MLB Player News

Kikuchi threw three scoreless innings Thursday against the Padres, giving up no hits while walking two and striking out five. His velocity was up to 96 mph in his final frame, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com.

He started the game in the 92-94 mph range with his fastball before it started humming at 96. Last year he averaged just north of 93 mph on his four-seam fastball in March, April and May before it ticked down to 92 mph in the final four months of the season. When he was dominating in Japan, his fastball was a mid-90s pitch, so if he can sit in that range again, Kikuchi could be in for a post-hype breakout. He has given up three earned runs on four hits and five walks while striking out 10 over 6.2 innings in three spring outings.

Walker reported no ill effects after throwing 31 pitches in an intersquad game Wednesday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has taken very deliberate steps all spring in an effort to ensure he's fully ready for his first taste of Cactus League action. Given Walker got through his latest test without issues, the veteran is now likely to make his spring debut against the Brewers on Monday, with official confirmation likely to come within the coming days.

Kaprielian was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

The 26-year-old was one of six total Athletics pitchers removed from big-league camp Thursday. Kaprielian posted an impressive 1.63 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB across 27.2 innings (five starts) with Double-A Midland during 2019.

Gonzales will pitch in an intersquad game Friday rather than start the Mariners' Cactus League matchup against the Dodgers, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The 28-year-old is expected to throw 3-4 innings during an intersquad game at the team complex Friday afternoon. The sudden change of plans is not injury-related and Gonzales will likely make his third Cactus League outing sometime next week. The southpaw will look to build upon a career-low 3.99 ERA last season during his fourth campaign in Seattle in 2020.

Milone (neck) could throw a side session Friday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

He was scratched from a scheduled sim game Tuesday due to a left trap injury. It sounds like he is hopeful to get a side session in this week, but it is not a guarantee.

Paxton (back) said Thursday that he's been able to do rotational exercises with a medicine ball, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

The activity represents a small sign of progress for Paxton, who will begin the season on the injured list while he recovers from a February procedure to remove a cyst from his spine. The southpaw is optimistic that he'll be cleared to begin a throwing program over the weekend or early next week, which would put him on pace to return from the IL in late April or early May if he can avoid any setbacks during the buildup period.

Chiang (side) is listed as an available option out of the bullpen for Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

While it's unclear if Chiang will be used Thursday, his inclusion on the lineup card indicates that he's moved past the side soreness he experienced early in camp that has thus far prevented him from making his spring debut. A non-roster invitee, Chiang isn't expected to win a spot in the Tigers' Opening Day bullpen and will most likely get assigned to Triple-A Toledo to begin the campaign.

Montgomery is a lock to make the rotation, according to manager Aaron Boone, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

This isn't all that surprising, as Gerrit Cole, Masahiro Tanaka and J.A. Happ are the only established rotation members who will be healthy on Opening Day, and Montgomery has much more experience in the big-league rotation than guys like Michael King and Jonathan Loaisiga. It says as much about the Yankees' depth as it does Montgomery. The 27-year-old lefty has struck out seven without allowing a run in four innings this spring. He has a 3.91 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 172 strikeouts in 186.2 MLB innings.

McKenzie is fully healthy, but the Indians are nonetheless taking things slowly with him in camp, Joe Noga of Cleveland.com reports.

He missed all of 2019 and part of 2018 while recovering from forearm and back strains, so he will be managed carefully throughout the 2020 campaign. In addition to those injuries, McKenzie has a very slight 6-foot-5, 165-pound frame. Manager Terry Francona said the next step will either be having him pitch one inning in a major-league game or facing hitters on the backfields in a less formal environment. It sounds like the Indians are looking to delay his debut because that will signify a ramping up of sorts, and this season will already be long enough for a player with McKenzie's recent injury history and fragile physique. He logged 90.2 innings at Double-A in 2018 and may return to that level this season before advancing to Triple-A. McKenzie is on the 40-man roster already, so it's possible he could reach the majors, but he won't be fully turned loose until 2021.

Manager Ron Roenicke said Thursday that Sale has been diagnosed with a flexor strain in his left elbow, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. He'll be shut down from throwing for the next week before attempting to play catch again.

Per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, both Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Neal ElAttrache noted that Sale's UCL is intact, prompting the two specialists to recommend that he forgo surgery for the time being and take a week off before seeing how his elbow responds to the rest period. According to Abraham, Sale is still scheduled to take part in defensive drills Thursday, so he won't be held out of baseball activities entirely while he waits for his elbow pain to subside. While the news is seemingly positive for Sale, the Red Sox likely won't be able to pinpoint a target date for his return until he advances deep into his throwing program, and Tommy John surgery could still be in the cards if his elbow doesn't show the desired improvement. Since he'll essentially have to go through a modified spring training all over again, Sale appears unlikely to be ready to make his 2020 debut until early May in a best-case scenario.