MLB Player News

Sampson is dealing with right triceps discomfort, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports.

Sampson does not believe he is dealing with any sort of serious setback, but the Reds will take it easy with him, particularly since he had bone chips removed from his elbow last October. It's not yet clear when Sampson will be ready to resume throwing.

Manager Pete Mackanin said Sunday that the Phillies still expect Eickhoff (thumb) to be ready to pitch during the first week of the season, CSN Philadelphia reports.

Eickhoff threw to hitters again Sunday and hopes to make his first spring training appearance by the end of this week. He suffered a small fracture in his right thumb on a bunt attempt on Feb. 11.

Taillon allowed two hits and one run (a solo homer) in two innings Saturday against the Braves, striking out two, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. "I'm a little different than him [Tyler Glasnow] just because I've had two years [while injured] to work on stuff," Taillon said. "He's had those two be competing. I need to work on competing; he might need to work on mechanics more. My goal this spring is to attack hitters and treat it like a major league game."

Often compared to Glasnow, Taillon believes his injuries have given him a chance to learn his craft. Some in Pittsburgh management feel Taillon has a good chance to reach the major leagues sooner than Glasnow.

Glasnow allowed two hits, three walks and two runs in 1.2 innings Saturday. He did not strike out a batter, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. "Maybe I'm thinking too much about mechanics and things I've got to work on rather than just going out and competing," he said.

Glasnow also balked and threw a wild pitch. Management has privately said that Jameson Taillon may debut in the big leagues sooner than Glasnow.

Lorenzen threw two perfect innings in his spring training debut, striking out two.

There's a reasonable chance that Lorenzen could make the Reds' Opening Day roster as a member of their starting rotation. However, even if he earns that spot, he could be the first out when Homer Bailey and John Lamb return from the DL.

Strasburg struck out five batters in two innings of work Saturday, but also surrendered a two-run home run to Bryan Holaday.

The outing was almost a microcosm of Strasburg's career, as stretches of dominance were marred by a costly mistake. After throwing just 127.1 innings last year due to a variety of injuries, Strasburg will need to stay healthy to put together the kind of season everyone's been waiting for since he made his dazzling major league debut in 2010.

Nola allowed four runs on four hits, including two home runs, over two innings in his Grapefruit League debut Saturday. "I wasn't really commanding the baseball," Nola told the Phillies' official site. "I was getting behind on the count. My pitches were pretty much over the plate, and they made me pay for them."

Nola gave up dingers to Troy Tulowitzki and Michael Saunders in the first inning before recovering for a 1-2-3 second. Heavily dependent on commanding his pitches because he lacks overpowering stuff to put hitters away, Nola nonetheless didn't struggle too often last season, when he went 6-2 with a 3.59 ERA and a 68:19 K:BB in 77.2 innings.

Ryu is still shut down and will not throw a bullpen Saturday, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

There is no set date for Ryu to resume throwing, according to manager Dave Roberts. His targeted mid-May return is looking more and more like it will need to be pushed back, which is worrying due to the fact that his shoulder injury in 2015 caused him to miss the season after his return date of May 15 kept getting being pushed back. Alex Wood is currently in line for the fourth spot in the rotation with Mike Bolsinger and Brandon Beachy competing for the fifth spot while Ryu recovers.

Montas (ribs) started throwing Saturday for the first time since his pre-camp surgery, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

That's the first step of what is likely to be a long rehab for Montas, who isn't eligible to come off the 60-day DL until June 2. He's likely to land in the bullpen when he returns, but the Dodgers' rotation depth has already taken enough injuries to consider the possibility that the team might need to try him out as a starter.

Nicolino spun a pair of scoreless inning in a split-squad game against the Mets on Friday during his first appearance of the spring.

Nicolino is battling a crowded field for one of the Marlins' two remaining rotation spots. The 24-year-old will look to continue to build on the 4.01 ERA and 1.24 WHIP that he posted during his first 76 inning of major league action in 2015 during the exhibition season.