MLB Player News

Red Sox starting pitcher Joe Kelly, who left his last spring start Monday against the Mets due to biceps tightness, will throw a bullpen session Thursday, manager John Farrell said. The team will then decide if Kelly makes his next spring start Sunday against the Phillies.

Orioles pitcher Ryan Webb will take the mound to face live hitters on Thursday, which is expected to be his final hurdle in his rehab from a left knee injury. If he makes it through without any discomfort, he'll be soon cleared for Grapefruit League cation, according to MASN Sports.

"That will be the last step," Webb said. "I will have had three bullpens and I'm ready to go.

"Everything feels good. It's stronger than a week ago. I'm looking forward to getting out there and seeing how that translates."

The Red Sox are looking at Matt Barnes as a reliever, after using him in a starter's role early in the spring. 

The Sox plan to use Barnes more often, in shorter stints, instead of working to stretch him out, according to WEEI's Rob Bradford. 

“I wanted to take a look at him earlier in the game against more of the ‘A’ type lineups as opposed to the first couple of times out and today was the first exposure to that,” manager John Farrell said after Monday's one-inning outing. “We’re still taking a look at him in shorter stints right now.”

Twins manager Paul Molitor said that pitchers Trevor May and Tommy Milone "threw the ball well" in minor-league action Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

"They both threw the ball well," Molitor said of the two rotation candidates. "Milone gave up a two-run homer in the first on I think a cutter that didn't get in far enough. But they both threw strikes."

Molitor watched the outing from behind the plate rather than at his normal post in the dugout.

"I had a different perspective watching from behind, which I don't normally," Molitor said. "But it gave me a better feel on how their pitches were looking and moving. I thought May did a good job using all of his pitches. His command of his secondary pitches was good, and for him that's something I've been concerned about. And they both did well with the running game and got through it clean for the most part."

May and Milone are competing with Mike Pelfrey and Alex Meyer for the final spot in the team's rotation.

Orioles pitcher Ryan Webb is scheduled to throw one more bullpen, and if he makes it past the session without any reported issues, he'll be cleared for spring games, according to MASN Sports. Webb has not pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 6.

Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton is scheduled to take part in a simulated game on Tuesday, per the Tacoma News Tribune. Paxton, who is working his way back from a forearm injury, is scheduled to log three innings of 45 pitches. Tom Wilhelmsen and Fernando Rodney are also expected to make an appearance in the simulated game.

Paxton vowed that he'll be ready for the start of the regular season, per the Tribune.

Rays manager Kevin Cash was unable to provide an update on the condition of pitcher Alex Colome on Tuesday, according to the Tampa Tribune. Colome was hospitalized with pneumonia on Saturday, and could be in danger of missing the start of the season.

Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters that pitcher Joe Kelly is still scheduled to pitch Sunday, but may have his start pushed back depending on his status, MLB.com.

"The next couple of days will determine where he's going to be in terms of rotation," Farrell said, per WEEI. He's scheduled to start on Sunday. We will get him off the mound prior to the next time he gets into a game. There will probably be a couple of days of some rest, some rehab and maybe some light throwing. If that extends him out the sixth day, that's possible. But we'll know more in the coming days."

Kelly exited Monday's spring start in the middle of the third inning with tightness in his biceps. An MRI was not needed for the right-hander. Farrell added that Kelly's injury improved today but he still has some soreness in biceps. He will play catch on Wednesday and throw off a mound on Thursday, per WEEI.

Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly left his start in the middle of the third inning, with tightness in his biceps, according to a report by the Boston Globe's Alex Speier.

Kelly faced 15 batters in 2.2 innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. He was removed from the game with tightness in his arm muscle that kept him from throwing anything except fastballs. 

Afterward, Kelly said he's had the problem before. He wasn't too concerned about it, saying, "usually, it doesn't last long." 

Kelly didn't think he'd need an MRI on the arm. 

After the game, manager John Farrell didn't seem too worried about the injury. The Boston Globe's Pete Abraham reported that Farrell said Kelly would be reevaluated on Tuesday, and his next start may be pushed back. 

Kelly has an 11.05 ERA so far this spring. 

Athletics pitcher Sean Nolin took another important step forward in his recovery from sports hernia surgery, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The prospect completed a 22-pitch side session on Sunday.

Nolin told the paper he's not sure if he'll get into spring games, but hasn't closed the door yet on that opportunity. At this point, he appears to be a candidate for extended spring training.