MLB Player News

Harding will take the mound in the Rockies' Cactus League opener on Saturday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports

Although he is only expected to pitch around two innings, Anderson will be looking to get off to nice start as he prepares for his second big league season. Last spring, the 27-year-old suffered an oblique injury that kept him out all the way until June, so staying healthy will be a major key in his start against the Diamondbacks. Assuming Anderson remains injury-free throughout this month, he'll have a solid chance at locking down a spot in Colorado's starting rotation to begin the year.

Gonzales threw an intense 30-pitch bullpen session Thursday, the latest step in his comeback from April 2016 Tommy John surgery, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The 2013 first-round pick threw all fastballs in the session, splitting his workload over two 15-minute rounds. His velocity represented an increase from that of his previous session, and Gonzales will take things up another notch his next time out after a couple of days of rest. The 25-year-old southpaw owns a career 4-2 record, 4.82 ERA and 1.61 WHIP over 37.1 major league frames and is aiming for a May return to the mound.

Lynn (elbow), making his return after missing all of 2016 due to Tommy John surgery, will start Monday's split squad game against the Nationals, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

Lynn will make his long-awaited return to the mound after missing all of last season. The 29-year-old right-hander is looking to earn a spot in the starting rotation and build on his streak of four straight double-digit victory seasons, with Monday's outing serving as his first chance to start building his case,

Ryu was impressive in throwing a live batting practice session Friday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt said he saw "no negatives" and that Ryu should be ready to pitch in a game next. The team hasn't decided whether it will be a simulated or Cactus League game, but it's great news either way. Ryu is expected to be ready to rejoin the rotation by Opening Day, as he attempts to return to his prior form.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Urias will appear in a major league spring training game next week, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

The Dodgers will continue to bring the 20-year-old along slowly as they manage his workload. In 77 big-league innings last year, the wunderkind rattled off a 3.39 ERA with 9.82 K/9 and 3.62 BB/9. Expect the control to improve with another year of refinement, and even if he doesn't pitch for a full season, he's one of the more talented late-round arms to target in mixed drafts.

Lugo is not being considered for a bullpen spot to begin the season if he doesn't win the fifth starter job, as the Mets want to keep him stretched out, The New York Daily News reports.

If Lugo isn't able to beat out Robert Gsellman for the opening in the rotation to begin the season, he'll head back to Triple-A instead. Given the difficulty the rest of the Mets' rotation had staying healthy last season, any demotion might be very temporary, but with Gsellman considered the favorite to win the battle, Lugo is probably best left to the reserve rounds in most fantasy formats for now.

Strasburg threw an inning during an intrasquad game Thursday, The Washington Post reports.

He tossed 23 pitches and came off the mound none the worse for wear. The Nationals are restricting Strasburg's workload early in spring training, and Thursday's outing against minor leaguers and NRIs came in lieu of action during this weekend's Grapefruit League games, but so far he looks healthy and on pace to be ready for Opening Day. If Max Scherzer's finger issue holds him back too much this spring, Strasburg might even get the Opening Day assignment for the Nats.

Ryu is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Friday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

A successful outing could place him in line for spring game work in the near future. He's reportedly pain-free and sitting in the mid-80s with his four-seam fastball. The Dodgers' crowded rotation battle won't keep him from earning a spot if he's healthy by Opening Day.

Glasnow said he spent the last six months cleaning up his delivery, and that he's added a two-seam fastball and has switched his changeup grip from a four-seamer to a two-seamer, Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The 23-year-old pauses on the first step of his windup, rocking on his left foot, before finishing the delivery. This helps restore his balance and prevent him rushing toward the plate. He's also established a quicker leg lift and stride toward the plate to try to contain baserunners. As for the new pitches, the results of such changes often varies, but adding versatility to his arsenal can help the right-hander's ability to keep hitters guessing. He's expected to compete for a starting job but could wind up at Triple-A Indianapolis to start 2017. Still, fantasy players justifiably can take a late-rounds chance on him in mixed leagues, hoping he can correct his control (5.04 BB/9 with Indy last year and 5.01 in his small MLB sample) to complement his elite strikeout potential.

Wheeler (elbow) will throw two more bullpen sessions, then two live batting practice sessions, before the Mets consider using him during Grapefruit League action, The New York Daily News reports.

The 26-year-old has already had one setback this spring, so that timetable is hardly set in stone, but if Wheeler continues to make progress he could see some game action in a couple of weeks. The Mets will be very cautious with him given his long recovery period from Tommy John surgery in 2015, however, and the most likely plan for Wheeler still involves him staying in extended spring training when the regular season begins.