MLB Player News

JC Ramirez is being stretched out as a starting pitcher this spring, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Manager Joe Maddon wants Ramirez to be available as both a starting pitcher or reliever once the season arrives. The 31-year-old started eight games for Triple-A Salt Lake in 2019, posting a 6.59 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 26 strikeouts across 41 innings. With teammate Griffin Canning heading for an MRI on Friday, it is possible that Ramirez could tackle a few starts earlier in the season while the Angels wait for their ace Shohei Ohtani to return to the mound around mid-May.

Paxton "feels good" thus far about his recovery from back surgery, Sweeny Murti of Sports Radio 66 WFAN reports.

News of Paxton's progress comes at a good time for the Yankees following the loss of Luis Severino to season-ending elbow surgery. While Paxton is expected to miss about a month at the start of the regular season, he could begin throwing as early as next week.

Manager Dusty Baker said Verlander (groin) will start Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Verlander was originally scheduled to take the mound Thursday vs. the Nationals but was scratched due to groin discomfort. The veteran right-hander was still able to complete a simulated game Thursday and stated afterwards that it went about as good as he could have hoped, putting him on track to rejoin the rotation early next week.

Verlander (groin) threw a successful simulated game Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Verlander was scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League start against the Nationals on Thursday due to groin discomfort, but he was still able to complete a simulated outing and said afterwards that it went about as good as he could have hoped. Assuming the veteran right-hander checks out OK in the coming days, Verlander should slot back into the Grapefruit League pitching schedule sometime next week, which will give him plenty of time to get up to speed before the start of the season.

McCullers is scheduled to start Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

As expected, McCullers is on track to make his Grapefruit League debut over the weekend after tossing his first bullpen session of the spring earlier in the week. The right-hander, who missed all of the 2019 season while on the mend following Tommy John surgery, is competing for the No. 3 spot in Houston's rotation.

Canning is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his right elbow Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Canning apparently felt something during his spring debut Wednesday, during which he allowed just one walk across two scoreless innings. While the severity of the issue won't be known until after his test results are disclosed, any setback could have an effect on his status for the start of the 2020 season. It's worth noting that Canning''s 2019 season prematurely ended due to a bout of right elbow inflammation.

Giolito (chest) completed his third bullpen session of the spring Thursday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Giolito came out of the workout feeling positive about his health and said he expects his next throwing session to be a live batting practice session. If Giolito experiences no issues while facing hitters, he could advance to pitching in a simulated game or Cactus League game, likely at some point during the upcoming week. Coming off a breakout 2019 campaign, Giolito still looks like he'll have enough time to prove his health this spring and keep himself in line for the White Sox's Opening Day starting assignment.

Interim manager Ron Roenicke confirmed Thursday that Sale (illness) won't be available to start Opening Day and will likely begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Roenicke stressed that Sale is fine physically after the southpaw treated his elbow through non-surgical methods during the offseason, but the 30-year-old simply doesn't have enough time left during spring to build up to a starter's workload after battling pneumonia earlier this month. Sale has since resumed working out and is expected to toss a live batting-practice session Saturday, but he'll still be about two weeks behind Boston's other starting pitchers once the regular season begins. Assuming the Red Sox place Sale on the IL and make his stint retroactive to March 23 (the earliest possible date), the lefty won't be eligible to make his 2020 debut until at least April 7 versus the Rays, per Browne.

Lynn will make his spring debut Friday against the Angels, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

The Rangers will begin incorporating their starters this weekend, when Lynn is expected to work three innings or about 45-50 pitches. He will be followed by Mike Minor, who will throw a simulated game Saturday, and then Corey Kluber on Sunday. Manager Chris Woodward told Dave Sessions of MLB.com that he expects those three, in some order, to start the first three games of the season at Seattle.

Keuchel threw a simulated game Wednesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The White Sox are sticking to their plan of not having their starters face AL Central foes, so rather than use Keuchel against the Royals, they had him throw a sim game in the backfields. The left-hander got up and down three times and was upbeat about being able to throw his curveball consistently. That's how he knows he's ahead of schedule relative to previous seasons.