MLB Player News

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday he's pleased with the progress of injured starting pitchers Alex Cobb (forearm), Drew Smyly (shoulder) and Alex Colome (illness), MLB.com reports.

"Especially [with] Colome," Cash said. "His wasn't an arm issue. Just putting weight back on. He just had a two-week delay there. But from all reports, when you ask them how's it going, there hasn't been anything given why we wouldn't be optimistic."

Smyly threw a bullpen session Sunday and is scheduled to face hitters in a batting-practice session Wednesday. After following that with another batting-practice session, he could progress to minor-league games and would need to get stretched out and ready for the regular season.

"Depending on need," Cash said. "If he got up to 75 pitches, does that help us? Or do we want to build him up to 105? We'd have to talk to him about that."

Cash added that there's a chance Smyly could rejoin the rotation by the end of April.

Colome threw a 40-pitch bullpen session Saturday and is set to throw 50 pitches Tuesday. Cobb played catch Monday for the second time and said all went well.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman addressed a report that the fastball of pitcher Dellin Betances lacks velocity Monday, calling the reports inaccurate, The Journal News reports.

"The Betances 'Where has his velocity gone?' story is not accurate," Cashman said. "He’s actually averaging a mile (per hour) higher at this time this spring than last spring. If it’s apples to apples, then he’s right where he was last year. Obviously his performance in the spring is different than the arm strength, but the arm strength is not the issue. Just want to make sure everybody knows that."

Cashman has struggled this spring, giving up five earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, and he hasn't held the opposition scoreless in any of his last five appearances. However, he remains in the mix for a late-inning role.

"You just want to make sure it doesn’t affect the confidence," Cashman said. "I’ve been able to at least confirm for myself that he’s very confident, which is good. Spring training is spring training and sample sizes are small. I thought he was much better (in a minor league game on Saturday)."

A day after indicating Brad Boxberger would be the team's closer while Jake McGee is sidelined with an elbow injury, Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday he is not going to name a closer, per the Tampa Bay Times. Cash added they will use several relievers in save situations.

"There's going to be guys that we'll lean on to pitch in those leveraged situations," Cash said, per MLB.com. "But it just doesn't make sense to come out and name a closer when the game could be on the line in the seventh or eighth inning."

Cash added they will revisit the closer situation once McGee comes off the disabled list. McGee is expected to miss the first month of the season.

Along with Boxberger, Grant Balfour, Kevin Jepsen and Ernesto Frieri could all be used in save situations.

"We're comfortable with all of our bullpen options," Cash said. "I don't see us leaning toward anybody just waiting to pitch the ninth inning."

Rays pitcher Brad Boxberger is expected to fill in to the closer role for at least the first month of the season while Jake McGee recovers from elbow surgery, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

"He will be in a lot of meaningful situations," manager Kevin Cash said. "With some other guys, but for what Box did last year and the confidence we have in him, I would definitely anticipate him pitching in those leverage situations."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia has indicated that pitcher Andrew Heaney will begin the season in Triple-A, according to MLB.com.

The team's top pitching prospect, Heaney has allowed 13 earned runs in 14.0 innings (8.36 ERA) in four starts this spring.

The Angels are expected to open the season with a four-man rotation that will included Jered Weaver, Matt Shoemaker, C.J. Wilson and Hector Santiago.

Starter Garrett Richards is recovering from knee surgery.

"One of the things is, a lot of guys who are playing well, it might come down to what the fit is on the team. So there's a couple different ways," Scioscia said. "There's some things that might happen that might affect somebody's standing on the team in a positive or negative way, just to get the whole roster to be as deep as you can."

Angels manager Mike Scioscia thinks he will start the season with a short staff, reports MLB.com. The team will "most likely" start the year with four starters in the rotation and 12 pitchers overall, Scioscia said Sunday.

The expected starters would be Jered Weaver, Matt Shoemaker, C.J. Wilson and Hector Santiago with Garrett Richards still recovering from knee surgery.

"One of the things is, a lot of guys who are playing well, it might come down to what the fit is on the team. So there's a couple different ways," Scioscia said. "There's some things that might happen that might affect somebody's standing on the team in a positive or negative way, just to get the whole roster to be as deep as you can."

White Sox relief pitcher David Robertson tossed one scoreless inning Sunday with 17 pitches, inducing three groundouts.

Robertson, who is working his way back from forearm soreness, threw 10 strikes and didn't allow a hit. Robertson felt strong after the outing, but won't throw on back-to-back days this week. He might pitch in another game and then throw a bullpen session, according to ESPNChicago.com.

"I felt good. Obviously I got into a couple of deep counts. I would have liked to have shortened those at-bats, but I felt really good and in the end I put up a zero," said Robertson to MLB.com. "I feel like I'm throwing the ball better than I was earlier in camp. I just needed a little time to get the soreness out, have my body recoup and get ready for the next outing."

The Mariners optioned pitcher Carson Smith to Triple-A Tacoma Sunday. He surrendered four earned runs in 8 2/3 innings this spring while striking out eight and walking five.

Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly will pitch in a minor league game on Wednesday, leaving open the possibility that he starts the season on the disabled list. Any DL assignment can be made retroactive to Kelly's last appearance with the Major League team. 

Kelly has been bothered by biceps soreness for the last two weeks. 

"We'll continue to make sure that he's answering the physical questions,'' manager John Farrell said, per CSN New England. "With the number of pitches thrown and a progression that's outlined for him...We're keeping their options open.''

Rangers manager Jeff Banister announced Sunday that Nick Martinez has won the fifth spot in the team's rotation, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Martinez was one of a number of pitchers in the mix for the final spot in the team's rotation this spring. He allowed just one earned run in 10 2/3 innings while striking out nine and walking one.