MLB Player News

Boyd was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday.

Boyd posted a strong spring while competing for the fifth starter spot, but the Tigers apparently felt that Shane Greene was the better option for the role to begin the season. His strong showing this spring could help him get onto the major league roster during the season if anything happens to the current rotation in Detroit, though.

Alvarez (shoulder) will face hitters next Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Alvarez has been ramping up his rehab in recent days, and it appears that he's progressed enough to face live hitters. He's still a ways away from game situations, but the progress he's made still points toward a mid-May return.

Rodriguez (knee) may not return to the Red Sox until sometime in May, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Rodriguez is dealing with a patella injury and is still in the early stages of increasing his activity level. The lefty is expected to require 2-to-3 bullpen sessions before returning to game action, which may not come until early in May.

Gausman (shoulder) is hopeful that he'll be able to return in mid-April, Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reports.

Gausman's DL stint is backdated to March 25, so he'll be eligible to return as early as April 10. It sounds as though it's possible he'll require a bit more time than that, as the 25-year-old indicated he'd need between two or three weeks after the start of the season, but it appears as though he'll be able to return some time during the season's opening month.

Sale will pitch Opening Day against the A's, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The announcement doesn't come as much of a surprise, as Sale has been one of the more dominant pitchers in all of baseball the last few seasons, finishing in the top five of the AL Cy Young voting three years in a row. He'll be opposed by Sonny Gray on the other side when the White Sox open up their season on Monday.

Nolasco will begin the season as Minnesota's No. 5 starter, with Tyler Duffey optioned to Triple-A Rochester, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Nolasco has a 4.05 ERA this spring with an impressive 14:5 K:BB ratio in 13.1 innings. Nolasco has struggled to stay healthy the past two years and performed terribly when on the mound, producing a 5.40 ERA and 6.7 K/9 over 191.2 innings.

Stroman tossed four scoreless innings against Philadelphia Monday, allowing three hits while striking out three.

After coming off a 2015 season in which he pitched in only four games due to an ACL tear, Stroman looks to return to his 2014 form in which he made 20 starts, recorded an 11-6 record and compiled a 3.65 ERA along with a 1.17 WHIP. He's only 24 years old and is on one of the most high-powered offensive teams in MLB, so assuming he remains healthy, he could provide great fantasy value at a low price.

Bassitt (hamstring) gave up five runs on seven hits and walked four, while striking out four, against the Royals on Saturday.

He suffered a hamstring contusion in his previous spring start, so perhaps that led to his early struggles Saturday, which included a four-run first inning. Bassitt still appears to have the inside track to one of the final spots in the Oakland rotation to begin the season.

Gray (arm) will make his final spring start Tuesday against the Cubs, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

He pitched in a minor league game Thursday, logging 6.1 innings while throwing 93 pitches. The dead arm period he experienced this spring should be a non-issue in terms of his ability to get deep into starts as the regular season gets underway. Gray will take the ball for the A's on Opening Night against the White Sox.

Nuno hasn't pitched great this spring, but he's a lock for a left-handed bullpen job, especially with lefty Charlie Furbush injured.

Nuno has allowed six runs and five walks in 12.1 spring innings. He has nine strikeouts, though. And he had not allowed a home run, often a problem for him, until Sunday. The Mariners are short on left-handers, so Nuno likely will pitch in a setup role, at least until Furbush returns.