MLB Player News

Houck threw indoors to make up for the innings he lost due to Monday's game against the Yankees getting postponed, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Houck will build up his workload in an unofficial setting Monday rather than try to make up the innings Tuesday. The 28-year-old righty logged a career-high 178.2 innings in 2024, and his 55.9 percent groundball rate was the fifth-best mark among qualified starters.

Stroman, who had been scheduled to start Tuesday against the Twins in Fort Myers, will stay back in Tampa to pitch live batting practice instead, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Stroman logged a scoreless inning with two hits allowed and one strikeout in his first start of the spring last week. If Clarke Schmidt is able to put his back issue in the rearview mirror, Stroman will likely open the year in a long-relief role, although he has been vocal this spring about wanting to start.

Champlain will start Thursday's Cactus League game against the Brewers, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Champlain isn't a serious contender for a rotation spot out of spring training, but the 25-year-old righty will serve as rotation depth this season. Last year, Champlain was excellent at Double-A (29.5 K-BB%, 0.92 WHIP) as an older pitcher but was much less effective after a promotion to Triple-A (5.6 K-BB%, 1.40 WHIP). Still, he covered 140.1 innings last year, so he's ready to handle a significant workload again, and it's possible he can take a step forward in a return to the highest level of the minors.

Bello (shoulder) is expected to be ready for the start of the season, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

This is a fluid situation, as Bello has been throwing from 90 feet and will need to avoid any setbacks, but he's at least more likely to be ready than teammate Kutter Crawford (knee), per Abraham's report. Lucas Giolito (elbow) is also expected to be ready for the start of the season.

Crawford (knee) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Per the same report, Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (elbow) are on track to be ready for the start of the season, which gives clarity for projecting Boston's rotation. Crawford is dealing with patellar tendon soreness and is unlikely to be able to build up in time. He seems likely to open the year on the 15-day injured list.

Skenes threw a 45-pitch live batting practice session Monday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Skenes had been slated for his Grapefruit League debut Monday against the Phillies, but the game was rained out. Rather than push their ace back a day, the Pirates elected to keep Skenes on schedule and get his work in with some live batting practice instead. Skenes will be among the first pitchers off the board in fantasy drafts this spring.

Anderson gave up one run on one hit and three walks over 1.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays. He struck out one.

The right-hander seemed to have the most trouble with his changeup, bouncing a number of them in front of the plate, but one shaky outing in February isn't a big concern. Anderson's fastball velocity was in the low 90s, which is usually where he sits early in the spring per David O'Brien of The Athletic, and considering he's out of minor-league options, the 26-year-old would likely have to pitch his way out of a spot in the Opening Day rotation. If Anderson does completely fall apart in camp, Bryce Elder, Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver would be the most likely candidates to get a look in his place.

Miller (head) will resume throwing Monday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Miller has been shut down and in concussion protocol after being hit in the head by a line drive during his first Cactus League appearance last week. However, he managed to avoid a serious injury and has been cleared to ramp his throwing back up. It's not clear when Miller might be ready for appear in a game again. Miller is likely to begin the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Blackburn (back) may be ticketed for a spot in the Opening Day rotation if Sean Manaea (oblique) begins the season on the injured list, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Blackburn will need to prove that he's healthy himself, of course, but Frankie Montas (lat) was already expected to be sidelined into May, so the Mets' rotation depth is being tested early. Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and David Peterson are the only locks for starting jobs right now, with Blackburn, Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill competing for the remaining spots, but if New York sticks with its plan to use a six-man rotation, there would be room for all three. The Mets have three off days in the first 15 days of their schedule however, so they could delay those plans until mid-April. Blackburn underwent spinal surgery in October, but he's throwing live batting practice sessions in camp and is on track to be ready for Opening Day.

Canning appears likely to have a spot in the Opening Day rotation if Sean Manaea (oblique) begins the season on the injured list, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Frankie Montas (lat) was already expected to be sidelined into May, so the Mets' rotation depth is being tested early. Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and David Peterson are the only locks for starting jobs right now, with Canning, Tylor Megill and Paul Blackburn (back) competing for the remaining spots, but if New York sticks with its plan to use a six-man rotation, there would be room for all three. The Mets have three off days in the first 15 days of their schedule however, so they could delay those plans until mid-April.