MLB Player News

Montas will pitch Sunday in a simulated game on a back field at the Athletics' spring training complex, leaving him in play for a possible Opening Day assignment next Friday against the Phillies, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The hard-throwing right-hander has put together two sharply contrasting starts in Cactus League play thus far, with his most recent turn Sunday against the Mariners qualifying as the one where he pitched to plenty of contact. However, Montas and Sean Manaea remain the top two pitchers in the rotation, and consequently, the realistic candidates to draw an Opening Day start.

Manager Joe Maddon confirmed Friday that Detmers will begin the regular season as the Angels' sixth starter, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Detmers made five starts for the Angels last year, and he'll be rewarded with a rotation spot to begin the 2022 campaign after he allowed two runs on six hits and no walks while striking out 11 in 5.2 innings across two spring starts this year. The 22-year-old had a 42.0 percent strikeout rate in the minors last season and will attempt to translate that success to the big-league level in 2022.

Stoudt was reassigned to minor-league spring training Friday.

Stoudt was in the mix for the fifth spot in the Mariners' starting rotation during camp, but he failed to land a big-league roster spot after he gave up three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one in 2.1 innings during his lone Cactus League appearance. The 24-year-old made three starts at Double-A Arkansas last year, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him advance at some point in 2022.

Manager Alex Cora said an MRI on Sale's ribs showed "some healing," but the veteran left-hander remains without a timeline to start a throwing program, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Sale underwent a follow-up MRI on Thursday to check his recovery from a stress fracture on the right side of his rib cage, and it appears he requires a bit more rest before being cleared to throw. The 33-year-old is expected to remain at extended spring training once the regular season begins to continue his throwing program, though it's unclear when Sale will be able to resume it.

Bubic has allowed just one run and three hits over five innings across his two spring starts so far. He's struck out four and walked two.

Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports Bubic was satisfied with his breaking balls as he struck out three in three innings versus the Athletics on Thursday. In addition to a curveball, the lefty has debuted a slider in spring training, which could make him harder to hit in 2022. He's also working on upping his velocity on his fastball from the 90.9 mph average he had last season. Bubic is expected to work more toward the back end of the Royals' rotation, though he'll likely face pressure from prospects like Jonathan Hernandez, Jackson Kowar and Daniel Lynch to maintain a starting role this season.

Civale allowed a run on two hits and struck out seven over four innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Thursday.

Civale was excellent in his second spring start. He's allowed three runs, five hits and a walk across seven innings through those two appearances. The right-hander is a lock for the Guardians' rotation this season -- he should be toward the front end of the starting group behind ace Shane Bieber. Civale was limited to 124.1 innings in 21 starts last year, recording a 3.84 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 99:31 K:BB while missing time to a finger sprain in the second half of the campaign.

Giolito and the White Sox agreed to terms on a one-year, $7.45 million deal Friday, avoiding arbitration.

Giolito had his third straight strong season last year, with his ERA rising negligibly from 3.48 to 3.53. He did experience a drop in strikeout rate, which came in at 27.9 percent after finishing north of 32 percent in each of the previous two seasons, but the overall package is still enough to make him a frontline starter.

Severino (arm) will start Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers and expects to throw about 60 pitches, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

Severino has recently been slowed by arm soreness, but he had no issues during Wednesday's bullpen session and is poised to return to game action. The 28-year-old was previously expected to throw about 40 pitches, but the increased workload Saturday is a good sign for his potential availability for Opening Day, barring any further issues.

Paxton (elbow) has progressed to throwing a bullpen session and is ahead of schedule in his recovery from elbow surgery, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Paxton was throwing off flat ground in mid-March, and he's apparently advanced to mound work over the past couple weeks. The veteran left-hander is returning from Tommy John surgery in April of 2021 and hadn't been expected to see game action until the middle of summer, but it's possible he'll be ready to return a bit earlier.

Blackburn has allowed four earned runs on nine hits and two walks while recording three strikeouts across 5.2 innings in two Cactus League appearances.

Blackburn worked in relief in his Cactus League debut against the Angels back on March 18, and he drew the start versus Los Angeles on Monday and was able to log four frames in that outing. While he's given up a pair of earned runs in each trip to the mound thus far, Blackburn's ability to work multiple innings could allow him to stick on the Opening Day roster as a long reliever that can also serve as a spot starter in a rotation that could be in flux if the team decides to continue shedding payroll.