MLB Player News

Baz (elbow) is expected to throw live BP in early May, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Baz resumed throwing in mid-April, and he'll take a significant step in his recovery process once he's cleared to face hitters. The right-hander isn't eligible to rejoin the major-league club until at least June 6, but it's possible that he'll be able to begin a rehab assignment at some point in May.

Means (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Means will be forced to miss the remainder of 2022 following his procedure, but general manager Mike Elias is confident that the southpaw will be available for a "good portion of the 2023 season," Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports. The Orioles haven't yet established their rotation for this weekend with several starters hurt.

The Rockies recalled Feltner from Triple-A Albuquerque ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Phillies in Philadelphia.

Lefty reliever Lucas Gilbreath was sent to Triple-A to clear a spot on the 28-man active roster for Feltner, who previously made a pair of spot starts for the Rockies late in the 2021 season. The 25-year-old right-hander was unable to secure a spot in the Rockies' Opening Day rotation, but he didn't have to wait long to receive a call-up after a recent doubleheader created the need for Colorado to temporarily break in a sixth starter. Feltner should be sufficiently stretched out after covering at least five innings in each of his four Triple-A starts, but he'll likely be sent back to Albuquerque shortly after Wednesday's outing.

Reds manager David Bell said Tuesday that Castillo (shoulder) will require two more rehab starts in the minors before returning from the 10-day injured list, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Castillo made his first rehab appearance Sunday with High-A Dayton, giving up an earned run on two hits and three walks while striking out four over 2.1 innings. After Castillo tossed 48 pitches in that outing, the Reds are targeting 60-to-65 pitches or four innings for him in his second rehab start, which will come Friday with Triple-A Louisville, according to Nightengale. Assuming he remains on a normal four days' rest schedule following his second and third rehab starts, Castillo would tentatively line up to make his season debut with the big club May 9 versus the Brewers in Cincinnati.

Williams has pitched 13.2 innings across his first three pro starts for High-A Lake County, posting a 2.63 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB along the way.

You certainly love to see all those strikeouts. The No. 23 pick in last year's draft, Williams has prototypical size at 6-foot-6 and 238 pounds, and his high-90s fastball and strong offspeed stuff have him set up for long-term success if he can stay healthy. A college arm, the 22-year-old is just now making his pro debut, and he'll probably stay at High-A for a good portion of this season while he refines his command and control.

Kluber is scheduled to make his next start Friday against the Twins in Tampa rather than Thursday against the Mariners as originally planned, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

After he was roughed up four runs on 11 hits and a walk over five innings in his most recent start April 22 against the Red Sox, Kluber will get five days' rest rather than the typical four. The Rays haven't named a fill-in starter for Thursday's game and will presumably treat the contest as a bullpen day.

Clevinger (knee) made the third start of his minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A El Paso, working 3.2 innings while giving up one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out five.

Clevinger built up to 67 pitches (45 strikes) Wednesday and continues to show excellent efficiency as he draws closer to making his 2022 debut for the Padres. Though Clevinger missed the entire 2021 season while recovering from his November 2020 Tommy John surgery, it's a sprained right knee that prevented him from breaking camp as a member of the Padres' Opening Day rotation. The Padres may want to see Clevinger reach the 80-pitch mark during his rehab assignment before activating him from the 10-day injured list, so he could be in store for one more start with El Paso.

Winn struck out seven without a walk Tuesday for Triple-A Round Rock, but he only lasted 3.1 innings while allowing two runs on four hits.

You'd like to see Winn pitching a bit deeper into games now that he's established in Triple-A, but he's only hit the five-inning mark once so far in four starts. Still, he's posted strong numbers across his 16.1 innings to this point -- a 2.20 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with a 15:5 K:BB. Last year's results -- a 2.41, 0.86 WHIP and 11.2 K/9 -- certainly earned the 2018 first-rounder plenty of attention, but he threw only 86 innings, so you have to imagine that the Rangers will watch his workload carefully. Based on the way he's been used so far, if he does reach the majors, he'll likely have trouble accumulating quality starts or wins in the near term, but he looks on pace to be a promising young arm for fantasy rosters in 2023.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly said Tuesday that Sanchez (shoulder) has resumed playing catch from 45 feet out, Byron Kerr of MLB.com reports.

The ability to play light catch marks a major step forward for Sanchez, who hadn't been cleared for any throwing after reporting to spring training in early March while he continued his recovery the shoulder surgery he underwent last July. Given the multiple arm-related setbacks he's endured over the past two seasons, Sanchez is likely to be brought along slowly in his throwing program, so he could be several weeks away from getting back on the mound for a bullpen session. Even if he avoids any further complications during his buildup program, Sanchez likely won't be fully ramped up and ready to handle a starter's workload until the middle of the summer.

Urena gave up three runs -- one earned -- over 2.1 innings of relief in Tuesday's victory over the Pirates. He allowed four hits, walked a batter and struck out none.

Urena had a shot to record a three-inning save Tuesday, but the Pirates put the tying run on deck in the ninth inning, and Josh Hader was summoned to close the door. Urena has tossed an inning-plus in three of his four appearances and owns a respectable 3.52 ERA, but he also has posted a 3:5 K:BB. Expect him to continue working in middle-to-long relief for the Brewers.