MLB Player News

Kikuchi gave up two runs on one hit and three walks over 3.1 innings in Friday's split-squad game against the Phillies. He struck out three.

The southpaw got stretched out to 76 pitches, but only 46 of them went for strikes. Kikuchi looked good early in camp but his control has begun to desert him again with Opening Day growing closer, and he now has a 16:9 K:BB through 13 spring innings despite a superficially strong 1.38 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. The 31-year-old has a career 5.02 ERA and 3.67 BB/9 since coming to MLB in 2019, and there's been no real sign this spring he's going to be any more reliable in 2023.

Heaney allowed a solo home run and struck out eight over five innings in a game against minor leaguers Friday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Heaney increased his innings count during what has been a good week for Texas starting pitching. Both Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom returned to the spring rotation after missing time due to side injuries. Jon Gray threw four shutout innings Thursday before Eovaldi's 3.1 scoreless Friday, and Martin Perez helped Venezuela eliminate the favored Dominican Republic in the WBC. Heaney should take up residence somewhere in the top three spots and could be an option for Opening Day given the delays experienced by deGrom and Eovaldi.

Mahle gave up three home runs in a row and four runs total in 3.2 innings Friday against the Orioles and his fastball velocity was in the 89-93 mph range after being in the 90-94 mph range in his previous outing. However, Mahle said his shoulder felt fine. "I felt pretty good with where I was at today. I know I gave up back-to-back-to-back home runs, but whatever. I felt pretty good," he told The Athletic.

In Mahle's March 11 start against the Red Sox, he had 13 pitches of 93-94 mph, and he threw just two pitches of 93 mph and zero 94 mph pitches in Friday's outing. It might be nothing, but it's at least mildly concerning that his velocity is trending down. Mahle struggled with a sore shoulder last year, ending his season in early September. All the reports on his shoulder have been positive this spring, but monitor his final spring outings.

Eovaldi (side) allowed four hits and struck out five over 3.1 scoreless innings in Friday's spring start against the Brewers.

This was Eovaldi's second Cactus League start but first since he sustained a side injury at the beginning of the month. The right-hander's fastball, which averaged 95.8 mph last season, sat in the upper 90s, touching 99 mph multiple times, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. "I felt like I was ahead in the counts, felt like I used all my pitches," the pitcher said. "The only thing I need to work on doing better at is executing with two strikes." With Jacob deGrom ready to start Sunday, it looks like the Rangers' projected rotation is healthy as the regular season looms. As suggested earlier by manager Bruce Bochy, both Eovaldi and deGrom could be on restricted counts early.

Cortes (hamstring) is starting Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.

This is a big deal, as Cortes is working to get ready in time to make his first turn in the rotation. It's already been reported that he probably won't pitch in the first series against the Giants, but he could take the ball April 3 at home against the Phillies. He has been throwing live batting practice sessions and simulated games thus far in camp.

Paxton (hamstring) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

This is his first such session since he suffered a hamstring injury March 3. Paxton won't be ready for Opening Day.

Bello (forearm) will make his spring debut Sunday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

He threw two innings on the backfields Wednesday and is scheduled to throw another couple innings Sunday after Nick Pivetta exits. It was reported back on March 4 that Bello was unlikely to be able to ramp up in time to make the Opening Day roster, but that is yet to be officially determined.

Detmers tossed five innings against Milwaukee in a Cactus League contest Thursday, allowing one run on two hits and no walks while striking out six batters.

Detmers was perfect through four innings against a Brewers lineup filled mostly with regulars before serving up a solo homer to Luke Voit in the fifth frame. The lefty hurler again showed increased velocity in comparison to last season, as his fastball sat at 94-96 mph and his slider at 88-91 mph, per Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. Detmers may be poised for a breakout campaign, and he's supporting that notion with a 2.08 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB through 13 innings this spring.

Urquidy is hoping to remain in the Astros' rotation for the entire 2023 season, Michael Shapiro of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Urquidy pitched out of Houston's rotation for the majority of the 2022 season but was demoted to a relief role in the final days of the campaign and into the postseason. His overall numbers were plenty respectable, as he recorded a 3.94 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 164.1 frames, though the Astros boasted plenty of rotation depth at the time. If Hunter Brown proves reliable and Lance McCullers (forearm) can return to full health early in the season, Urquidy could be challenged for his role again. However, he'll be locked into the rotation to begin the new campaign.

Major League Baseball forced Garcia to change his windup this offseason, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Garcia used a rocking motion with his arms during his windup in past seasons, but he has been forced to eliminate that as the league institutes a crackdown on deliveries that would be balks according to the letter of the rulebook. As a result, he shortened his windup and made it more compact. Garcia's results in the Cactus League have been positive to this point, as he's allowed only one earned run across five innings while maintaining a 5:1 K:BB.