MLB Player News

Rodriguez tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Rodriguez had yet to join his teammates after coming in contact with someone who had tested positive for the virus and found out Tuesday that he had the virus as well. The lefty is feeling better, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports, but with Opening Day less than three weeks away, it's quite possible he misses time to begin the year.

Tigers pitching coach Rick Anderson said he expects Boyd and the other four members of the Detroit rotation to be stretched out to 75-to-80 pitches by Opening Day, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

That sort of pitch count would put Boyd in line for roughly five innings in his first start, keeping him on track to handle close to a normal workload in his subsequent turns thereafter. Boyd will continue to use summer camp to build up his pitch count, though he had already kept his arm conditioned during MLB's hiatus by tossing about one simulated game per week. Before the league-wide shutdown in spring training, Boyd had been working to make more use of his changeup and curveball as part of a four-pitch mix this season after leaning on the offerings only 6.1 and 4.0 percent of the time, respectively, in 2019 (per FanGraphs).

Paxton threw a two-inning sim game Sunday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

On the second day of team workouts, Paxton threw to teammates Gary Sanchez, Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade, striking out each batter at least once. The outing -- Paxton's first on a dirt mound since undergoing back surgery in February -- is another indication that the southpaw is good to go heading into the regular season. "Felt good, felt healthy," Paxton declared. "It was a good first step for me."

Glasnow has not been observed at any of the Rays' summer camp workouts at Tropicana Field, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Glasnow was reported to be ready to take on a regular-season workload in the days leading up to summer camp, but he's now apparently been a non-participant for four days. The towering right-hander is due for a prominent rotation role in the coming season, although it remains to be seen if his ongoing absence is ultimately illness-related.

Chirinos is one of the players that's yet to be seen at Tropicana Field for the Rays' summer camp workouts, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

It is unclear why the right-hander has not yet begun training with his teammates, and the Rays are under no obligation to provide a reason for his absence. Chirinos is slated to serve in a back-end rotation role after posting a 9-5 record, 3.85 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 18 starts in 2019.

Hill threw four simulated innings Monday and could begin the season in the starting rotation, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "If Rich is feeling good and ready to go, we can see him in our rotation to start the season," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "But we still have some time and we really want to see how [the starting pitchers] are throwing the ball and how they feel."

Hill had been targeting a return in June or July since undergoing elbow surgery back in October, and apparently his workouts during the pandemic have him on track. The Twins may use a six-man rotation to begin the season, which would allow Hill to slowly ramp up his workload.

Schmidt surrendered one hit and one walk while striking out three across two scoreless innings during the Yankees' intrasquad game Monday.

Schmidt faced a stacked Yankees lineup during Monday's intrasquad game, striking out both Giancarlo Stanton and Gio Urshela to conclude the first two innings. The 24-year-old looked sharp when spring training halted in March and continues to push for an opportunity to see MLB action early this season. Schmidt has been expressing his confidence off the field as well, saying "I think that I can produce at this level, I hold myself to a high regard, I always have", Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Cease threw live batting practice Monday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Cease was hit hard at times during the session, but he was pleased to get his work in. "The hitters, they squared me up pretty good that first inning, but I was able to execute a little bit better in innings two and three. But yeah they did pretty good," said the pitcher. The right-hander had a bumpy first season in 2019, finishing 4-7 with a 5.79 ERA over 14 starts. He looked better during spring training and looks to carry that through to the regular season.

Heaney will start opposite Shohei Ohtani in Tuesday's intrasquad game and is expected to throw four innings, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

He has already been announced as the Angels' Opening Day starter, and it's encouraging that he is already ready to log four innings in what could be the first of three exhibition starts before the regular season gets underway.

Manager Aaron Boone was effusive in his praise for Schmidt on Monday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. "His pitch repertoire is excellent. His athleticism on the mound allows him to have a real clean delivery. There's an absolute presence to him, like he believes he belongs here," Boone said.

It's not unusual for a manager to praise a top prospect, but it's nonetheless comforting to know that Boone is a big fan of Schmidt. Masahiro Tanaka (concussion) may miss the start of the season, so it's conceivable Schmidt could see MLB action early and often, although Jonathan Loaisiga seems like the leading candidate to fill the fifth starter's spot if Tanaka opens the year on the injured list. Schmidt has three plus pitches and is set to start Monday night's intrasquad game opposite J.A. Happ.