MLB Player News

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said deGrom (side) will throw his first bullpen session of spring training Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

DeGrom will wind up having his spring throwing progression pushed back about a week on account of left side tightness, after the minor injury coupled with cold weather in Arizona prompted the Rangers to scratch him from his previously scheduled bullpen session last Wednesday. The two-time Cy Young Award winner was able to resume throwing and fielding drills Sunday, and after experiencing no setbacks while working out for the past few days, deGrom will step back on the mound Thursday. He's not expected to be included in the pitching schedule for the Rangers' first week of Cactus League games, but deGrom nonetheless looks to be on track to be fully ramped up well in advance of Opening Day.

McCullers (forearm) said Wednesday that he won't be ready to pitch at the start of the regular season after he underwent an MRI on Tuesday that revealed a "small muscle strain," Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Fortunately for McCullers, his MRI showed no structural damage to his forearm/elbow, but he'll still be shut down for at least the next couple of weeks on account of the muscle strain. The right-hander still believes that he'll be able to reach 150 innings this season, but his delayed start in making his 2023 debut means that he'll likely need to avoid any further setbacks with the elbow in addition to any other injury concerns in the months to come. With the depature of Justin Verlander this offseason via free agency, the depth of the Astros' rotation will be tested early in the campaign, though Houston has plenty of talented young arms to turn to in McCullers' stead. Hunter Brown is the most likely candidate to replace McCullers in the starting rotation early in the campaign, having produced a 0.89 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with 22 punchouts over 20.1 innings in seven appearances (including two starts) in his first major-league action last season. A clearer timeline for McCullers' season debut should come once he resumes throwing and starts facing hitters again, something that could happen late in spring training.

Wells (shoulder) faced hitters Wednesday in a live batting practice session, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Though the Orioles could slow play Wells into the Grapefruit League pitching schedule, the fact that he's already facing hitters in his second week at camp suggests that he reported to spring training with no limitations on the health front. Before landing on the injured list last September with right shoulder inflammation and spending the final two weeks on the shelf, Wells proved reliable in a starting role, putting together a 7-7 record to go with a 4.25 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 76:28 K:BB across 103.2 innings. Despite his quality 2022 season, Wells may still have to battle for a rotation spot in spring training after Baltimore added two more battled-tested veteran starters (Kyle Gibson and Cole Irvin) in the offseason. Top prospect Grayson Rodriguez is also likely to be included in the Opening Day rotation, potentially leaving Wells to vie with the likes of Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer and Austin Voth for one of two remaining spots.

Houck (back) will serve as a starter during spring training but could move to a multi-inning bullpen role, Christopher Smith fo MassLive.com reports. "We will see where we want him but we have to maximize him," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.

Houck is one of seven candidates vying for the five-man rotation. The pitcher said he's a "full-go" for spring training after undergoing back surgery last September. Houck has been used as both a starter and reliever in the majors, thriving in both roles. The right-hander has a 3.22 ERA in 20 career starts and a 2.68 ERA in 33 relief appearances.

Bello (forearm) played catch from 75 feet Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Bello was shut down for nearly a week before playing catch Monday. He extended the session Tuesday, with manager Alex Cora indicating everything went well. Bello, one of seven candidates for the rotation, is expected to take a little longer than the rest to join the spring rotation.

Kluber will make his first spring start Feb. 28 against the Marlins, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed his planned rotation for the first few spring games with Kluber being the first projected regular member of the rotation. The manager did not mention projected starters beyond Tuesday's night game against Miami. A slate of minor league pitchers will throw Friday's seven-inning exhibition against Northeastern University, a traditional spring kickoff for Boston. Saturday's starter is TBA while Josh Winckowski (Sunday) and Kutter Crawford (Monday) will follow.

Wentz seems unlikely to earn a rotation or bullpen spot with the Tigers to begin the year, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Wentz made seven starts for Detroit last year and posted a solid 3.03 ERA, but Spencer Turnbull and Matthew Boyd are back in the mix, joining Eduardo Rodriguez, Matt Manning and newcomer Michael Lorenzen. A number of those pitchers missed significant time in 2022, however, so Wentz figures to provide good insurance if a need arises in 2023. He's off the fantasy radar at the moment but could see his value rise if he gets a regular gig in the majors.

Mahle (shoulder) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

It marks his time facing hitters this camp after Mahle missed the final few weeks of last season with a shoulder injury. "I thought he looked strong," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "His camp right now is going to be basically a normal camp for him. He looks really good right now. He's feeling right where he wants to be." Not only is Mahle entering camp healthy, he's also coming in with a new slider after working at Driveline over the winter. The righty holds a 3.95 ERA and 396:128 K:BB over 348.1 innings since the start of the 2020 season.

Whitlock (hip) is being eased into pitchers' fielding practice during camp, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Going through full fielding drills will be the last thing Whitlock does this spring as he comes back from hip surgery. The good news is he's been throwing regular bullpen sessions and his arm feels on track, so there shouldn't be any question about the pitcher's Opening Day availability. Whitlock is expected to be part of the Red Sox' rotation.

Sale (wrist) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Sale threw another bullpen session Tuesday and will face hitters for the first time in camp this weekend. The veteran left-hander missed most of the 2022 season with a stress fracture in his ribcage, a fractured finger and a fractured wrist, but all appears to be good with Sale so far this spring. It's not clear when he might make his Grapefruit League debut, but the expectation is that he'll be ready for Opening Day.