A.

Snell lines up to start either Sunday at home against the Blue Jays or Monday against the Braves, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

Charlie Morton and Ryan Yarbrough have been announced as the official starters Friday and Saturday, respectively, and with Snell set to pitch in Tuesday's intrasquad game, it seems likely he will take the ball for the finale of the opening series. If the Rays opt to give Snell an extra day's rest, he would get a two-start week against the Braves and then in Baltimore.

Chirinos (illness) will be ready for the start of the season, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

He tested positive for COVID-19 in late June, but manager Kevin Cash said Chirinos was able to get his work in while he was quarantining. The Rays' rotation order has not been officially set after Opening Day starter Charlie Morton and second starter Ryan Yarbrough, but Chirinos seems likely to take the ball in the second series at home against the Braves in what could be a two-start week. Tampa Bay has quality depth in multi-inning guys like Trevor Richards and Jalen Beeks, so it is not a lock that Chirinos will be asked to go five-plus innings in his first start of the season.

Morton threw 31 of 51 pitches for strikes in his final tuneup before his Opening Day start at home against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Morton struck out five and walked one while allowing three hits in an informal 2.2 innings. He will probably be able to get to five-plus innings Friday if he is efficient with his pitches, but there are other Opening Day starters who have built up well past the 51 pitches Morton threw in this intrasquad outing. His second start of the season will be July 29 in Atlanta, and he lines up for a two-start week the following week.

Chirinos, who arrived at Rays camp Sunday, says he tested positive for COVID-19 in late June and had mild symptoms, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

He is feeling much better now and thinks he can be ready for Opening Day. However, it is unclear what type of role he will be ready for, or whether the Rays would prefer to stretch him out at the alternate site. Trevor Richards is the top option to slot into the rotation if Chirinos is not ready.

Chirinos (undisclosed) was spotted on the field Sunday for the first time since the start of summer camp, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

He had been away for the first couple weeks of summer camp. It is unclear how built-up Chirinos is from a workload standpoint. He should eventually slot into the Rays' rotation, but he may not be ready for what would have been his first couple turns. Trevor Richards is stretched out enough to handle five innings, if needed.

Bielak and Framber Valdez are competing for the final spot in the rotation, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports.

Bielak, who has been used mostly as a starter in the minor leagues, was originally thought of as being a possible bullpen member, but he has become a candidate to replace Jose Urquidy (undisclosed) in the rotation. The 24-year-old Bielak, a righty who has no MLB experience, started Saturday's intrasquad game against Valdez. He allowed four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three over four innings in a 73-pitch effort.

Valdez and Brandon Bielak are competing for the last spot in the Astros' rotation, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports.

With Jose Urquidy (undisclosed) not in camp, there's room in the rotation for either Valdez or Bielak. The duo squared off in Saturday's intrasquad game, the final chance either had to submit evidence in the quest to be the No. 5 starter. Valdez allowed a three-run, first-inning home run to Michael Brantley but lasted five innings. He walked one and struck out six in a 74-pitch outing. "He still has some things to learn, but he's a whole lot better than I heard he was in the past, as far as his concentration, as far as his tempo in the game," said manager Dusty Baker, referring to Valdez's penchant for a lack of focus and letting innings get away from him. Baker also noted he'd be speaking with Valdez about missing "three or four signs" during the outing.

Giolito allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings in Saturday's intrasquad game, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

This was Giolito's final appearance in summer camp before he's expected to start Opening Day, July 24, against the Twins. White Sox manager Rick Renteria has not made it official that Giolito will start the opener, but it would be a shock if he doesn't.