MLB Player News

Wells (shoulder) faced hitters Wednesday in a live batting practice session, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Though the Orioles could slow play Wells into the Grapefruit League pitching schedule, the fact that he's already facing hitters in his second week at camp suggests that he reported to spring training with no limitations on the health front. Before landing on the injured list last September with right shoulder inflammation and spending the final two weeks on the shelf, Wells proved reliable in a starting role, putting together a 7-7 record to go with a 4.25 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 76:28 K:BB across 103.2 innings. Despite his quality 2022 season, Wells may still have to battle for a rotation spot in spring training after Baltimore added two more battled-tested veteran starters (Kyle Gibson and Cole Irvin) in the offseason. Top prospect Grayson Rodriguez is also likely to be included in the Opening Day rotation, potentially leaving Wells to vie with the likes of Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer and Austin Voth for one of two remaining spots.

Houck (back) will serve as a starter during spring training but could move to a multi-inning bullpen role, Christopher Smith fo MassLive.com reports. "We will see where we want him but we have to maximize him," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.

Houck is one of seven candidates vying for the five-man rotation. The pitcher said he's a "full-go" for spring training after undergoing back surgery last September. Houck has been used as both a starter and reliever in the majors, thriving in both roles. The right-hander has a 3.22 ERA in 20 career starts and a 2.68 ERA in 33 relief appearances.

Bello (forearm) played catch from 75 feet Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Bello was shut down for nearly a week before playing catch Monday. He extended the session Tuesday, with manager Alex Cora indicating everything went well. Bello, one of seven candidates for the rotation, is expected to take a little longer than the rest to join the spring rotation.

Kluber will make his first spring start Feb. 28 against the Marlins, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed his planned rotation for the first few spring games with Kluber being the first projected regular member of the rotation. The manager did not mention projected starters beyond Tuesday's night game against Miami. A slate of minor league pitchers will throw Friday's seven-inning exhibition against Northeastern University, a traditional spring kickoff for Boston. Saturday's starter is TBA while Josh Winckowski (Sunday) and Kutter Crawford (Monday) will follow.

Wentz seems unlikely to earn a rotation or bullpen spot with the Tigers to begin the year, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Wentz made seven starts for Detroit last year and posted a solid 3.03 ERA, but Spencer Turnbull and Matthew Boyd are back in the mix, joining Eduardo Rodriguez, Matt Manning and newcomer Michael Lorenzen. A number of those pitchers missed significant time in 2022, however, so Wentz figures to provide good insurance if a need arises in 2023. He's off the fantasy radar at the moment but could see his value rise if he gets a regular gig in the majors.

Stroman figures to begin the season as the Cubs' No. 1 starter with Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) likely opening the year on the injured list, Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic report.

Stroman may have been the No. 1 starter even with Hendricks healthy, but the latter's shoulder injury should cement things. The Cubs did add Jameson Taillon in the offseason, but he figures to slot in as the No. 2 starter. Stroman finished 2022 with a 3.50 ERA and 119 strikeouts across 138.2 innings in his first season in Chicago.

Mahle (shoulder) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

It marks his time facing hitters this camp after Mahle missed the final few weeks of last season with a shoulder injury. "I thought he looked strong," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "His camp right now is going to be basically a normal camp for him. He looks really good right now. He's feeling right where he wants to be." Not only is Mahle entering camp healthy, he's also coming in with a new slider after working at Driveline over the winter. The righty holds a 3.95 ERA and 396:128 K:BB over 348.1 innings since the start of the 2020 season.

Whitlock (hip) is being eased into pitchers' fielding practice during camp, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Going through full fielding drills will be the last thing Whitlock does this spring as he comes back from hip surgery. The good news is he's been throwing regular bullpen sessions and his arm feels on track, so there shouldn't be any question about the pitcher's Opening Day availability. Whitlock is expected to be part of the Red Sox' rotation.

Soroka (hamstring) said Tuesday that he is close to running again, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Soroka entered spring training with a bit of left hamstring discomfort and has been eased along since his arrival, but the standing hope is that this will be a non-issue within a week or so. He's been playing catch in camp and can build up swiftly once he gets the go-ahead to incorporate leg-based workouts. The right-hander is aiming to claim a spot in Atlanta's season-opening starting rotation here in 2023 following a couple of completely lost years.

Williamson will start the Reds' Cactus League opener Saturday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Williamson seems doubtful to crack the Opening Day roster in Cincinnati, but he is on track to make his MLB debut at some point in 2023. The 24-year-old struggled with command issues last season while working to a 4.11 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 123:77 K:BB in 122.2 innings between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. Recent reports have suggested that he added an encouraging amount of velocity to his arsenal over the winter.