MLB Player News

Cease allowed 11 earned runs on seven hits and four walks across two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Wednesday in a Cactus League matchup against the Royals.

Cease completed two scoreless innings in his Cactus League debut March 3, though his second outing was derailed early. He allowed the first five batters he faced to reach base, the last of which was a grand slam by Michael Massey. He was pulled after recording just one out in the first inning but reentered one frame later and didn't fare any better. Cease is coming off an excellent 2022 season, so it's too early to panic despite the incredibly poor outing.

Ober threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in Wednesday's spring training win over Toronto. Ober has averaged more than 93 mph with his fastball in both spring starts after averaging 91.5 mph during the 2022 regular season, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Ober has thrown three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and a walk in two spring starts. Ober is challenging for a spot in the rotation, but he's likely the sixth starter at the moment and thus could begin the season in the minors. It's also possible the Twins could opt for a six-man rotation as Kenta Maeda (elbow) works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Ober will make the decision difficult if he continues to pitch this well during spring training.

DeGrom (side) could make his Cactus League debut as soon as Monday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Working his way back from left side tightness, deGrom sat at 98-99 mph during a 35-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday. As long as he rebounds from that throwing session with no issues, he should be cleared to return to game action. The two-time Cy Young winner remains on track for the start of the season, although it's probably not reasonable to expect a normal workload right out of the gate.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Cortes (hamstring) will throw one more live batting practice session before making his spring debut, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cortes threw a three-inning simulated game Wednesday, and Boone told reporters after the outing that the southpaw threw the ball well. The 28-year-old is set to face hitters once more in a controlled setting before likely making his Grapefruit League debut. Because of his hamstring injury, Cortes is expected to open the season as the Yankees' No. 5 starter, but it doesn't appear as though he'll lose out on any turns through the rotation as a result of the delayed start to his spring throwing progression.

Manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Paxton (hamstring) hopes to resume throwing off a mound by the end of this week, Mike Monaco of ESPN reports.

Paxton played catch Wednesday without issue and could be ready to test things out from a mound in a few days. The left-hander has been trending in the right direction since suffering a Grade 1 right hamstring strain last Friday, although he's not expected to be ready in time for Opening Day.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Whitlock (hip) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Mike Monaco of ESPN reports.

Whitlock still hasn't participated in fielding drills in the Grapefruit League, but the right-hander has been throwing off the mound and will face hitters again on Saturday. His status for Opening Day is still very much in doubt, but good showings on Saturday and his upcoming bullpens gives him a chance to return in the early part of April if there are no setbacks.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Bello (forearm) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Mike Monaco of ESPN reports.

Bello first started feeling soreness in his right forearm back in mid-February, although he's been pain-free for a while. The young right-hander is not expected to be ready in time for Opening Day, but being ready to face hitters means he's making real progress. He should be able to get in a Grapefruit League start or two before spring training ends.

Cortes (hamstring) threw a three-inning simulated game Wednesday, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

The Yankees haven't provided an update on Cortes' next step, but if he's kept on his normal between-starts throwing schedule for the regular season, he could be a candidate to make his first start of the spring as soon as next Monday versus the Twins. Before exposing Cortes to pitching in an uncontrolled environment, it's possible the Yankees opt to have him throw another simulated game or pitch in a "B" game on the back fields of camp instead. Regardless, Cortes looks to be progressing well from the strained right hamstring that resulted in him opting out of the World Baseball Classic, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone has already suggested he anticipates the southpaw will be ready to go when the team requires a fifth starter in the first turn through the Opening Day rotation.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said DeGrom (side) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Levi Weaver of The Athleticreports.

The right-hander is expected to toss around 30 pitches in the session and remains "on schedule" for the start of the regular season, despite having not pitched in a Cactus League game yet. Though all updates offered by Bochy and deGrom have suggested that the side injury that first cropped up in late February isn't a concern, it's understandable if fantasy managers are skeptical after the two-time Cy Young Award winner's injury-plagued 2021 and 2022 campaigns. Those who haven't drafted yet will want to keep a close eye on reports regarding deGrom after Wednesday's live session. If he sticks to a normal schedule of four days off before facing hitters again, deGrom could make his spring debut as soon as next Monday versus the Diamondbacks.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Eovaldi (side) will throw a light bullpen session Wednesday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

While Eovaldi isn't throwing a full bullpen session, he'll be on the bump for the first time since experiencing some left side tightness last week. He's more built up than most others in camp because he had been preparing for the World Baseball Classic, so Eovaldi should be good to go for the regular season if he can avoid any setbacks over the next couple of weeks.