MLB Player News

Verlander will start Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

It will be the first start for Verlander in a Mets' uniform. The right-hander signed a two-year, $86.66 million deal in December with a vesting option for 2025 after a dominant 2022 season where he posted a 1.75 ERA and 185:29 K:BB over 175 innings. The reigning Cy Young Award winner will pitch at the top of the Mets' rotation, and once again should be a fantasy stalwart during the 2023 campaign.

Ashcraft will start Wednesday's Cactus League contest against the Athletics, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Ashcraft dealt with an ankle injury early in spring camp, but the right-hander was able to throw a bullpen without issue on Friday, and the 25-year-old will be on the bump against the A's on Wednesday. In his rookie season, Ashcraft posted a 4.89 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 71:31 K:BB over 105 innings of work. He's expected to pitch in the middle of the Cincinnati rotation to open the 2023 campaign.

Houser (groin) is scheduled to start Monday's Cactus League game against the Royals.

Houser likely won't be asked to work more than two innings while he makes his first appearance since exiting a Sept. 27 start against the Cardinals last season due to a right groin strain. The Brewers provided no indication that Houser required offseason surgery to address the injury, so he was presumably able to go through a normal throwing progression over the winter to put him a good spot heading into spring training. Unless the Brewers elect to expand their Opening Day rotation to six men, Houser may have to settle for a long-relief role to begin the season if all of Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta, Eric Lauer and Wade Miley are available.

Anderson will start Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Anderson will be making his first start of the spring Tuesday. The right-hander is coming off a disappointing 2022 campaign in which he posted a 5.00 ERA with a 97:54 K:BB across 111.2 innings, but he isn't far removed from being one of the most intriguing young arms in the National League, and he's reportedly added a slider to his arsenal. Anderson will likely need a strong spring training to secure the No. 5 spot in the Atlanta rotation.

Perez allowed one run on four hits over two innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out one and topped out at 99.6 mph with his fastball.

The teenage prospect also flashed his plus changeup, and all three of his swings and misses on the day came against the change. The Marlins aren't going to rush Perez to the majors and he'll almost certainly begin the season in the minors, but he has the talent to force his way into the Miami rotation at some point this summer if he posts big numbers at Triple-A.

Sanchez (shoulder) threw 15 pitches during a bullpen session Monday and will have another one Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Sanchez threw exclusively fastballs in the session, marking his first mound work of spring training. The 24-year-old has started the long process of returning from the arthroscopic shoulder surgery he underwent in October, and he'll likely be ramped up slowly in his throwing program over the coming months. In addition to rehabbing from shoulder surgery, Sanchez has reportedly dropped 46 pounds over the offseason as he prepares to return to game action for the first time since 2020. Sanchez had been a promising prospect prior to undergoing a pair of shoulder procedures the past two years, but his long-term outlook is uncertain.

Urias is tentatively expected to start Tuesday's Cactus League game against Cincinnati, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

The Dodgers have yet to put any of their projected 2023 starters on the mound through two spring training contests, but that looks to be changing early in the week with Urias and newcomer Noah Syndergaard both on schedule to throw against the Reds on Tuesday. Urias will spend part of his spring pitching for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, and he's lined up to form a dynamic 1-2 punch with Clayton Kershaw atop the Dodgers' rotation during the coming MLB campaign.

Henry allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out two over 1.1 innings in Sunday's spring game against San Diego.

Henry made it through the first inning, working around a two-out double, but was chased in the second frame after five of the first six batters reached base. That included a three-run home run allowed to Trent Grisham. Henry is part of a crew looking to win the fifth starter job.

Dunn is visiting orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Altchek in New York this week to have his pitching shoulder examined, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Dunn was diagnosed with a strained right subscapularis, which is the same rotator cuff muscle that forced him to miss nearly a full calendar year between the summer of 2021 and the summer of 2022. It's unclear when he may be able to throw again.

Webb (back) will start Monday's spring game against the Angels, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The right-hander missed his final start of 2022 due to back stiffness, but it appears he's ready for the start of spring games. Webb will open 2023 as San Francisco's ace after he posted a 2.90 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 163:49 K:BB across a career-high 192.1 innings last year.