MLB Player News

White Sox starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija told reporters he's not concerned about his chances of taking Chris Sale's spot as Chicago's Opening Day starter, according to Chicago Sun Times. 

"No, I just need to know the day of," Samardzija said. "Some of my best starts were when I showed up and they said you're pitching today. It doesn't really matter to me. Probably the less time you get the better, that way the less time you stay in bed thinking about it and staying up all night."

Although manager Robin Ventura has yet to name his starter for Day, Jose Quintana may have tipped his hand, telling reporters he expects to see the ball in Day 2.

"It's a little different because it's the first one, right?" Samardzija said. "You're not in midseason form but the spotlight is so bright you need to be in midseason form, so in that sense it's a little weird."

Yankees pitcher Nathan Eovaldi continued a strong spring with a 75-pitch outing against Blue Jays minor leaguers on Tuesday. He struck out five and allowed only one run over 4 2/3 innings of work. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild was present for Eovaldi's outing, per NJ.com.

"He's a guy that has a chance to get better and better as long as he's heading in the right direction," Rothschild said. "And that's what he's doing."

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, followed by a simulated game on Friday, according to ESPN.

Sale, who is working his way back from a broken bone in his right foot, will likely miss the start of the season, but is targeting a mid-April return.

"Sale looked fantastic the last time we worked on the little field," pitching coach Don Cooper said. "We got him up and down four times and he looked really good to where I said, 'Man, if we don't hit any stumbling blocks after this, I think we’ve got the 12th. I think we're fine for his start in Chicago.'"

Corey Kluber's representatives and the Indians met in Goodyear last week, but don't appear close to finding common ground on a long-term deal, reports CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman on Tuesday.

"The lines of communication between myself and the Indians are and will continue to be open," said Kluber's agent B.B. Abbott, who declined to comment on the face-to-face meetings he had with the club.

Kluber, the 2014 American League Cy Young winner, was tabbed Cleveland's Opening Day starter after going 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA and 269:51 K:BB ratio in 235 2/3 innings last season.

White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana tossed 4 1/3 innings Monday and was told after the game he will start the second game of the season, according to MLB.com.

"That second day is my day. Second start right now," Quintana said. "You know I want to be ready for this start and I like this spring for me. I feel really good."

Quintana, who gave up four runs on eight hits Monday, said he's feeling close to ready.

"Just his attitude and the way he goes about things is good as anybody that I have ever been around in the game," said manager Robin Ventura of Quintana. "That's part of his maturity."

Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings pitched Mondaym leaving the young right-hander with more stuff to work on. The biggest issue is how well Bassitt can throw against left-handed hitters, reports Bay Area News Group.

"I have to be able to throw inside to left-handed hitters," he said. "I've always been able to get away with it in the minor leagues. But up here, they hit that. I've been working at that my whole life, honestly. At this level you can’t beat anyone if you can't."

Bassitt realizes his pitches work inside, then end up over the middle of the plate against lefties.

"My ball runs a lot," he said. "I'm trying to figure out where I have to throw it to get batters to think it's actually in. The catchers are setting up inside and my ball runs right down middle. Obviously, that’s not really effective at all."

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale is continuing to progress back on the field from a foot injury. Sale was able to perform on-field drills Monday and is expected to throw five innings with 75 pitches of a simulated game Friday, reports MLB.com.

"Today is a good day, just getting him back out with everybody on the field," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "He's not running around necessarily, but just to get him back out is good for his psyche.

"To get him off the mound, would be good, too, so we'll see how it goes tomorrow. I would say simulated to be able to control it and make sure he's not overextended as far as covering bases and things like that. Just to get him off the mound and see a hitter would be good."

Rays pitcher Drew Smyly continued to make progress coming back from shoulder tendinitis. Manager Kevin Cash said that Smyly threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Monday and felt good afterward, per TBO.com.

Chris Sale, out most of the spring with a fracture in his foot, is getting closer to a return. 

The White Sox pitcher was able to do on-field running on Monday. Sale said he enjoyed the chance to "feel like a real baseball player again," per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun Times.

Sale will do a bullpen session on Tuesday and pitch in some type of game situation--either real or simulated--on Friday. 

Rays starting pitcher Alex Cobb (forearm tendinitis) said he is close to being pain-free, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He is scheduled for a follow-up appointment with the doctor on Tuesday.