MLB Player News

Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters he's set with Jake Odorizzi to open a four-game series in Toronto on Monday. Chris Archer will close out the series on Thursday with Matt Andriese likely to pitch on Tuesday, and Erasmo Ramirez on Wednesday, per the Tampa Bay Times.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander reported no issues with his triceps after Friday's 30-pitch bullpen session, and is scheduled to throw around 40 pitches on Sunday, per MLive.com.

"We'll have to see how he feels the next day," manager Brad Ausmus said, declining to look further down the road than that. "He's moving in the right direction."

The Twins placed pitcher Ricky Nolasco on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, retroactive to April 9, due to right elbow inflammation, the team announced.

Nolasco felt "a little spike" on a fourth-inning pitch Wednesday, but a subsequent MRI revealed only inflammation. The team is optimistic he'll need just the minimum 15 days to recover.

The Twins recalled pitcher Trevor May from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move. May will enter the rotation in place of Nolasco and make his first start Monday in the team's home opener against the Royals.

Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi was touched for three runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings of work Friday to take a no-decision against the Red Sox in a game that lasted 19 innings.

Wade Miley started for the Red Sox and allowed two earned runs in 5.1 innings Friday against the Yankees to take a no decision in a game that went 19 innings.

Taijuan Walker (0-1) started for the Mariners on Friday and was smacked around for nine earned runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings, suffering the loss against the Athletics.

"It's definitely not the results I wanted for the first start," Walker said, per MLB.com. "But I'll just put this one behind me and move on."

Walker gave up a second-inning home run to A's left fielder Mark Canha.

"Actually I thought he made great pitches. It was just their night," McClendon said. "I thought he threw some good changeups, some good breaking balls. Early on everything was falling in for them. And you have to give them credit. They came out attacking and did a nice job."

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander threw 30 pitches off of a mound on Friday, according to MLive.com. 

Verlander threw all of his pitches except his curveball. He told reporters the session went well. Verlander is recovering from a triceps injury that placed him on the 15-day disabled list. If Verlander feels fine on Saturday he'll throw a full bullpen session on Sunday. 

White Sox ace Chris Sale will not be used for more than six innings or 90-95 pitches, whichever comes first, manager Robin Ventura told reporters on Friday, per ESPN. On Wednesday, Sale was cleared to make his season debut Sunday against the Twins after missing Opening Day due to an avulsion fracture in his foot.

"If (the injury) was his arm, that would be one thing, but he's looked great in the past of just his mechanics and watching him in spring getting closer and closer to where he is now," Ventura said. "We're pretty happy with where he is now with that and you want to make sure you're not running him out there and not getting him overextended."

Twins will place starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco on the 15-day disabled list with elbow soreness, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Friday. The team will promote pitching prospect Trevor May from Triple-A Rochester.

Nolasco experienced "a little spike" on a pitch to Tigers catcher Alex Avila in the fourth inning during his season debut Wednesday, manager Paul Molitor said earlier in the week. He allowed six earned runs in three innings of work in his only start. He underwent an MRI on his injured elbow, which revealed elbow inflammation, according to MLB.com.

"Really good news," Molitor said. "I think we're all optimistic, if we can just back him off a little bit and get treatment and progress him along, it will only be the 15 days. We're optimistic that will be the case for now."

May threw a side session on Thursday, and is slated to start the Minnesota's home opener on Monday against Kansas City, Molitor confirmed.

"Great opportunity for him," Molitor said.

The Red Sox won't surrender outfielder Mookie Betts or catching prospect Blake Swihart in a deal with the Phillies for veteran pitcher Cole Hamels, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman on Friday.

Betts cracked the Opening Day roster and is hitting .286 (3 for 13) with a home run and an RBI through three games.

Heyman added that although Swihart is prepared defensively, he is a switch hitter with the ability to produce at the plate. Swihart, considered Boston's top prospect by Baseball America and the team's second-best prospect by MLB.com, slashed .293/.341/.469 with 13 homers and 64 RBI over 416 at-bats between Triple-A Pawtucket and Double-A Portland last season.