MLB Player News

Milone (neck) will pitch a simulated game Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Milone threw a side session Tuesday after completing a bullpen session Sunday and is expected to rejoin the Baltimore starting rotation if things go according to plan Thursday. The 33-year-old is a contender to open the season as the Orioles' No. 5 starter and will have the opportunity to make multiple spring starts if he can avoid any further setbacks.

Ryu allowed three hits over 4.1 scoreless innings while striking out four in Monday's split-squad game against the Rays.

The veteran southpaw continues to breeze through the spring, posting a 1.42 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 6:0 K:BB through 6.1 innings. The Jays are counting on Ryu to be their staff ace this year, and if he can stay healthy -- no sure thing, given that he's reached 130 innings only once in the last four seasons -- he appears more than capable of handling the assignment.

Sale (elbow) will be reassessed within the next week, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Interim manager Ron Roenicke said Sale would be reassessed 10-to-14 days after the date he was originally shut down, which happened at the start of March. After three opinions on Sale's left elbow, Tommy John surgery hasn't been recommended. The plan has been for him to rest, as his UCL is still intact, and see how his elbow responds. We should know more about whether or not that plan is working and what the lefty's next steps are soon.

Montas reverted to occasionally trying out a quick pitch during his third Cactus League start, Sunday versus the Brewers, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander deployed the tactic frequently during a rough 2017 season, when he bounced between the Athletics and Triple-A Nashville and was hit hard in both locales. Montas is an exponentially better pitcher these days, so he's likely to use the strategy only on occasion when he wants to add an element of surprise. Montas allowed two unearned runs on four hits across 2.2 innings against Milwaukee, a so-so performance coming off two strong starts to begin the spring. "My fastball was coming out good," Montas said. "I was just trying to get ready for the season."

Bassitt, originally slated for a swingman role, is likely to open the season in the starting rotation due to A.J. Puk's shoulder issues, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Puk was shut down last week with shoulder soreness and has yet to resume throwing, with the missed time already scuttling the promising southpaw's chances of opening the season in the rotation as planned. Enter Bassitt, whose versatility has allowed him to be effective as both starter and reliever over his five-season major-league career, and who fired three scoreless innings against the Rangers in his latest Cactus League start Monday. The right-hander has generated sub-4.00 ERAs each of the past two seasons while making 39 appearances, seven of those in relief.

Greinke allowed one run on four hits while striking out two over four innings in Monday's spring game against the Tigers.

Greinke hasn't hit a road bump yet in his ramp-up to the regular season. Monday's earned run was the first he's allowed in three spring starts. The right-hander has allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out seven without a walk in nine spring innings.

Cease allowed three runs on four hits, three walks and a hit batsman while striking out three over three-plus innings in Monday's spring game against the Reds.

Cease's third spring start was not like his first two. The same issues he had last season -- command, walks, one bad inning -- resurfaced for the first time this spring. He lost command during a two-run third inning when the right-hander walked three and hit a batter. Just 36 of his 64 pitches landed in the zone.

Skubal tossed 2.2 innings of one-run ball in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He allowed four hits and two walks, while striking out three.

The promising lefty appeared in an earlier Grapefruit League game, though this was his first start. He held his own against a Houston lineup that featured regulars such as Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa. Skubal recorded an impressive 179 strikeouts across 122.2 innings in the minors last season, and he could find himself making his MLB debut later this year if he pitches well in the upper levels of the minors.

Snell felt great following his outing Monday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Snell wasn't at all happy with his performance, which included four walks and four earned runs and just a single out. The important thing, though, is that he felt no pain in his elbow following the game. Assuming that remains the case for the rest of spring, Snell should be fine for Opening Day.

Verlander (lat) said Monday that it would "probably take a miracle" for him to be ready to return by Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Verlander was pulled from his start Sunday against the Mets with an injury which was originally referred to as right triceps soreness but is now being called a mild lat strain. He's been shut down from throwing for an undetermined period, though both he and the Astros have expressed some optimism that he avoided a particularly serious injury. Verlander has only thrown 4.2 innings this spring, so he'll need to complete his spring buildup once he's cleared to throw again.