MLB Player News

Kaprielian has clinched a spot in the Athletics' Opening Day rotation and is likely to make his first start during the team's second series of the season next week versus the Guardians in Oakland, Ben Ross of MLB.com reports.

Manager Mark Kotsay has already confirmed that Kyle Muller will get the Opening Day start Thursday versus the Angels, while Shintaro Fujinami and Ken Waldichuk have been confirmed to start the final two games of the series Saturday and Sunday, respectively. That leaves Kaprielian in line to face the Guardians either Monday or Tuesday, with the yet-to-named winner of the competition for the fifth's starter role -- either JP Sears or Adam Oller -- getting the nod for the other day. Kaprielian was brought along somewhat slowly in camp after he underwent a non-invasive procedure on the AC joint of his right shoulder back in October, but he ended up making four Cactus League starts and built up to 5.1 innings and 88 pitches in his final outing Monday. He shouldn't face any restrictions once the season gets underway.

Gray allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out seven over four relief innings in Tuesday's spring game against the Royals.

Gray followed fellow starter Martin Perez, who worked five innings. The former threw an efficient 61 pitches, then stayed on the mound and faced Rangers hitters for about 10 minutes following the game. The right-hander will make his first regular-season start Monday at home against the Orioles.

Perez allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out five over five innings in Tuesday's spring start against Kansas City.

Perez threw 70 pitches and another 15 in the bullpen in his final spring tune-up, per Dave Sessions of MLB.com. The left-hander is next scheduled to pitch Sunday at home against the Phillies.

Angels manager Phil Nevin told reporters after Saturday's game that Canning is dealing with a groin injury, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Nevin announced that Tucker Davidson has made the club after Saturday's exhibition game against the Dodgers, and that Canning has been dealing with something in his groin since Monday. Nevin doesn't believe the injury will require a stint on the injured list, and said that while the injury isn't alarming, the right-hander will be evaluated Wednesday. Canning still has a chance to be the sixth starter for the Angels, but because of off days that won't be necessary until the middle of April.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Tuesday that he was unsure if McCullers (forearm) would begin the year on the 60-day injured list, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros are going to have to make some roster moves in order to get both Cesar Salazar and Corey Julks on the Opening Day roster, as both are not currently on the 40-man at this point. McCullers is dealing with a low-grade strain and isn't expected to be ready until May at the earliest, and if the club believes it will be closer to June, it could put the right-hander on the 60-day IL to open space. Managers shouldn't expect to see McCullers making starts for Houston in the month of April.

Urquidy will start Saturday's game against the White Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

As expected, Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier will get the ball for the first two games of the series, and Urquidy will start Saturday with Luis Garcia pitching the series finale against Chicago. The right-handed Urquidy finished 2022 with a 13-8 record, 3.94 ERA and 134 strikeouts over 164.1 innings with a 1.17 WHIP over 29 appearances. Urquidy won't miss enough bats to be a stalwart, but he should throw enough strikes while limiting hard contact to be a solid option for 2023.

Canning and Tucker Davidson are battling for a role as the Angels' sixth starter, Adrian Garro of MLB.com reports.

The two hurlers have been battling it out throughout the spring, and Canning has put up better numbers, posting a 1.32 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB over 13.2 innings versus Davidson's 5.19 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB across 17.1 frames. One thing working in Davidson's favor, however, is that he is out of minor-league options while Canning is not. Whichever pitcher wins the competition may not see action in a starting role right away, as Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Tuesday that the team is "going to take it day by day, but there's a possibility that sixth spot maybe we don't use it right off the bat ... and if we don't use him right off the bat, he's in the bullpen and provides length there," per Garro.

Brown (back) is on track to be part of the Astros' season-opening starting rotation, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brown was scratched from a scheduled Grapefruit League start last week after experiencing lower-back tightness while doing some agility drills in camp, but he made it through a bullpen session Sunday without issue and is slated to throw a simulated game Wednesday. The 24-year-old right-hander posted a 0.89 ERA with 22 strikeouts over his first 20.1 major-league innings last year, working mostly in relief. He holds considerable fantasy upside in 2023 with a relatively locked-in starting role for the defending World Series champs.

The Astros optioned Bielak to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The righty only appeared in five games last season but was moderately effective as a multi-inning reliever in 2021, posting a 4.50 ERA in 50 innings. Barring injury or serious struggles in Sugar Land, Bielak should join the Astros at some point in the regular season.

Sandoval tossed 79 pitches in a minor-league game Sunday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Sandoval spent time this spring pitching for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, notably holding eventual champions Japan scoreless over 4.1 innings in a semifinal matchup. The southpaw appears to be pretty well ramped up for the regular season, as he followed his 79-pitch outing Sunday by doing some additional throwing in the bullpen. Sandoval is tentatively slated to start the Angels' second game of the campaign, April 1 in Oakland.