MLB Player News

Beede's MRI on Tuesday revealed both a flexor strain and a UCL sprain in his right elbow, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

The Giants will have more information involving a timetable for Beede's return later this week. Although elbow injuries are very problematic for pitchers, the fact that the 26-year-old avoided any tears or structural damage to his right elbow is encouraging. If Beede is forced to miss an extended period of time to begin the regular season, Logan Webb and Tyson Ross are primary candidates to fill the No. 5 spot in San Francisco's starting rotation.

Rodriguez is out indefinitely after he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 right biceps strain following an MRI earlier this week, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

The Cubs are still mapping out a rehab schedule for the hard-throwing righty, but given the nature of the injury, he appears likely to open the 2020 campaign on the minor-league injured list. Rodriguez is expected to be assigned to Double-A Tennessee at the conclusion of spring training.

Manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday that Brigham won't be available for Opening Day due to a right biceps injury, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Brigham's injury has thus far prevented him from appearing in any Grapefruit League games, and it doesn't sound like he'll have enough time to ramp up before the Marlins begin their regular season March 26. Expect Miami to move Brigham to the 15-day injured list within the next few weeks as the team looks to narrow down its roster to 26 men.

Bukauskas (wrist) is scheduled to make his spring debut Thursday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Bukauskas, who was one of the pieces the Diamondbacks acquired from the Astros in the Zack Greinke deal last year, has been dealing with a minor wrist injury. Piecoro notes Bukauskas paired a mid-90s fastball with a wipeout slider during his spring throwing sessions. A consistent third pitch (changeup) has been elusive thus far in the minors. The 23-year-old right-hander hasn't lived up to the hype of being a first-round draft pick in 2017, and he could eventually transition to relief.

Beede felt some elbow tightness after pitching the fourth inning during Tuesday's Cactus League loss against the Rangers, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Beede is scheduled to undergo tests on his right elbow Tuesday evening. The 26-year-old threw one scoreless inning after allowing a leadoff single and recording one strikeout and one walk. Beede is currently battling to retain his No. 5 spot in the Giants' starting rotation and can ill afford to miss a significant portion of spring training.

Betances (Achilles) isn't throwing with his usual velocity but isn't concerned, Anthony Rieber of Newsday reports.

Betances similarly downplayed velocity concerns last spring but went on to face just two batters in the regular season, first due to a shoulder injury and then because of a torn Achilles tendon. He's still working his way back from that Achilles issue this spring and has yet to make a Grapefruit League appearance.

Boxberger has looked good to begin spring training and is sitting 93-94 mph with his fastball, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

The last time the right-hander had that kind of giddyup on his heater, he was racking up 41 saves for the Rays in 2015. Boxberger has yet to give up a run through 3.1 innings this spring with a 4:0 K:BB, and if he continues to demonstrate he still has some gas left in his tank, the 31-year-old could begin the season in a high-leverage role for the Marlins.

Castillo (finger) is being eased into action this spring, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

While Castillo appears healthy entering the campaign, the Padres have elected to nudge him along slowly following a season in which injuries to his forearm and finger limited the southpaw to a combined 8.2 innings between the minors and majors. Manager Jayce Tingler did not provide a target date for Castillo to take the mound in a game, but he has not yet ruled out the possibility of the reliever making the Opening Day roster.

Guerra has pitched three scoreless innings this spring, allowing two hits and striking out three.

Guerra is perhaps the most intriguing player among a host of talented Padres relievers as the converted shortstop is capable of touching triple-digits with his fastball but has only a season of experience on the mound. The right-hander's chances of making the Opening Day roster are by no means guaranteed, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, but they are enhanced by the fact that he pitched well in the minors last season and no longer has minor-league options.

Nelson (lower body) has started playing catch but is no longer in consideration for an Opening Day rotation spot, per Dodger Insider.

Nelson, who signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers in January, has yet to throw in a Cactus League game while dealing with injuries to his groin and back and subsequent lower-body discomfort. With Opening Day less than four weeks away, Nelson's opportunity to seize a spot in the rotation has come and gone. Still, manager Dave Roberts indicated that the veteran right-hander could feasibly open the campaign in the bullpen and build up over the course of the season, so he has not yet been removed from the team's plans.