MLB Player News

McKenzie allowed three runs on three hits and three walks over 1.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game versus the Diamondbacks. He struck out four.

"He had trouble leveraging his fastball down," manager Terry Francona said after the game. McKenzie's control issues can likely be attributed to just an off game -- he posted an excellent 2.1 BB/9 and 0.95 WHIP while adding 190 strikeouts in 191.1 innings a year ago. The Guardians are expected to have Shane Bieber start Opening Day, but McKenzie shouldn't be too far behind him in the rotation.

Paxton (hamstring) did some throwing from his knees Sunday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Paxton's Grade 1 right hamstring strain is keeping him from normal workouts, but he's doing his best to keep his arm in shape in the meantime. The left-hander is not expected to be ready in time for Opening Day. Paxton, of course, has had a terrible time staying healthy, having made just six major-league starts and one rehab start over the last three years due to injury.

Bush (oblique) recently resumed throwing bullpen sessions at the Angels' minor-league camp, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

One of the Angels' better pitching prospects, the 23-year-old Bush was denied an invitation to big-league spring training after developing the left oblique injury at some point during the offseason. The Angels aren't ruling out of the possibility of Bush making a Cactus League appearance at some point before the end of the spring, but the southpaw will continue ramping up at minor-league camp for the next week or two. Bush turned in a 3.67 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 101:29 K:BB across 103 frames for Double-A Rocket City in 2022.

Crawford struck out three over three scoreless relief innings in Sunday's spring game against Miami.

Crawford made his second spring appearance (one as a starter) and has yet to allow a run while striking out five over five innings. The right-hander keeps his name in the mix for a spot in the rotation if health becomes an issue early in the season. Brayan Bello (forearm), James Paxton (hamstring) and Garrett Whitlock (hip) are all in danger of missing Opening Day.

Kluber allowed two hits and two walks while striking out four over 2.2 scoreless innings in Sunday's spring start against the Marlins.

Kluber fanned the side in the first inning then worked around two baserunners in the second before leaving with the bases loaded in the third. All eight outs were either strikeouts or groundouts. Kluber has allowed four hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.2 innings.

Odorizzi (arm) threw a bullpen session Sunday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Odorizzi is behind other pitchers due to what Texas general manager Chris Young described as normal fatigue. That he was able to throw Sunday indicates a Cactus League debut is in the offing. A long time starter in MLB, Odorizzi is expected to pitch multi-inning relief for the Rangers in 2023.

Ragans allowed one run on two hits while striking out four over three innings in Sunday's spring start against the Angels.

Ragans allowed a leadoff triple then retired nine of the next 10 batters faced. The left-hander turned heads this spring with a significant increase in velocity. The pitcher who sat at 92.1 mph during a nine-start introduction to the majors last season is living around 94-96 -- and topped out at 99 a couple of times -- in Cactus League play, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. Ragans has allowed one run and walked just one (3.6 BB/9 last season) over six spring innings. "He's pounding the strike zone. And then you look at the stuff, there's no getting around it," Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's up from where it was last year, the velocity, but you look at the offspeed pitches, the changeup, the breaking ball -- he's been sharp from Day One, including bullpens and live BPs." Ragans is expected to serve as a depth starter in the organization, but with nagging spring injuries among the projected rotation, he could be up sooner rather than later.

Faedo allowed three runs on four hits while retiring only two batters in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.

Faedo underwent hip surgery in July, which ended his rookie season. He entered camp healthy and has now had one good performance followed by this rough one. The righty is likely on the outside looking in at the rotation, with Spencer Turnbull back in action, and Matthew Boyd and Michael Lorenzen added in free agency. Faedo could settle in as a long-relief option for the Tigers, which would limit his fantasy value in the short term, though the former first-round pick still has some upside if he starts down the road.

Gray (back) threw a bullpen session Sunday.

Gray reported immediate relief after undergoing treatment Saturday for back tightness that caused him to get scratched from his scheduled start Friday. The right-hander believes he can throw in a game as early as Wednesday.

Sears has allowed five earned runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings while recording six strikeouts across his first two Cactus League starts.

The left-hander is competing for a spot in the starting rotation after turning in a solid 6-3 record, 3.86 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 17 appearances (11 starts) as a rookie in 2022. Jack McGruder of MLB.com reports Sears has been working at refining his slider all offseason and used it very effectively against the Cubs in Thursday's start; all three runs allowed by Sears came off his fastball, while the southpaw racked up two strikeouts of Eric Hosmer and induced an inning-ending double play from Cody Bellinger with the slider.