MLB Player News

The Angels optioned Daniel to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.

Daniel made three appearances for the Angels in the final month of last season, surrendering just three runs in 12.1 innings while striking out nine batters and walking nine. The 26-year-old got off to a strong start in the Cactus League as well, but he will now head to Triple-A to begin the season. If Daniel is able to stay hot in the minors, there is a decent chance he gets another look in the majors sometime this summer.

The Royals optioned Bowlan to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Bowlan will head to the minors after surrendering two runs off five hits and two walks while striking out two batters in 3.1 innings during spring training. The 27-year-old righty posted a 5.24 ERA and 1.55 WHIP across 67 frames with Omaha last season, and he will likely need to show further improvement in Triple-A before the Royals bring him back to the big-league squad.

Zerpa allowed a run on two hits and struck out five without walking a batter over three innings in his first spring start Wednesday versus the Mariners.

Zerpa's first two appearances of the Cactus League slate had come out of the bullpen, but the Royals are intent on keeping him stretched out as a starter. He's started six of his 19 major-league appearances, though he primarily worked as a long reliever in 2023 when he was with the Royals. Zerpa faces an uphill battle to make the rotation out of camp, but he should be one of the first options available for a call-up from Triple-A Omaha once the season is underway -- if he doesn't end up serving as a swingman in the bullpen.

The Rangers optioned White to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

White was one of four pitchers sent to minor-league camp in the Rangers' latest round of roster cuts. The 24-year-old right-hander made two relief appearances for Texas last season but otherwise spent the 2023 campaign in the minors with Round Rock and Double-A Frisco. White is expected to be a full-time member of the Round Rock rotation in 2024.

Kowar will meet with a doctor Friday to have his sore right arm examined, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

The Mariners gave Kowar a couple days to rest and that evidently didn't knock the soreness out, so he's set to be evaluated further. It's not clear whether the soreness is in his elbow or shoulder. Kowar might have been pitching his way into a bullpen spot with three strikeouts over two scoreless innings this spring, but now it's possible he could be sidelined for a while.

Kelly (oblique) said Thursday that he expects to resume throwing off a mound next week and be ready in time for Opening Day, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Kelly is dealing with left oblique soreness, but the reliever is optimistic he can avoid a stint on the injured list. The 29-year-old wouldn't appear to be a lock for the Opening Day roster, however, as he's struggled this spring in allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over three innings.

Jansen (lat) said Wednesday that he's targeting the Red Sox's March 15 game against the Twins for his Grapefruit League debut, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Jansen came into camp battling right lat soreness but recently progressed to facing hitters and is a little over a week away from a game appearance. He'll have less than two weeks to prep for Opening Day, but that's not expected to be a problem. Jansen will open the season as Boston's closer.

Dubin (shoulder) resumed playing catch Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Dubin has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut while he recovers from right shoulder inflammation, but resuming a throwing program this week is the first step toward getting back on the mound in a game setting. The right-hander will likely increase his throwing distance off flat ground over the next several days before advancing to bullpen sessions and then facing hitters in live batting practice. Even if he remains free of setbacks as he builds back up, Dubin is still probably a week or more away from his spring debut.

Kelly is currently sidelined by a left oblique injury, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Kelly's last Grapefruit League appearance came on March 2, although it's not clear whether he was injured then or sometime after. It's possible he will require a stint on the injured list to begin the season, but more should be known in the coming days.

Blanco could begin the season in the rotation, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Blanco was a versatile option for the Astros in 2023, as he made 17 appearances in the majors -- seven of which were starts. He posted a 4.74 ERA paired with an uninspiring 35:21 K:BB across 38 frames as a starter, though Houston may have little choice to turn to him with Justin Verlander (shoulder) set to begin the season on the injured list and J.P. France (shoulder) still limited. Blanco has made three spring training appearances, with his longest outing being three frames. He's also gotten good results, throwing 7.2 scoreless innings while compiling an 8:2 K:BB.