MLB Player News

Varland was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Garland made his MLB debut with five starts last year and had a 3.81 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB over 26 innings, but he won't open 2023 with the big-league club. The 25-year-old should start out in St. Paul's rotation, though he's likely to receive some spot starts for the Twins at some point this season.

Williams gave up seven runs on 10 hits and three walks over 4.2 innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. He struck out four.

The veteran right-hander came into the weekend having allowed only three runs across three spring starts without having walked a batter, but little was working for Williams in this outing. After posting a 4.19 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 6.8 K/9 over nine starts for the Mets last year among his 30 appearances, the 30-year-old is expected to fill a back-end role in the Nationals' rotation in 2023, but his fantasy utility will likely be limited to NL-only formats, or usage as an occasional streaming option.

Means (elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Saturday and incorporated his changeup, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The 29-year-old continues throwing off a mound and is no longer limited to just throwing his fastball. Means still has a long way to go in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, but he could rejoin the Orioles' starting rotation around the All-Star break if he can avoid any setbacks.

Rucinski is 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB across 10.1 innings over three Cactus League starts.

The veteran right-hander has given up multiple earned runs in each start, but he did turn in his best performance yet Tuesday against the White Sox while allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. Rucinski's last taste of regular-season MLB action came back in 2018 with the Marlins, after which he spent the next four seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization. Rucinski is battling Kyle Muller and JP Sears for the fifth spot in Oakland's starting rotation, but he could certainly also fit in as a middle-relief option considering all but one of his 41 MLB appearances have come out of the bullpen.

Muller is 1-2 with a 5.65 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 6:3 K:BB across 14.1 innings over four Cactus League appearances (three starts).

The offseason trade acquisition's Athletics debut Feb. 26 against the Brewers went smoothly, with Muller firing a pair of scoreless innings during which he allowed two hits and a walk. However, the towering southpaw has pitched to plenty of contact during his subsequent three trips to the mound, surrendering 10 runs (nine earned) on 18 hits, two walks and a hit batsman. Muller has been in contention for a back-end rotation spot with Drew Rucinski and JP Sears, and Steve Stockmar of MLB.com notes the big lefty's five-inning, 57-pitch outing against the Reds on Saturday caught the eye of manager Mark Kotsay. "He came out that first inning and really pounded the zone with his fastball," Kotsay said postgame. "I think he's recognizing the importance of the fastball and got through a full five innings. I thought he did a good job."

German pitched 2.2 innings in a Grapefruit League game against the Tigers on Friday, allowing seven runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out one batter.

German was shelled by Detroit in the outing, and the hits against him were neither quiet nor lucky. The Tigers racked up five extra-base knocks against the right-hander, including four home runs. German also hit two batters, as he clearly struggled to command his pitches. This was easily his worst outing of the spring, as he had allowed just three runs (and no homers) over 7.2 innings before the blow-up. With that in mind, German is still expected to have a spot in the rotation when the season begins, especially with Carlos Rodon (forearm) expected to miss multiple starts.

Grove tossed 3.2 innings against the White Sox in a Cactus League contest Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out six batters.

Grove and Ryan Pepiot (side) are the leading candidates for the Dodgers' fifth-starter spot while Tony Gonsolin is on the IL with an ankle injury. Grove impressed with his six punchouts Saturday, but he also gave up five hits, including a leadoff home run to Andrew Benintendi. The right-hander has posted a 4.38 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and impressive 14:1 K:BB across 12.1 innings this spring, with three of the 12 hits against him leaving the park. Meanwhile, Pepiot -- who is dealing with a side injury but is expected to make his next spring start -- has a 2.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB and has served up zero home runs over nine frames.

Valdez is likely to start for the Astros on Opening Day, Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Manager Dusty Baker hasn't made an official announcement, but he did tell reporters Saturday that Valdez will "probably" take the mound on Opening Day. Valdez also drew the assignment in 2022, and he delivered throughout the season by posting an exceptional 2.82 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 194:67 K:BB across 201.1 innings. Even if another Astros starter gets the call for the first game, Valdez will almost certainly start at some point during the team's opening series against the White Sox.

Keller allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks while striking out seven across 4.2 innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.

Keller has done a good job of limiting runs for much of spring training, though he showcased strikeout upside with his performance Saturday. Through 329.1 career innings in the majors, Keller has a 21.1 percent strikeout rate, so it's worth keeping a spring training performance in context. However, he closed the 2022 campaign in strong form and will be given every opportunity to lead Pittsburgh's rotation in 2023.

Gil (elbow) recently began throwing bullpen sessions, Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media reports.

Gil underwent Tommy John surgery in May of last year and is about 10 months into his rehab. He hasn't yet faced hitters, but the fact that he's tossing bullpens suggests that the right-hander hasn't had any setbacks. Gil isn't expected to be ready to return to game action until at least July.