MLB Player News

Winn (elbow) will begin a throwing program Monday after meeting with a doctor Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Winn had his bullpen session Wednesday cut short after feeling soreness in his right elbow, but the right-hander appears optimistic that he will be ready for Opening Day. Winn pitched in nine games last season -- including five starts -- and posted a 1-3 record and one save with a 4.68 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 35:8 K:BB across 42.1 innings.

Floro experienced tightness in his shoulder Saturday and will be shut down for a few days, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Neither Floro nor the Nationals are too concerned about his shoulder since Floro said he's dealt with similar tightness multiple times before during past springs. Still, the Nats will err on the side of caution and rest Floro, but the 33-year-old reliever's status for Opening Day shouldn't be affected.

Gibaut was diagnosed with a pronator strain Saturday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Gibaut will be shut down from throwing for 3-to-5 days before working his way back, but the team's concern level seems relatively low. The 30-year-old righty logged a 3.33 ERA in 75.2 innings last season and will likely serve in middle relief for the Reds in 2024.

Kilian logged two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in Friday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.

Kilian was the third pitcher to appear in the contest for the Cubs and he looked sharp. The righty has appeared in six games (four starts) for Chicago over the past two years and could be in the running for a bullpen role this spring if he pitches well. Kilian doesn't seem like a realistic option for a rotation spot at this point, though he could be on the radar for spot starts when needed.

Lopez might be the early favorite to open the season as Atlanta's No. 5 starter, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Lopez holds a career 4.73 ERA and 19.8 percent strikeout rate as a starter but a 3.01 ERA and 26.6 percent strikeout rate as a reliever, and all but one of his appearances over the last two seasons have come out of the bullpen. However, Atlanta believes they might be able to coax more out of Lopez as a starter, and at the very least it would be easier to stretch him out now before moving him to the bullpen later rather than vice versa. Lopez's primary competition for the fifth spot in the rotation is Bryce Elder, with AJ Smith-Shawver, Darius Vines, Allan Winans and Dylan Dodd also options.

Fujinami is flying back to Japan on Friday to attend to a family matter, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander agreed to a one-year, $3.35 million deal with the Mets in early February, but he won't be with the team for the start of spring games due to the family issue. Fujinami is expected to be back with the club in plenty of time to get ready before Opening Day.

Kranick will compete for the fifth spot in the Mets' rotation after the injury to Kodai Senga (shoulder), Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The Mets' preference is to not rush their top prospects, which leaves Kranick, Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi and Jose Butto battling for the right to fill in for Senga. Realistically, they might all be needed. Acquired via waivers last month, Kranick has held a 5.56 ERA and 36:22 K:BB across nine starts and two relief appearances at the big-league level.

Law signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Law posted a 3.60 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through 55 innings with the Reds last season, yet the team opted to non-tender him in November. Now with the Nationals, Law has a strong chance to make the team's Opening Day bullpen and would likely serve in middle relief.

Winn said Wednesday that he's not overly concerned about his sore right elbow and is still expecting to be ready for Opening Day, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Winn was sent in for an MRI after experiencing soreness following his most recent bullpen session of spring training, but those tests apparently didn't reveal any structural or ligament damage. The right-hander will still be shut down from throwing for the time being, putting him behind the Giants' other healthy rotation options as Cactus League play gets underway this weekend. If Winn avoids an extended shutdown period and is able to build up to a starter's workload by the end of March, he should still have the inside track on a rotation spot.

Howard could have a chance to make the Giants' Opening Day rotation if Keaton Winn (elbow) isn't ready, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

An MRI on Winn's elbow came back clean, but his status is up in the air. Howard is with the Giants as a non-roster invitee and appears to be one of the top candidates to fill in for Winn, if needed. The 27-year-old has flopped so far at the big-league level, holding a 7.20 ERA and 109:55 K:BB over 115 innings covering 29 starts and nine relief appearances.