MLB Player News

Cisnero (neck) threw live batting practice without issue Sunday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Cisnero has been held back by neck spasms but appears to be past it now. He is expected to be in the mix to close games for the Tigers this season.

Burke allowed one hit and struck out one over a scoreless seventh inning in Monday's spring game against Cincinnati.

Burke has been mentioned as a possible candidate for saves and part of a closer mix. This was his first Cactus League appearance. Of note, Jose Leclerc, the leading candidate to close, pitched a scoreless fourth inning.

Leclerc allowed one hit and walked one over a scoreless fourth inning in Monday's spring game against the Reds.

Leclerc's appearance in the fourth inning, following starter Martin Perez's three-inning stint, indicates he's the team's closer, or at least part of the mix to save games. At this stage of the Cactus League, closers appear earlier in games when an opponent's best hitters are still in the lineup. Brock Burke, another candidate for saves, worked a scoreless seventh inning.

Pomeranz (elbow) has tossed eight bullpen sessions this spring and is aiming to be ready to pitch in games by late March, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Pomeranz didn't pitch at all in the majors last season, hurling just 4.2 minor-league innings before being shut down while attempting to rehab from flexor tendon surgery. The Padres have him on a gradual progression with his recent injury history in mind, but he still has a chance to see some spring action and be available out of the bullpen on Opening Day. Despite Pomeranz's struggles to stay healthy, he could be a major part of San Diego's bullpen if he avoids arm trouble this season. He was very effective in 2021, posting a 1.75 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 30:10 K:BB over 25.2 innings while recording 13 holds in 27 appearances.

The Angels remain committed to having Bachman stretch out as a starter, though manager Phil Nevin has indicated that the hurler could initially be used as a one-inning reliever in the majors, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Bachman was hampered by injuries to his back and biceps last season. limiting him to just 43.2 innings in Double-A ball and significantly impacting his velocity. However, the 23-year-old is reportedly throwing harder this spring, and he was drafted ninth overall in 2021 largely due to his penchant for hurling heat. That skill could help him fare well as a late-inning reliever, and Nevin hinted at a scenario in which a call-up could be in order if the team needs a hard-throwing pitcher out of the bullpen down the stretch in a playoff race. While such a circumstance could help Bachman reach the majors in 2023, all indications are that the organization has maintained a long-term goal of developing him as a future piece of the rotation.

Jax threw a scoreless inning with a strikeout and a walk in his spring debut Monday. Jax has introduced a new pitch this spring, a cutter, which he worked on at Driveline in the offseason, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Jax will likely use the cutter as a rare change of pace, as his primary off-speed pitch, a slider, held opponents to a .187 batting average against last season. Jax had a breakout season after moving to the bullpen and became a key setup man for the Twins. He improved both his strikeout (26.9 percent) and walk (6.9 percent) rates with a 78:20 K:BB ratio over 72.1 innings. He also induced grounders at a 47.3 percent rate and had 18 holds. He should be a good source of holds again, and possibly some saves, in Minnesota's bullpen.

Winder (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Monday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Winder looks to have taken the next step forward in his spring throwing progress after he had previously been limited to playing catch off flat ground, but he still finds himself behind the Twins' other healthy pitchers in camp while he works his way back from right shoulder soreness. The injury apparently surfaced while Winder was working out in December, and though the shoulder issue isn't yet being viewed as anything that jeopardizes his availability for Opening Day, it could hinder his chances of breaking camp as a member of the rotation.

Junis is considered the Giants' seventh starter this spring, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Junis doesn't have a clearly defined role yet -- he could be a starter when injuries arise, a piggyback reliever or a more traditional multi-inning option out of the bullpen. The right-hander added 10-15 pounds of muscle in the offseason after battling shoulder and hamstring issues in 2022. Junis' best path to fantasy relevance is in the rotation, but he's never posted an ERA lower than 4.30 in any of his six seasons, so his appeal at age 30 is limited.

Llovera (elbow) is set to pitch in Monday's Cactus League game versus the Angels, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Llovera is in Giants camp on a non-roster invitation after signing a minor-league contract in November. He was injured in mid-July and remained out for the rest of the 2022 season with a Grade 3 right flexor strain. The right-hander appears set to ramp up in line with the rest of the Giants' relief candidates, though he'll likely need an impressive spring to work his way back onto the 40-man roster.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said that the club will not have a set closer until Graveman's teammate Liam Hendriks (illness) returns. "Absolutely not. That's not how we are going to run it."

Hendriks is currently battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and he doesn't have a timeline for a return at this point. Graveman has closer experience, but it appears that the White Sox are going to go closer-by-committee until Hendriks is able to return. Other options for saves include Joe Kelly, Garrett Crochet, Aaron Bummer and Jake Diekman; among others.