MLB Player News

Ortiz will begin the season as a long reliever in the bullpen, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old made a solid case for a rotation spot during spring training with a 3.46 ERA, and 15:7 K:BB across 13 innings, but Bailey Falter and Jared Jones will begin the campaign as Pittsburgh's Nos. 4 and 5 starters. Ortiz should remain stretched out and should see some action as a bulk reliever, especially as a right-handed complement to lefties like Martin Perez and Marco Gonzales.

Rodriguez threw from 60 feet Tuesday, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.

Tuesday marked the first time Rodriguez has thrown since straining his left lat March 19. There is still no clear timeline for a return, but one may emerge as the 30-year-old lefty continues progressing through his rehab program. The Diamondbacks also signed Jordan Montgomery to a one-year deal Tuesday, which will allow the team to be more patient with Rodriguez's recovery.

Lorenzen (undisclosed) threw live batting practice Wednesday and is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

The right-hander will begin the season on the injured list with an unspecified designation as he continues to build up his throwing program after signing with the Rangers last week. Lorenzen threw 28 pitches during Wednesday's session and will continue ramping up his workload Saturday, with another start scheduled for the back half of next week. The 32-year-old will be eligible to be activated during the second week of April.

Spence is projected to open the season as part of the Athletics' bullpen, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The Rule 5 pick put together a solid body of work this spring, going 1-0 with a 3.06 ERA over six appearances (three starts) while producing a 21:6 K:BB. Spence finished off Cactus League play with 4.2 scoreless frames over his last pair of appearances, and he could often fill a long-relief role after logging 74 starts in the Yankees' minor-league system over the last three seasons.

The Reds placed Williamson (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

The left-hander exited his March 17 start with a left shoulder strain and won't be available to begin the regular season. Williamson was expected to be shut down from throwing for a few days, but it's unclear where he currently stands in his recovery. Andrew Abbott is rounding out Cincinnati's rotation, at least until Nick Lodolo (lower leg) is ready.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Wednesday that Gasser will be sidelined for multiple weeks due to a bone spur in his left elbow, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Gasser is expected to make his major-league debut sometime in 2024, but his new injury will put a delay on his arrival date. Should the Brewers need to tap into their farm system for rotation depth while Gasser is sidelined, Aaron Ashby now figures to be the most likely candidate for a promotion to Milwaukee.

The Reds placed Lodolo on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with left calf tenosynovitis.

Lodolo's stay on the IL shouldn't be much longer than the 15-day minimum, as he's already slated to pitch two games on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville and will likely make his regular-season debut when eligible in mid-April. The 26-year-old southpaw appeared in two Cactus League games this spring, surrendering one earned run over 4.2 innings while striking out five batters and walking two.

Rangers general manager Chris Young said Wednesday that Lorenzen will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

According to Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com, Lorenzen isn't dealing with an actual injury, so it'll be interesting to see how Texas lists him once he's formally placed on the IL ahead of Thursday's season opener versus the Cubs. Because he was a free agent all offseason until he signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with Texas on March 20, Lorenzen simply didn't have enough time to get built up for a starting role due to his late arrival at spring training. Assuming he's able to complete his buildup program while on the shelf, Lorenzen should be ready to return from the IL when first eligible April 9. At that point, Lorenzen could displace Cody Bradford as the Rangers' No. 5 starter.

Scherzer (back) was spotted playing catch Wednesday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer is in the initial stages of his throwing program as he makes his way back from his December surgery to address a herniated disc in his back. Manager Bruce Bochy said earlier this month that the organization is hopeful Scherzer will be ready to make his season debut at some point in June, though a clear target date for the right-hander's return probably won't come into focus until he reaches the point in his rehab where he's facing hitters.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Manoah (shoulder) completed a two-inning, 34-pitch simulated game Wednesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Manoah has two minor-league options remaining, but Schneider noted that the Blue Jays are likely to stash the right-hander on the 15-day injured list rather than sending him to Triple-A Buffalo. Coming off a confounding 2023 season in which his command and control completely betrayed him, Manoah may not be guaranteed a rotation spot once he moves past his right shoulder injury -- an improbable development for a young pitcher who performed as a frontline starter in 2021 and 2022. He'll likely steadily build up his arm at the Blue Jays' spring training facility before joining a minor-league affiliate for a rehab assignment. Once Manoah is deemed to be healthy, his performance on his rehab assignment as well as the state of the Toronto rotation will likely determine what role he fills for the big club.