MLB Player News

Sale left Saturday's game with a left hip contusion after being hit by a line drive, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Sale will continue to be examined by team doctors within the next couple hours. It doesn't appear as though his Opening Day start against the Rays on Thursday is in jeopardy, but more should be known regarding his availability by the end of the day.

Sale was hit on the left thigh by a comebacker and was removed from Saturday's contest, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Sale appeared to be okay following the incident, as he walked off the field without any noticeable limp or sign of pain. He did fall to the ground immediately after being struck by the line drive and should be considered day-to-day until he's evaluated by team doctors. The southpaw is scheduled to face Tampa Bay on Opening Day this Thursday. Expect an update on his status in the coming hours.

German was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

German didn't quite do enough this spring to warrant a spot on the major-league roster, but he did impress the Yankees' organization, logging a 2.30 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 15.2 innings of Grapefruit League action. The right-hander is a prime candidate to see some time with the club later on this season after receiving more seasoning in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Perez (elbow) will begin the season on the disabled list but is slated to start at Oakland on April 5, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Texas can place Perez on the 10-day DL retroactive to March 26, which would allow him to return for the series finale at Oakland. The 26-year-old has pitched five innings in both of his spring starts, but the Rangers are looking to avoid rushing the 26-year-old back into major-league action -- as well as buy themselves an extra roster spot to begin the season -- so he will spend the first week on the DL.

Kluber was officially named the Indians' Opening Day starter, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Kluber will take the hill against Seattle on Thursday. In 2017, the right-hander posted a 2.25 ERA and 0.87 WHIP with a 265:36 K:BB over 203.2 innings on his way to winning the American League Cy Young Award.

Cobb's Orioles debut could come April 9 against the Blue Jays, Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun reports.

That timeline would see Cobb miss his first two turns in the rotation but be back for the Orioles' 11th game. The right-hander was a very late signing for the Orioles, only joining the team March 20, so he'll need the chance to get stretched out with a few starts in the minors before he's ready to go.

With the demotion of Parker Bridwell and Nick Tropeano, Ramirez appears to have won the Angels' sixth and final rotation spot, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The converted reliever was the leading candidate to win the job entering camp after posting a 4.15 ERA and 1.34 WHIP over 147.1 innings as a starter last season. The Halos' roster moves Thursday indicate that Ramirez will in fact begin the year in the rotation. He said that he is making an effort to induce more contact in front of the Angels' improved infield defense, and while that may impact his pedestrian 6.4 K/9 from a year ago, it could also result in gong deeper into games and posting a few more quality starts.

Gonzales allowed two earned runs on five hits and a walk over five innings in Thursday's 5-4 Cactus League win over the Rangers. He struck out five.

Another step in the right direction for the southpaw, who looked back to form this spring following another offseason of restrengthening his surgically repaired elbow. Gonzales wraps up the exhibition slate having reached the five-inning mark in back-to-back outings, a stretch during which he only gave up Thursday's two earned runs. While he'll be further tested once the intensity ramps up in the regular season, the 26-year-old appears primed for a solid campaign if his spring work is any indication.

Rodon (shoulder) tossed 25 pitches in a bullpen session Thursday, Chris Gabel of MLB.com reports.

This was Rodon's third bullpen session this spring. There were no setbacks reported, so Rodon remains on track for a June return.

Morton allowed nine runs on 11 hits and three walks while striking out one over 3.1 innings in Thursday's start against Miami.

Morton ran his pitch count to 83, the one positive takeaway from an otherwise forgettable outing. It had been a relatively uneventful spring training for Morton until Thursday, and this performance does nothing to change his status -- he'll be Houston's fifth starter and will start the home opener, April 2, against Baltimore. Before then, however, he will pitch in an exhibition game against the Nationals at Minute Maid Park in Houston next Tuesday.