MLB Player News

Yarbrough (groin) will pitch in a minor-league game Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

He had been slated to pitch in a game on the back fields Wednesday before that was washed out by rain. Yarbrough hasn't appeared in a Cactus League game since late February because of a groin injury, but the Royals don't anticipate it affecting his readiness for Opening Day.

Manager Bob Melvin said Thursday that Castillo is currently shut down from throwing due to left shoulder discomfort, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Castillo has made just two appearances in the Cactus League this spring, and the last one was March 3. Given that Opening Day is now only two weeks away, the 27-year-old reliever seems likely to begin the 2023 regular season on the injured list.

Manager Scott Servais said Thursday that Berroa will be part of the rotation at Double-A Arkansas to begin the season, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Berroa impressed this spring to the point that Servais also said he expects the hard-throwing right-hander to help the major-league club in 2023. That could be as a reliever, but Berroa will continue to develop as a starter for the time being.

Szapucki (arm) said Thursday he is planning to see a thoracic outlet specialist next week, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

That's ominous news given the way thoracic outlet syndrome has altered many promising pitching careers. Szapucki has been experiencing nerve issues in his upper left arm for the last couple of weeks in Giants camp. The initial diagnosis was neuropathy, but it might prove to be a more severe issue.

Munoz (foot) will make an appearance in a B game Thursday, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

The plan has been for Munoz to make his Cactus League debut Friday and that presumably will still happen. Munoz has been brought along slowly in camp following October foot surgery, but he's healthy and this point and just needs to knock some rust off. He and Paul Sewald and Munoz look like 1A and 1B at closer, respectively, for Seattle this season.

Raley (hamstring) and David Robertson are viewed as the primary options for saves for the Mets in the event that Edwin Diaz (knee) is lost for a significant period of time after the closer suffered an injury Wednesday, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

Raley collected six saves for the Rays last season before being traded to the Mets in December. The left-hander was dominant in 2022 against lefties and righties alike, so there aren't platoon split worries. Robertson might be higher in the pecking order given his long history as a closer, but both should be on the radars of mixed-league fantasy managers. Raley is working his way back from a hamstring injury but is expected to be ready to pitch in a game in a few days.

Robertson and Brooks Raley are viewed as the primary options for saves for the Mets while Edwin Diaz (knee) is sidelined, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

Official word on Diaz won't be available until sometime after his MRI on Thursday, but the Mets are bracing for their star closer to be out for a significant period of time. Robertson would be a natural choice to slide into the ninth inning, having saved 20 games while posting a 2.40 ERA over 58 appearances for the Cubs and Phillies last season. He and Raley are both worthy of being selected in fantasy leagues -- pending news on Diaz -- with Robertson probably the favorite.

Diaz will undergo an MRI on his right knee Thursday afternoon and initial indications are that the injury is "bad," one source told Andy Martino of SNY.tv.

Martino writes that those briefed on the situation "fear that Diaz could be lost for a significant period, perhaps the entire season." The report comes as no surprise, unfortunately, as the right knee injury Diaz sustained Wednesday following Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic certainly looked major. The Mets could reveal the results of Diaz's MRI as soon as Thursday evening.

Diaz injured his right knee while celebrating Puerto Rico's victory over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday in the World Baseball Classic and will undergo imaging on his knee Thursday.

After striking out the side to secure the victory for Puerto Rico, Diaz was swarmed by his teammates on the mound before collapsing. He needed to be taken off the field in a wheelchair and appeared to be in a great deal of pain. He could face an extended absence, but we'll know more once his test results come back Thursday.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Martin is experiencing discomfort in his right shoulder and will undergo further testing Thursday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Martin fell to his knees in pain immediately after throwing a pitch in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against the Brewers. It was originally speculated to be an arm/elbow injury for the 27-year-old righty, but a shoulder issue is now confirmed. A better idea of how long Martin may be out for should be gleaned from his test results.