MLB Player News

Norris could start the season in the Tigers' rotation as Mike Fiers battles back issues, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Fiers' back issues appear to be minor, though he could open the season on the disabled list, giving Norris the opportunity to make at least a start or two. Norris isn't likely to claim the job full-time right away, but with a strong cameo and solid performances at the Triple-A level could end up in the rotation before long. He struggled to a 5.31 ERA last season in 101.2 innings, but the veteran Fiers posted a 5.22 ERA himself and is hardly an insurmountable obstacle.

Pomeranz (forearm) will throw three minor-league innings Friday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Pomeranz is working his way back from forearm tightness suffered in a March 2 Grapefruit League game. He threw two innings in a simulated game on Sunday without issue. The timeline is tight for him to be ready by Opening Day, and it remains unclear whether he'll miss a turn or two in the rotation.

Pagan's spring ERA is down to 1.50 following a Saturday appearance in a Cactus League loss to a Mariners split squad in which he fired a perfect eighth inning and recorded one strikeout.

Dealt to the Athletics from Seattle last November, Pagan made some of his former teammates the latest victims in what has been a dominant spring. The 26-year-old right-hander generated a solid 3.22 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 56:8 K:BB across 50.3 innings with the Mariners in 2017. Considering the Athletics' bullpen experienced its fair share of instability last season and nevertheless sports multiple holdovers, Pagan could very well carve out a steady eighth-inning role as a setup option to closer Blake Treinen.

Lawrence, a non-roster invitee trying to secure the final bullpen spot, helped his cause by throwing four scoreless innings in which he only allowed two hits and struck out four during a Saturday Cactus League split-squad win over the Athletics.

In the absence of an open rotation spot, the 30-year-old is looked at as a long reliever, the next closest-fitting role considering he's proven capable of eating up innings while compiling 168 starts over an extensive minor-league career that dates back to 2010. Lawrence also averaged over two innings per his 27 appearances last season with the Blue Jays and Mariners, the first in which he'd seen any regular-season major-league action. Although he produced an unsightly 6.34 ERA and 1.84 WHIP over 55.3 frames in 2017, he's been dominant over five spring outings, generating an 0.75 ERA across 12 innings.

Manaea, who recorded three strikeouts and allowed an earned run on four hits and three walks over 4.2 innings in a Saturday 4-1 Cactus League loss to the Mariners, came away impressed with debuting backstop Jonathan Lucroy, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. "He's very well prepared," Manaea said, "and he definitely takes charge and controls the entire diamond. Having a guy like that, especially with the time and knowledge that he has, is huge."

Manaea had the distinction of being the first Athletics hurler to kick the proverbial tires on Lucroy, who helped the left-hander whittle his spring ERA down to 2.53 with some savvy on-the-fly adjustments and solid overall game management. Given Jharel Cotton's season-ending elbow injury, Manaea's importance to the makeshift starting rotation increases even further. His solid spring offers reason for optimism, as do the results generated during his initial opportunity to work with his new backstop.

Pruitt's versatility, which the Rays will count on heavily this season, was underscored by his strong performance against the Red Sox in a Saturday Grapefruit League start, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports.

He fired a trio of scoreless innings in which he only gave up two hits and recorded a pair of strikeouts, lowering his spring ERA to a solid 2.08 in the process. Pruitt demonstrated his ability to start, work in long relief, or get some timely outs in shorter stints last season, and with manager Kevin Cash's plans to utilize his relievers in some potentially unusual capacities in 2018, that versatility figures to only up Pruitt's value. Moreover, his penchant for getting ahead of hitters -- he threw first-pitch strikes to 66 percent of batters last season -- combined with a diversified repertoire that includes a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup give him an opportunity to effectively carry out any number of roles he may be tasked with.

Mengden's prospects for a starting rotation spot have seen a recent boost due to both the season-ending injury to Jharel Cotton (elbow) and his most recent start Friday against the Indians, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Six days prior to his Friday outing, Mengden was touched up for six earned runs over four innings against the Rangers, a performance that naturally did nothing to help his cause in his bid for a starting job. However, the confluence of Cotton's unfortunate season-ending injury and Mengden's strong effort against a solid Indians lineup has subsequently brightened his outlook. The right-hander allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks over 5.2 innings in Friday's win, which serves as the longest outing by an Athletics pitcher this spring. "I was getting ahead, changeup-fastball combo was good," Mengden said. "I feel like everything is coming together."

Johnson allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two over four scoreless innings in Sunday's start against the Pirates.

Johnson hasn't allowed a run in three of his four Grapefruit League starts, making manager Alex Cora more comfortable with the idea of Johnson as a temporary member of the rotation that opens the regular season. The left-hander, who was going to be used as a reliever, is starting while the Red Sox evaluate the progress of injured starters Steven Wright (knee), Drew Pomeranz (forearm) and Eduardo Rodriguez (knee). All three could open the season on the disabled list, which would grant Johnson at least one start. In an era when everyone's throwing hard, Johnson goes the other way. He works in the low-90s and needs to change speeds and mix his pitches to be effective. When the rotation is back at full strength, Johnson will move to the bullpen.

Fulmer will start against the Diamondbacks on Monday, Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Fulmer entered spring training with an inside track for the No. 5 starter role, but he has blown up this spring. Manager Rick Renteria gave him a vote of confidence last week after a particularly atrocious outing that left the young pitcher's Cactus League ERA at 18.90. "We're going to allow Fulmer to be who he is and see if he can have what everybody hopes to be a positive outing," Renteria said. "We believe we have a guy who has the capability of pitching in the big leagues successfully." The manager intends to evaluate the 24-year-old right-hander over two more spring starts, although it seems clear to many that Fulmer isn't ready. If the organization decides he needs more grooming at Triple-A Charlotte, Hector Santiago, who has allowed one run in 10 Cactus League innings, is expected to fill out the rotation.

Chavez had retired 18 consecutive batters before he allowed three runs in Saturday's appearance against the Royals.

Chavez retired all nine batters faced March 12 then was perfect through three innings Saturday before the Royals got to him in his fourth inning of work. The Rangers are giving him a good, long look this spring, using him as a long reliever and starter. It's a split role they envision for him in the regular season. If manager Jeff Banister follows through on his plan to use a sixth starter at times, Chavez will be considered for that role.