MLB Player News

Keuchel is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Mariners in Chicago.

Keuchel found himself outside of Chicago's streamlined ALDS rotation last fall, but he'll open the 2022 season in a starting role, taking the hill for the White Sox's fifth game. After compiling a 5.28 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 5.0 K-BB% across 162 frames in 2021 and now heading into his age-34 campaign, Keuchel's fantasy outlook is bleak, even though he may have more job security than anticipated early on in the season with Lance Lynn (knee) likely out until at least late May. Even in his prime years, Keuchel was a below-average source of strikeouts, so his best hope for gaining mixed-league fantasy relevance will likely come from lowering his walk rate (8.2 percent in 2021, 7.2 percent career) and banking on his groundball-happy approach yielding better luck on balls in play (.307 BABIP in 2021, .293 career).

Lyles (0-1) took the loss after he pitched five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two in Saturday's defeat against the Rays.

The 31-year-old pitched a clean first inning, but struggled over the next two frames, surrendering all five runs over that span. Lyles struggled to keep the Rays off the basepaths, allowing 10 batters to reach base. Coming off a 2021 campaign in which he compiled a 5.15 ERA and 1.39 WHIP while starting 30 games with the Rangers, the left-hander failed to start off the 2022 season on the right foot. He is projected to be back on the mound Wednesday at home versus the Brewers.

Blackburn is scheduled to make his first start of the season Monday in Tampa Bay.

Blackburn will be included in the Athletics' season-opening rotation less on merit than by virtue of being one of the few available starting options on the 40-man roster with James Kaprielian (shoulder) and Brent Honeywell (elbow) on the injured list and Sean Manaea and Chris Bassitt having been traded away this spring. The 28-year-old Blackburn owns a 5.74 ERA and a minuscule 12.8 percent strikeout rate over 138 career big-league frames, and he didn't demonstrate any improvement in his 8.2 Cactus League innings this spring (9.35 ERA, 11.9 K%). Even with a two-start week on tap -- his second turn comes April 16 in Toronto -- Blackburn doesn't look like a usable fantasy option outside of AL-only leagues.

Manager Aaron Boone is hopeful that Severino will be able to throw 65-70 pitches during Saturday's start against the Yankees, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Severino was delayed in spring training due to arm soreness, and he likely won't be able to handle his full workload during his first start of the regular season. In spite of his earlier issue, he checked out fine at the end of camp and should be able to increase his pitch count following Saturday's outing.

Gray was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a blister on his throwing hand, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Rangers will be able to go with four starters due to a couple off days on the schedule. Gray could return April 19 in Seattle if he misses the minimum time. Spencer Patton was recalled in a corresponding move.

Velasquez will start Tuesday's home opener against the Mariners, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Velasquez joined the White Sox in mid-March and will begin the regular season as part of the starting rotation. He made 25 appearances (21 starts) between the Phillies and Padres last year and posted a 6.30 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 94.1 innings.

Manager Tony La Russa said Saturday that Giolito (abdomen) will "definitely" require a trip to the 10-day injured list due to a low abdominal strain, Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

La Russa is optimistic that Giolito will be able to return after missing just two starts, and the right-hander said that he'll keep his arm moving while on the IL in hopes that he won't require much time to build up once he's healthy. Giolito said he felt as though he would have been able to toss two more innings in Friday's Opening Day start if he wouldn't have been forced to leave the game due to injury.

Gray developed a potential blister on his middle finger that affected him in the fourth inning of Friday's 10-8 loss to the Blue Jays, indepedent baseball journalist Jeff Wilson reports.

Gray cruised through three innings before giving up three runs in his fourth and final frame. He said the blister first developed during his final spring training start. The right-hander received a lot of support from the offense, which had built a 7-0 lead before Toronto battled back. That offense figures to be a mainstay for the Rangers, which has the potential to benefit the starters as long as the bullpen doesn't cave as it did Friday. Gray is next scheduled to pitch Thursday at home against the Angels.

Berrios didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 10-8 win over the Rangers after coughing up four runs on three hits and two walks in only one-third of an inning. He also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch.

To say that Berrios didn't have his best stuff would be an understatement. The right-hander threw only 18 of 34 pitches for strikes before getting the hook, and the tone was set right away when Brad Miller socked a leadoff homer off him. Fortunately for Berrios, no lead is safe against the Toronto offense. Things don't get any easier for the 27-year-old in his next outing, a road start Wednesday in Yankee Stadium.

Gray didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 10-8 loss to the Blue Jays, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.

It looked like Gray might cruise to a win in his Rangers debut after Texas grabbed a 7-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, but the Toronto offense started rolling in the bottom of the frame and the right-hander got the hook after 70 pitches (43 strikes). The final score likely seemed awfully familiar to Gray from his days with the Rockies, but things should be a little less chaotic when he makes his home debut Thursday against the Angels.