MLB Player News

Lynn yielded two runs on three hits and four walks across 5.2 innings in Friday's loss to Houston. He struck out six and did not factor in the decision.

The veteran right worked five shutout frames before his day was ended by Kyle Tucker's two-run shot in the sixth. Lynn forced 16 whiffs on 96 total pitches (55 strikes). He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning but otherwise didn't have much trouble until serving up the homer. Lynn is expected to start at home against the Giants next week.

Javier allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk over five frames during Friday's win against the White Sox. He struck out six and did not factor in the decision.

The 26-year-old settled in after allowing an RBI double to Eloy Jimenez in the first inning until Jimenez brought home another run as part of a two-run sixth. Javier forced 19 whiffs, including 10 with his fastball. He was in line to take the loss before his offense took over late in the game. Javier is lined up for a solid matchup against the Tigers at home next week.

Whitlock (hip) allowed one run over four innings in Friday's rehab start for Triple-A Worcester.

Whitlock allowed six hits with a walk, and he struck out six. The right-hander is making his way back from hip surgery that he underwent last September, and it's encouraging to see some positive results and a full four frames. Whitlock is expected to make one more start at the Triple-A level, and if everything goes well he'll be back on the bump for Boston as soon as April 11 for a start against Tampa Bay.

Rodriguez is starting for Triple-A Norfolk in their season opener Friday against Triple-A Durham, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Rodriguez did not ultimately claim a spot in the Orioles' Opening Day rotation after struggling to a 7.04 ERA across 15.1 innings (five starts) this spring in the Grapefruit League. The 23-year-old should dominate the competition at Triple-A as he looks to win an early-season promotion to Baltimore -- he posted a 2.20 ERA with 97 strikeouts over 69.2 innings (14 starts) for Norfolk last year.

Miller will open the season with Double-A Arkansas, MLB.com reports.

The Mariners don't like sending prized pitching prospects to the Pacific Coast League due to how the conditions mess with pitchers, so while Miller earned a bump this spring and with his performance in 10 starts at Double-A last year, he'll return to Arkansas for now. Seattle jumped George Kirby directly from Double-A to the majors last year, and the same could happen with Miller this summer.

Bibee is opening the year with Triple-A Columbus, MLB.com reports.

Per the report, Gavin Williams will be opening the year at Double-A Akron, so Bibee is the current favorite to be the first of the duo to reach the majors in 2023. While the 24-year-old righty is a highly touted prospect, he may have to bide his time for a couple months, as evidenced by the team's decision to add Hunter Gaddis to the big-league rotation in the wake of Triston McKenzie's shoulder injury. In addition to Gaddis, the Guardians have rotation candidates Konnor Pilkington and Joey Cantillo on the 40-man roster. Logan Allen is a non-40-man candidate due to his strong spring and experience at Triple-A last year.

Williams is opening the season back at Double-A Akron, MLB.com reports.

This comes via an article from the MLB Pipeline crew listing the starting level for each top 100 prospect, so it's possible it's just an error as it hasn't been reported elsewhere, but it would be pretty noteworthy for Williams' 2023 outlook if true. The hard-throwing righty dominated at Double-A for 16 starts in 2022 (2.31 ERA, 1.00 WHIP), but the Guardians have a bit of a roster crunch in the Columbus rotation. Most notable is the fact that Tanner Bibee is reportedly headed to Triple-A, so he would appear to be the current favorite of the Bibee/Williams duo to reach the majors first.

Paxton (hamstring) tentatively appears to be on track to return from the 15-day injured list in late April, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

One of three Red Sox starting pitchers who opened the season on the IL, Paxton is without a firm target date for his return, but Abraham notes that the veteran southpaw is behind both Garrett Whitlock (hip) and Brayan Bello (forearm) in his rehab program. Of the trio, Whitlock appears closest to a return -- he'll be pitching Friday for Triple-A Worcester in the first of what's expected to be two rehab starts for the affiliate before he comes off the IL as early as April 11. Meanwhile, Abraham notes that Bello is about a week behind Whitlock, while Paxton is about 7-to-10 days behind Bello. Paxton is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment of his own Monday, but looks as though he'll need at least three starts to get fully stretched out.

Whitlock (hip) is scheduled to make a rehab start Friday for Triple-A Worcester, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Though he missed out on a spot on the Red Sox's Opening Day roster while he continues to build back up from the right hip surgery he underwent last September, Whitlock will take the hill for the Triple-A club's season opener. Abraham's report doesn't specify what his workload will look like with Worcester, but considering he covered four innings and 63 pitches in a minor-league game a week ago, the right-hander could push toward the 75-pitch range Friday. After Friday, Whitlock is expected to make one more start for Worcester on April 5 before coming off the 15-day injured list and making his season debut for Boston as soon as April 11 versus the Rays.

Castillo did not factor into the decision Thursday versus the Guardians, yielding just one hit and no walks over six shutout frames in a 3-0 victory. He struck out six.

The only baserunner Castillo allowed on the night was a leadoff single by Will Brennan in the third inning which actually glanced off the pitcher's head and knocked his cap off, although the right-hander was fine. The incident clearly didn't spook Castillo, as he fanned the next three to get out of the frame and start a streak of 12 straight batters retired to finish off his night. He needed only 76 pitches to cruise through his six innings, collecting 13 swinging strikes and a 37 percent CSW rate along the way. The four-seamer was Castillo's most-used pitch in this one, just as it was after he came over to Seattle in a trade last August.