MLB Player News

McHugh is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut Monday and throw three or four innings, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McHugh, slowed by a dead arm this spring, is still likely to begin the season with a short DL stint as he builds up his regular velocity, but Monday should provide a great sign of his progression. A firmer timetable may become clear depending on how this next week progresses, but it appears Joe Musgrove and Mike Fiers will both see Opening Week starts if McHugh misses extended time.

Covey was mentioned as one possible candidate to fill in for starter Carlos Rodon (biceps), who is expected to start the season on the disabled list, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

The right-hander is starting Saturday afternoon against the Indians in a start that takes on a bit more significance due to Rodon's injury. How the White Sox plan to replace Rodon depends on a second medical opinion due early next week. In the event that Rodon misses only a start or two, general manager Rick Hahn is unlikely to have one of the team's highly regarded pitching prospects make the Charlotte-Chicago-Charlotte shuttle. That leaves Covey, a Rule 5 pick from the Athletics -- along with Tyler Danish and David Holmberg -- as possible replacements. Predictably, Covey, who has just six games of experience above the High-A level, has been knocked around this spring. He's allowed 10 runs on 16 hits and three walks while striking out just three in eight innings.

McHugh may not be able to build up his arm in time to take the ball during the first week of the regular season, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. "It's looking more and more likely that (McHugh) may be late for the season," manager A.J. Hinch said.

Hinch is not making a definitive declaration, but having McHugh start the season on the 10-day disabled list will allow the right-hander to build up his inning and pitch count. He most recently pitched three innings Wednesday and is scheduled to throw early next week, but would be limited to four innings and 60-65 pitches. That's a tight schedule to be ready for one of the first five games of the regular season. If McHugh opens on the DL, Joe Musgrove and Mike Fiers will make up the back end of the rotation.

Chavez will open the season in the Angels' rotation, the Orange County Register reports.

He was solid enough this spring to hold off competition from Alex Meyer and Bud Norris to make the rotation. Chavez's best years came in 2014 and 2015 with division rival Oakland, in which he posted a combined 3.83 ERA over 303 innings. If the Angels can get that level of performance from Chavez, they should be very happy with their investment.

Coulombe, battling to carve out a bullpen spot, pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in Thursday's 15-5 Cactus League victory over the Brewers, giving up just one hit and striking out two.

Coulombe looked like he was losing his grip on a roster spot just a week ago, but he's bounced back in his last two outings. The southpaw had surrendered at least one run in each of his first five appearances, but has now put together 4.1 scoreless frames across his last pair of trips to the mound.

Barnes was optioned to minor league camp on Friday, Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Mike Wilner reports.

Barnes carried a 5.79 ERA and 1.29 WHIP through 4.2 innings this spring. Given his low usage and unimpressive numbers, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that he's being sent down. The 27-year-old saw his first taste of major league action with the Blue Jays in 2016 -- posting a 3.95 ERA across 13.2 innings (12 appearances) -- and has a strong chance to earn a call-up again in 2017.

Chargois was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Friday, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press reports.

Chargois was competing for one of the Twins' final bullpen spots this spring, but his struggles assured that he would be sent down to Triple-A to begin the season. The 26-year-old allowed eight runs over 8.1 innings in camp, though his high-power arm did manage to strike out eight batters as well. He posted a 1.29 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 35.0 innings at Triple-A Rochester last year, and if he's able to show that stuff again to start 2017, it's very possible he'll spend some time in the Twins' bullpen.

Mengden will be out of his walking boot Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Mengden underwent surgery in February after fracturing a bone in his right foot while tossing a bullpen session. Shedding his walking boot will be the first major step in his recovery process, which still remains without a firm timetable. The 23-year-old was in contention for the fifth starter role before he was sidelined, but the injury now leaves him with work to do once he's fully recovered.

Pruitt struck out five over four scoreless innings, giving up three hits and a walk in Thursday's 5-5 Grapefruit League tie with the Yankees.

The 27-year-old right-hander is competing for a bullpen role and has impressed throughout the spring. He's now sporting a 1.84 ERA and 1.02 WHIP across 14.7 innings over seven appearances. Thursday marked his second start of spring training and with plenty of rotation experience over his last three minor league campaigns, Pruitt could make for a viable option for spot starts during the season if he sticks around on the roster.

Boshers threw a scoreless inning in Thursday's spring training win over Philadelphia. However, he has a 7.56 ERA this spring and allowed two home runs in 8.1 innings.

Boshers does have eight strikeouts in 8.1 innings, but he may be the odd man out in the bullpen and begin the season in Triple-A. Still, he has some upside since the minor league journeyman appeared to turn his career around last year with a a 10.0 K/9 at Triple-A and improved his historically poor control (8 BB/9 compared to a 3.7 BB/9 career rate in the minors).