MLB Player News

Paxton allowed no runs on three hits and struck out five across 3.1 innings Thursday against Philadelphia. He picked up his second win of spring training.

Paxton continues to impress in the early going, as he now owns a 1.23 ERA with 10 punchouts over 7.1 innings (three starts). The Kentucky product appeared to have better command of his pitches in his last two starts after struggling with his curveball during his first start as a Yankee.

Oaks underwent hip surgery Thursday and hopes to resume baseball activities in four months, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

The procedure ended up being more extensive than originally expected, and while that timeline would allow him to return during the season, hip injuries are often pretty tough to bounce back from quickly. Oaks was likely ticketed for the Triple-A rotation, and will head there once he completes a rehab assignment later this summer.

Clevinger struck out three over three scoreless frames Wednesday in the Indians' 6-1 victory over the Dodgers in his Cactus League debut. He gave up one hit (a double) and issued a walk in the outing.

Facing off against a Dodgers lineup that included a good amount of projected regulars, Clevinger aced his first test of the spring. The right-hander suffered a scare in the second inning when Cody Bellinger sent a liner back to the mound, but Clevinger was able to knock the ball down with his glove hand and was cleared to continue after being evaluated by trainers. Per Mandy Bell of MLB.com, Clevinger said that he expects to remain on a normal schedule after receiving some extra treatment ahead of his next start, when he'll likely increase his pitch count.

Farrell underwent surgery on his fractured jaw and is slated to open the season on the Rangers' injured list, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Farrell suffered the injury last weekend after being struck in the face by a line drive. He had been angling for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen after supplying a 5.17 ERA and 39:16 K:BB across 31.1 innings with the Cubs in 2018. The Rangers haven't issued a firm timeline for Farrell's return to action, but Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News suggests the southpaw will be headed to the 60-day IL, which would make him unavailable until late May. At the very least, Farrell will be withheld from baseball activities for the next 2-to-3 weeks while his jaw remains wired shut.

Morton fired 2.1 scoreless innings in the Rays' 9-6 Grapefruit League loss to the Orioles on Wednesday, recording two strikeouts while also hitting two batters.

The good news was that Morton kept his spring scoreless streak alive, and that he was able to work up to 39 pitches. However, he also had some hiccups with his control, plunking back-to-back batters in the first inning. Morton is coming off career bests in wins (13), ERA (3.13) and WHIP (1.16) with the Astros in 2018, and he lines up as the Rays' No. 2 starter behind Blake Snell for the coming season. According to Juan Toribio of MLB.com, Morton's next spring start will likely come against the Phillies on Monday.

German is expected to open the season in the Yankees' rotation with Luis Severino (shoulder) and CC Sabathia (knee) both likely to open the year on the injured list, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

German and Jonathan Loaisiga were expected to compete for the final spot following Severino's injury, but with Sabathia set to miss time as well there's now room for both players. Their stays may end up being brief if Severino and Sabathia's recoveries go as hoped, but German could be called on several times throughout the year whenever rotation reinforcements are needed.

Manager Kevin Cash announced Wednesday that Snell would take the hill for the Rays' regular-season opener March 28 versus the Astros, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Snell had a rough go of things in his most recent spring outing Tuesday versus the University of South Florida, failing to escape the first inning while allowing four baserunners and finding the strike zone on only 15 of his 29 pitches. The ugly showing won't take the shine off his breakout 2018 campaign (21-5, 1.89 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 221:64 K:BB in 180.2 innings) that culminated in him taking home the American League Cy Young award. An unsustainable 86.2 percent strand rate suggests another sub-2.00 ERA shouldn't be expected, but Snell's impressive underlying skills otherwise point to him being a worthy fantasy ace once again.

Odorizzi threw 2.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts in his spring debut Tuesday. "It was probably a good thing that Odo was cruising really well, and having to throw a few extra pitches," manager Rocco Baldelli told the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Odorizzi's strikeout rate increased from 8.0 K/9 to 8.9 last season and he gave up fewer home runs (15.5% HR/FB in 2017, 8.9% HR/FB in 2018). However, his inability to pitch deep into games suppressed his fantasy value. He's a candidate for the Twins to use as an opener during his starts, but he's set as a part of the rotation.

Severino (shoulder) relayed that he was encouraged by the results of the initial MRI he underwent Tuesday, which revealed he was dealing with right rotator cuff inflammation, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports. "I think it's something we can treat now," said Severino, who will receive a cortisone injection Wednesday and get rested for the next two weeks before resuming his throwing program.

Severino's shutdown period means that he's unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, but the young ace is optimistic that any potential stint on the injured list to begin the season would be an abbreviated one. Per Coley Harvey of ESPN.com, Severino noted Wednesday that his strength feels the same in his shoulder, leaving him hopeful that simple rest will be all he needs to avoid recurring problems throughout the season. While the injury nonetheless impacts Severino's stock in fantasy drafts, the issue perhaps isn't as catastrophic as some might have initially anticipated.

Eovaldi will throw to live batters for the first time this spring Wednesday, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Eovaldi takes the mound against opponents for the first time since he threw 97 pitches in six-plus innings of relief on one day's rest in Game 3 of last year's World Series against the Dodgers. Since that day, Eovaldi signed a four-year, $64 million contract with Boston, the organization he credits with making him a better and more complete pitcher. Under the tutelage of assistant pitching coach Brian Bannister, Eovaldi reworked his curveball, gaining velocity and break. "It was just eye-opening," Eovaldi said. "Now I'm understanding this thing and that thing, and I felt like it really helped my curveball toward the end of the season. I knew I climbed on it, got too high on my arm slot. Working with (Bannister) helped me get to the point where it was at the end of the season." Eovaldi is no longer reticent to throw the hook, something he did 19 times during Game 3, the most he's thrown in a single game in his career.