MLB Player News

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Whitlock (hip) who is scheduled to pitch in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, will likely require three more starts to build up before he's ready to join the big-league rotation, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Based on that timeline, Cora confirmed that Whitlock won't be in consideration for making the Red Sox's fifth start of the regular season, likely paving the way for Kutter Crawford to break camp as the final member of the team's rotation. Whitlock is scheduled to pitch three innings Monday before covering four innings in his next outing and then five innings in his final two starts prior to coming off the injured list, according to Cora. Assuming he sticks to a normal four-day rest schedule between those outings, Whitlock would be on pace to be activated as soon as April 9.

Gray threw 82 pitches on a back field Thursday in order to work on his changeup rather than worrying about game results, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The right-hander has looked good over three Grapefruit League starts, posting a 6:1 K:BB through 6.1 innings and, perhaps more importantly, not giving up a home run, and Thursday's outing under controlled conditions indicates he's stretched out enough for the beginning of the regular season. Gray is still only 25 years old, and while his big-league numbers so far have been marred by his inability to keep the ball in the park, he still has plenty of upside. Adding a viable changeup to his arsenal might both improve his strikeout numbers and help him reduce his homers.

Soroka (hamstring) will make his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday against the Tigers, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander is set to throw two innings in his first official game action since he suffered a right hamstring strain prior to camp opening. Soroka reportedly hit 93 mph in a live batting practice session this past Friday and just needs to build his stamina up at this point. He may not be an option to join the Atlanta rotation until late April or early May.

Lorenzen has been scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League start Monday against the Blue Jays due to groin tightness, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The Tigers are opting for a bullpen game to cover Lorenzen's turn through the spring rotation, but the bigger question is whether his groin injury is something that will be significant enough to keep him from being ready to go for the start of the season. If Lorenzen is able to resume throwing within the next few days, he should be available to make one final start this spring in either the Grapefruit League or in an exhibition game. Lorenzen built up to 2.2 innings and 69 pitches in his most recent spring outing March 14.

The Marlins reassigned Perez to minor-league camp Monday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The Marlins' top pitching prospect won't be included on the Opening Day roster, but the 19-year-old right-hander remains a candidate to make his MLB debut in 2023 if he stays healthy and continues to excel at the upper levels of the minors. Perez was hit hard in spring training -- he surrendered nine earned runs, 14 hits and two home runs in 10.2 innings -- but his control was solid (10:2 K:BB) in his limited sample of action. Miami hasn't indicated whether Perez will return to Double-A Pensacola to begin the campaign or if he'll report to Triple-A Jacksonville.

Bello (forearm) struck out three over two scoreless and hitless relief innings in Sunday's spring game against the Phillies.

Bello made his Grapefruit League debut after dealing with forearm tightness at the start of spring training. The right-hander soothed any concerns Sunday, when he set down all six batters faced over 25 pitches. According to Ian Browne of MLB.com, this might be Bello's last Grapefruit League outing. The Red Sox are expected to place him on the injured list to start the regular season and want to allocate innings to those pitchers that will break camp on the major-league roster. In the meantime, Bello can build up his pitch count on the back fields against minor-league opponents.

The Tigers optioned Faedo to Triple-A Toledo on Monday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Though he made 12 starts in 2022 for a Tigers pitching staff that was decimated by injuries, Faedo faced a tough path to a spot in the season-opening rotation with Detroit adding starters Matthew Boyd and Michael Lorenzen in free agency and getting Spencer Turnbull (elbow) back from Tommy John surgery. Faedo didn't help his case for a spot on the Opening Day roster by allowing seven runs on 11 hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. The 27-year-old right-hander will now head to Toledo but should be on the top candidates for a call-up whenever Detroit is need of a spot starter in 2023.

DeGrom allowed two hits and struck out four over three scoreless innings in Sunday's spring start against the Mariners.

DeGrom made his Cactus League debut after being brought along slowly from a side injury. The right-hander looked sharp his first time out, hitting 100 mph twice in three innings while the fastball consistently clocked in at 97-99 mph, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. DeGrom worked around a first-inning triple, getting a couple of punch-outs, then left a runner stranded in the third following a leadoff single. He threw 34 pitches (28 strikes) during an efficient outing then tossed more pitches in the bullpen to get his work in. There's time for at least one more Cactus League outing, and deGrom is expected to be on a restricted pitch count to start the regular season.

Henry allowed two hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings in Sunday's spring start against Kansas City.

Henry issued three walks and lamented he wasn't sharp in his first two innings, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. What helped settle him down was the Diamondbacks plating 10 runs in the bottom of the second, including nine off former D-back Zack Greinke. Henry is one of three pitchers remaining in major-league camp competing for the final rotation spot. After the organization sent prospect Brandon Pfaadt to minor-league camp, Henry, Drey Jameson and Ryne Nelson are left to compete.

Sandoval will start for Mexico in Monday's WBC semifinal game against Japan, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Sandoval will get a big spring test against a loaded Japanese lineup that will include Angels teammate Shohei Ohtani. This will be Sandoval's second start in the WBC -- in his first outing, he allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out two batters in three innings against Team USA, who Mexico will face in the final if able to advance. The southpaw also got into two Cactus League games with the Angels prior to the WBC, allowing one run on three hits and posting a 6:0 K:BB over five frames.