MLB Player News

Alexander could start the season working in a tandem with Michael Fulmer, who would serve as the team's opener, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Nothing is set in stone at this point, but manager Ron Gardenhire did mention the idea of using Fulmer as an opener in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. The lefty Alexander can work multiple innings and would make a natural choice to pair with the righty Fulmer. Alexander made 13 appearances (eight starts) for the Tigers in 2019 and turned in a 4.86 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 53.2 innings.

Blach (elbow) is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Blach experienced elbow soreness during Thursday's summer camp workout and had two opinions on the injury over the weekend. After consultation, he'll elect to undergo Tommy John surgery, which will sideline him for the entirety of 2020 and most or all of the 2021 season as well. The southpaw was a long shot to make the Orioles' major-league roster, but he'll now have a lengthy recovery timeline ahead of him before he's healthy enough to return.

Fulmer's (elbow) role at the start of the season remains unclear, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

The delayed season has bought Fulmer the time to return from Tommy John surgery, a procedure he underwent back in March of 2019, without missing any more time. The Tigers may not be comfortable giving him a starting role right away, however, with manager Ron Gardenhire mentioning the possibility of using him as an opener until he builds up stamina. The 27-year-old was an unexciting option in his most recent healthy season, posting a 4.69 ERA and a 19.7 percent strikeout rate back in 2018, and his stock takes a further hit if he winds up making only eight or nine true starts this season.

Dubin was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday for an undisclosed reason, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

After a solid season in 2019, Dubin was added to the Astros' 60-man roster for developmental purposes. However, he'll now be sidelined for an undisclosed reason. The 24-year-old posted a 3.58 ERA and a 151:46 K:BB over 110.2 innings in the minors last year.

Perez was placed on the 10-day injured list for an undisclosed reason Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Perez has spent the beginning of camp on the 60-man roster, but he'll now be sidelined for at least 10 days for an undisclosed reason. It's unlikely that he'll be ready for Opening Day. The southpaw allowed 10 runs with a 7:2 K:BB over nine innings with the Astros in 2019.

Borucki looked sharp during an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

With Chase Anderson (oblique) on the shelf, the Jays will have a vacancy in their Opening Day rotation. Nate Pearson is the most talented option but the front office may prioritize service-time concerns with the top prospect, opening the door for someone like Borucki to fill in for a turn or two instead. The 26-year-old southpaw barely pitched last season due to elbow trouble which resurfaced in February just as spring training began. If he can stay healthy, however, he could provide useful innings given his 3.87 ERA, 3.73 FIP and 67:33 K:BB through 97.2 frames in 2018.

Poche tossed a scoreless inning in Sunday's simulated game and looked much sharper than in his first outing Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Poche needed just 13 pitches to get through the frame, with two flyouts and a strikeout. Poche mentioned he'd been working on upping his use of the slider after his first sim game Thursday, but he'd been notably less precise with his control in that appearance. The 26-year-old southpaw is looking to solidify his bullpen spot after a rocky six-appearance Grapefruit League stint (7.94 ERA across 5.2 innings).

Alvarado, who struggled some with control in a simulated game Friday, was more effective during a Sunday appearance, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. "Better," said Rays manager Kevin Cash. "His last outing that he had he was fine, but he just wasn't filling up the strike zone like he's capable of. We put in an emphasis to fill it up, fill up the zone with the fastball, because as soon as he does that, then those 55-foot breaking balls [come] -- which catchers can't stand but hitters swing at. So you don't tell him not to throw those."

Alvarado has been talking up his readiness and enthusiasm for the coming season since back in training camp, but the on-field results haven't always been commensurate to his ebullient mindset. Sunday, the left-hander, who sets up as a key late-inning component of the bullpen, managed to wiggle his way out of some minor trouble in his one inning by recording a strikeout. Alvarado also mentioned to Cash he'd picked some things up with his mechanics during the outing that he plans to tweak, and both the Rays skipper and pitching coach Kyle Snyder remain encouraged with where the burly southpaw is "from a strike-throwing ability" at this point.

Johnson tossed three innings in an intrasquad game Sunday, throwing 38 pitches (24 strikes), Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Johnson was removed from the 40-man roster during the offseason, but the left-hander is looking like a candidate to be added to the 40-man as the team's No. 4 starter, per manager Ron Roenicke. "Yes, I do," the manager responded when asked whether he sees Johnson as a potential fourth starter. "We all do. Hopefully he continues [to progress]. We can build him up and then see where we are at the end." The Red Sox have two rotation spots open with Eduardo Rodriguez (illness) doubtful to be ready for the start of the season. Even if Johnson doesn't land in the rotation, it looks like he'd be part of the bullpen with two left-handers, Josh Taylor and Darwinzon Hernandez, recovering from COVID-19.

Alexander could fill the Tigers' fifth rotation spot with Daniel Norris on the COVID-19 injured list and likely to miss the start of the season, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

With Norris away from the team, the Tigers have an open rotation spot, at least temporarily. Michael Fulmer (elbow) seems poised to start games at some point, though the club could ease him into action in a relief role out of the gates with the righty returning from a lengthy absence due to Tommy John surgery. Shao-Ching Chiang is another option after making 26 starts for Triple-A Columbus last season. If Alexander is able to join the rotation, it will likely be a brief stay, especially with prospects Casey Mize and Matt Manning in the wings as well. Alexander figures to spend most of 2020 in more of a long-relief role, limiting his fantasy appeal.