MLB Player News

Morton is slated to work multiple simulated games over the next week and make just one more Grapefruit League appearance in anticipation of a likely Opening Day start, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The veteran right-hander was originally scheduled to make his next Grapefruit League start Sunday against his old Pirates squad, but he'll instead work four innings and build up to approximately 60 pitches in a simulated environment on the backfields of the Rays' spring training complex. Morton will then repeat the process approximately five or six days later, with the goal of reaching 75 pitches in that outing. That would leave Morton an opportunity to make a final spring start March 20 against the Nationals, and then have the benefit of six days rest before the regular-season opener against Pittsburgh.

Turnbull allowed one run across three innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. He gave up one hit and two walks, while striking out three.

The run was the first allowed by Turnbull through eight Grapefruit League innings. The righty had a 4.61 ERA last season, but his 3.99 FIP suggests that he was victim to a little bad luck. He could be in line for a decent season in Detroit and won't cost a ton in fantasy drafts.

Giolito tossed one inning in Friday's spring game against the Cubs, Doug Padilla of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Giolito, who has been brought along slowly this spring due to a strained chest muscle, threw 20 pitches in his Cactus League debut, then added another 10 in the bullpen. "I felt great physically," Giolito said. "I wasn't going to go out there and step on the gas 100 percent as far as body-intensity-wise. I was pitching with intensity, but the big thing was kind of feeling things out and making sure I was controlling myself as the game sped up, which I thought I did a pretty good job of." He should get another three starts and is still lined up as Chicago's Opening Day starter March 26, at home against Kansas City.

Bieber was confirmed as Cleveland's Opening Day starter Friday.

He opened 2018 as the team's No. 5 starter but is now the top option (at least with Mike Clevinger out with a knee injury) after a season in which Bieber posted a 30.1 percent strikeout rate and a 4.7 percent walk rate en route to a 3.28 ERA. He'll get the ball on March 26 as the Indians host the Tigers.

Canning will undergo a series of biological injections to address his right elbow discomfort Friday.

Canning dealt with elbow issues back in August, and they returned early in camp. So far, Tommy John surgery hasn't been deemed necessary. He'll be reassessed in three or four weeks, at which point a clearer timeline for his return to game action should emerge.

Teheran's scheduled Cactus League start was pushed to Saturday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Teheran was originally scheduled to go Friday, but he'll toe the mound Saturday instead. Dillon Peters will get the start against Kansas City on Friday in Teheran's stead.

Cole pitched two innings in a spring start against Detroit on Thursday, allowing six runs on six hits and one walk. He struck out three.

Cole was slated to go three innings in his third Cactus League appearance, but he didn't make it that far. The damage was primarily inflicted by Travis Demeritte and Miguel Cabrera, who hit back-to-back homers against him in the first inning and then repeated the feat in the second. For what it's worth, Cole indicated that he had a fever earlier in the week that he thought "might have been strep," per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Whether or not the illness factored into Thursday's shelling, there's little reason to be concerned about the outcome of a spring-training game.

Javier was optioned to minor-league camp, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The 22-year-old was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft in November, and he's set to begin another season in the minors. Javier made his way to Triple-A Round Rock by the end of 2019 and allowed only two runs with a 16:4 K:BB over 11 innings.

Snell (elbow) felt good after a 20-pitch bullpen session Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Snell required a cortisone shot in his elbow last week, fueling fears that he could be out for the start of the regular season. The Rays played down those concerns, noting that the shot was on the outside of the lefty's elbow rather than near the tendon, which would be more worrisome. Assuming he still feels good Saturday, Snell could get back into game action as soon as Monday.

Giolito (chest) is starting Friday's Cactus League game versus the Cubs, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The 25-year-old was listed as Friday's expected starter, and he's now confirmed for his spring debut after battling a strained chest muscle over the past few weeks. Giolito should have plenty of time to get stretched out over a few more starts in his preparations for Opening Day.