MLB Player News

The Rangers scratched Palumbo ahead of his scheduled Cactus League start Thursday versus the Cubs due to right heel inflammation, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Jonathan Hernandez is slated to take the hill Thursday in place of Palumbo. Texas doesn't view the issue as a serious one for the young lefty, who could be ready to resume mound work after a few days of rest. Palumbo is technically vying for a spot in the big-league rotation this spring, but Jordan Lyles and Kolby Allard look like far better bets to win the fifth starter's role.

Chapman won't pitch Wednesday against the Phillies as previously reported, but he isn't injured, George A. King III of the New York Post reports.

The news is potentially worrisome, but manager Aaron Boone said there was nothing physically wrong with his closer. Chapman threw a bullpen session Wednesday instead of pitching in the game and could make his Grapefruit League debut Friday against the Orioles.

Lopez allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out three over three innings in Tuesday's spring game against Oakland.

Lopez fell behind hitters and needed 61 pitches (31 strikes) to get through three innings. He was able to battle through wavering command and limit the damage. Lopez's 2019 looks bad in total (5.38 ERA), but he was better in the second half and looks to build off that.

Swanson (back) allowed an earned run on two hits and a walk over an inning in a Cactus League loss to the Rockies on Monday. He struck out two.

Swanson was making his Cactus League debut after an offseason back injury delayed his start to spring training. The 26-year-old could enjoy a steady, multi-inning role in Seattle's bullpen this season, and he's likely to get multiple opportunities to cement his spot over the balance of the exhibition slate.

Puk was diagnosed with a mild left shoulder strain Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old will be shut down from throwing until being reevaluated Thursday or Friday. Puk already underwent an MRI which revealed no structural issues, but it's nonetheless a discouraging spring-training development for the young left-hander. Puk's availability for Opening Day will be in limbo until he receives an official timetable for his return to the mound.

Loaisiga will continue to stretch out this spring but could wind up filling multiple roles this season, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Manager Aaron Boone is reportedly impressed with Loaisiga's stuff, which has led him to a 28.3 percent strikeout rate in 56.1 major-league innings. The 25-year-old hasn't had a ton of success overall, posting a modest 4.79 ERA and an 11.3 percent walk rate, but the Yankees are in desperate need of rotation help early this season. Luis Severino (elbow) is out for the year, while Domingo German (suspension) and James Paxton (back) will miss significant time. Loaisiga threw just 49.1 innings last season across all levels and has never thrown more than 80.2, however, so even if he wins an Opening Day rotation spot, he's unlikely to stay there all year.

Manager Mike Matheny said Tuesday that Junis' back tightness is not serious, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

The Royals are being cautious with Junis and expect him to throw on the side during the upcoming days. The 27-year-old threw an efficient inning with two strikeouts during his spring debut Thursday and will likely miss limited time before returning to the bottom half of the Kansas City rotation for the remainder of camp.

Honeywell (elbow) threw his second bullpen session of the spring Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

As with his first session Friday, Honeywell threw just 15 pitches, all of which were fastballs. The 24-year-old hasn't thrown a competitive pitch since 2017, having missed the last two seasons due to a pair of elbow surgeries, but he was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the game prior to his injuries. He has little left to prove at the Triple-A level, having posted a 3.64 ERA and a 29.1 percent strikeout rate in 24 starts there for Durham back in 2017, but he'll probably spend some time in the minors early in the season as he works his way back into shape.

Putnam joined the White Sox on a minor-league deal Tuesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Putnam isn't a candidate for an Opening Day roster spot, as he's joined Chicago's minor-league camp. The 32-year-old missed all of last season due to a hamstring injury.

Weber allowed one unearned run on three hits while striking out six over three innings in Monday's spring game against the Tigers.

Weber is making a strong case to be added to the back end of the rotation. The finesse right-hander threw two shutout innings in his Grapefruit League debut last week against Baltimore. With two spots available -- one a full-time gig and the other temporary as a replacement for Chris Sale (illness) -- interim manger Ron Roenicke is flirting with the idea of using an opener for one of those two spots, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports, but the manager would rather someone emerge as a traditional starter.