MLB Player News

Lively has a chance to win a spot in the Reds' rotation, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Because Lively came back from the KBO and wasn't on the Reds' 40-man roster, he reported to camp in February and is ahead of other competitors for the spot. He began his professional career in the Reds' organization before having stops in Philadelphia, Kansas City and Arizona.

Gutierrez entered spring training as a favorite to win a rotation spot, and injuries to Luis Castillo and Mike Minor make it even more likely that Gutierrez will start, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Gutierrez may have a rotation spot, but there are plenty of red flags regarding his performance, starting with his measly 17.7 K% last season, along with a 9.3 BB%. The Reds have a number of young pitchers on the rise, some of whom might make the Opening Day roster, and others that could surpass him in the rotation in short order.

Kaprielian (shoulder) completed a bullpen session Saturday and responded well to the throwing workout, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The right-hander is scheduled to throw off a mound again Tuesday while he continues to build up after a bout with AC joint irritation in his shoulder delayed him to begin spring training. Because he has yet to face hitters in camp, Kaprielian is set to open the season on the 10-day injured list, but the fact that he hasn't been shut down from throwing suggests he'll avoid a lengthy absence. He could be ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment shortly after Oakland opens its regular season April 8 in Philadelphia.

The Cardinals have informed Wainwright that he'll start the club's Opening Day game April 7 versus the Pirates, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Wainwright became the logical choice to start the Cardinals' first game of the regular season after Jack Flaherty developed shoulder inflammation earlier in spring training that will force him to open the campaign on the injured list. The 40-year-old has enjoyed a nice late-career resurgence over the past two seasons after his performance has previously nosedived during the latter half of the past decade. Since the beginning of the 2020 season, Wainwright has produced a 3.08 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 42 starts.

Cabrera is scheduled to start Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Cabrera finished the 2021 campaign on the injured list due to a blister on his right middle finger, but it was visa issues that prevented him from beginning his buildup program at the same time as the Marlins' other starting candidates at the start of spring training. After resolving the visa issue and reporting to camp, Cabrera is now on track to make his spring debut. Despite the missed workouts, Cabrera still looks like he'll be ready to go for the start of the regular season, though he may need to pitch well Monday and in his subsequent spring outings to clinch a spot in Miami's Opening Day rotation. Over his first seven big-league starts in 2021, Cabrera posted a 5.81 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 28:19 K:BB across 26.1 innings.

Javier will begin the 2022 season in the bullpen, operating as a long-relief option, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Manager Dusty Baker said Monday that Javier will be a relief option to start the 2022 campaign, potentially making a spot start here and there. The 25-year-old mostly pitched out of the bullpen last season, appearing in 36 games while starting nine times. He'll look to build on his strong numbers from 2021 where he produced a 3.55 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while going 4-1 with two saves on four attempts and collecting five holds. Javier also excelled in strikeout department, finishing the year with a 11.5 K/9.

Montas allowed four earned runs on six hits and a walk across three innings in a Cactus League loss to the Mariners on Sunday. He struck out three.

The right-hander allowed a first-inning home run to Eugenio Suarez and pitched to plenty of more contact over his three frames. Montas' struggles were in sharp contrast to his first outing against the Royals on Tuesday, when he'd logged 2.2 scoreless frames. Despite the rocky stint Sunday, Montas still projects as Oakland's top starter if he isn't traded ahead of the regular season.

Kirby fired three scoreless innings in a Cactus League win over the Athletics on Sunday, allowing three hits and a walk while recording six strikeouts.

The promising right-hander followed one of his main competitors for the No. 5 starter role, Matt Brash, and matched the latter's three scoreless frames and six strikeouts. Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports Kirby was working out of the bullpen for the first time since his stint in the Cape Cod League in 2018, and after escaping some first-inning trouble, he put together an impressive body of work. Kramer notes Kirby is still likelier to open the season in the minors due to the fact his arm is less built up than Brash's, but there's little doubt the 2019 first-round pick's major-league debut will occur at some point in 2022.

Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Anderson will likely begin the season as a piggyback bulk arm when needed, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Anderson was in the mix for a starting role during spring training, but it appears as though Tony Gonsolin will win the team's fifth rotation spot while Andrew Heaney serves as a fill-in starter with Trevor Bauer (not injury related) on administrative leave. Anderson served exclusively as a starter with the Pirates and Mariners last year and posted a 4.53 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 167 innings. However, his fantasy value will take a hit if he ultimately serves as a long reliever this year.

Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Heaney will start in the Dodgers' first turn through the rotation in 2022, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

While Roberts said that Tony Gonsolin is the leading candidate for the fifth rotation spot, Heaney should begin the season as a starter while Trevor Bauer (not injury related) remains on the restricted list. Heaney made 30 appearances (23 starts) between the Angels and Yankees last year and posted a 5.83 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 129.2 innings. However, his role beyond the first week of the season will likely depend on whether the league elects to suspend Bauer.