MLB Player News

Manager Joe Maddon announced Sunday that Heaney will be his Opening Day starter, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The official MLB schedule has yet to be released, but Heaney is set to open things on the mound for the Angels on July 23 or 24. The southpaw battled multiple injuries in 2019 and struggled with a 4.91 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 118:30 K:BB over 95.1 innings, but he'll look to get back on track during the shortened 2020 campaign.

Gibson is scheduled to pitch in an intra-squad game Sunday, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Gibson is expected to be part of the Rangers rotation in 2020, but his situation got murky after the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. As an ulcerative colitis patient, Gibson suffers a higher risk of complications if he contracts COVID-19.

Eovaldi threw three innings in a simulated game Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Eovaldi threw approximately 45 pitches during his first throwing session of summer camp. "The stuff was great," said Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke. "The cutter was good, the slider, the curveball. Threw some really good split-fingers and the velocity was there on his fastball. He got what he needed to do today. Moving forward, we're thinking his next outing will be an intrasquad game." Saturday, Eovaldi built off the positive results he had during spring training, when the right-hander tossed eight scoreless innings while striking out 12 and walking one over three Grapefruit League starts. With Eduardo Rodriguez (not injury related) not yet in camp due to possible exposure to someone who tested positive for coronavirus, Eovaldi temporarily moves up a slot in the rotation.

Kluber tossed five innings in a simulated game Saturday, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Kluber shouldered a heavy load during his first summer-camp session, throwing 85 pitches (55 strikes). The right-hander struggled at the beginning, according to manager Chris Woodward, but once he found his arm slot, he commanded better. During the shutdown, Kluber had pitched regularly at his home in suburban Boston (Mass.) and also made a two-week trip to Florida in early May to join private workouts with other major-league players.

McCullers pitched three innings of a simulated game Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCullers, who missed all of 2019 due to recovery from Tommy John elbow surgery, reported to spring training healthy and ready. He made three Grapefruit League starts before the coronavirus pandemic halted his comeback. Saturday was his first action in game-like conditions since summer camp started. "He was pretty sharp," Houston manager Dusty Baker said. "The other day, he didn't have the command that he had today. He had a good changeup, he had a good breaking ball and his two-seamer and four-seamer were looking pretty good." The Astros are hoping McCullers can make up for the loss of Gerrit Cole, the team's No. 2 starter last season who bolted to the Yankees as a free agent over the winter.

Giolito will throw a simulated game Sunday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Giolito will get up and down at least three times in what will be his first session of summer camp. The right-hander reported pitching regularly during the shutdown, including facing hitters of all levels in his home area of Sacramento (Calif.). The White Sox plan to gradually stretch out their starters, beginning Thursday when the club plans its first intra-squad game.

Montas' velocity stood out during his bullpen session in the Athletics' first day of summer camp Saturday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Montas had posted a video to social media in late May that showed him ringing up triple digits on the radar gun, and he demonstrated that wasn't any fluke in Saturday's session. Catcher Sean Murphy vouched for Montas' velocity, noting how sore his hand was after catching the right-hander. Montas had tuned up for what was expected to be a prominent 2020 role with 5.2 scoreless innings in Cactus League play, and he'll now have a chance to prep against his teammates in summer camp for the shortened regular season.

Heaney is one of a handful of Angels pitchers already stretched out to 55 pitches, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The progress of Heaney, Dylan Bundy and Matt Andriese among others has taken on greater importance with Julio Teheran not yet in camp. Manager Joe Maddon said that he expects the Angels starters to be around 90 pitches by the end of summer training.

Berrios threw around 45 pitches over three simulated innings Friday and reached 95-96 mph with his fastball in the first inning, MLB.com reports.

Berrios spent the pandemic shutdown throwing a bullpen session every Tuesday and faced hitters Fridays, the report adds. It sounds like Berrios is in top shape and should be ready for the start of the season. A short season could benefit Berrios, as he's made two consecutive All-Star teams, but he faded in the second half the past two years. Berrios had a 3.00 ERA before last year's All-Star break, and 4.64 ERA in the second half.

Urquidy has yet to report to camp with the Astros for undisclosed reasons, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

If Urquidy's absence is coronavirus-related, the Astros wouldn't legally be allowed to say. Manager Dusty Baker said simply that the righty "has a condition preventing him from reporting to the field." Whether or not he'll be able to report in time to take his presumed place in the Astros' Opening Day rotation remains to be seen.