MLB Player News

Lorenzen is content to focus on a pitching role this season and won't pursue having an opportunity to hit, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Lorenzen worked as a starter, as a reliever, and occasionally as an outfielder during seven seasons in Cincinnati, though he logged only one big-league plate appearance in each of the past two campaigns. He appears to now be committed to pitching full time after signing with the Angels in the offseason and being tabbed to join the team's starting rotation. Lorenzen has started 26 contests in his major-league career, though 21 of those came in 2015 during his rookie campaign.

The Tigers reassigned Anderson to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

After signing a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training, Anderson appeared in three Grapefruit League games, giving up three earned runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out two batters over five innings. The 34-year-old will start the year in Triple-A, but due to his big-league experience, he could be one of the first pitchers to get called up if needed. Anderson appeared in 14 games with the Phillies in 2021, nine of which were starts, producing a disappointing 6.75 ERA and 1.48 WHIP while posting a 6.6 K/9, his lowest since 2015.

Turnbull (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Turnbull underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2021 and is expected to miss most or all of the 2022 campaign, so Wednesday's move doesn't come as a surprise. The right-hander signed a two-year, $3.65 million contract with Detroit on Tuesday to avoid arbitration.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Kremer will be included on the team's initial 28-man Opening Day roster, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Baltimore will open the season with John Means, Jordan Lyles, Tyler Wells and Bruce Zimmermann as its four starters, but Hyde has yet to decide on a No. 5 starter. Though the likes of Kremer, Keegan Akin and Mike Baumann are all candidates to fill that role, Hyde left the door open that the Orioles look outside of the organization to bolster their pitching staff in advance of Opening Day. If that's the case, at least one of Kremer, Akin and Baumann would likely be at risk of losing his spot on the active roster and instead head to Triple-A Norfolk to pick up regular starts. Even if Kremer emerges as the No. 5 starter, his fantasy upside isn't particularly high; through 17 career big-league starts, he owns a 6.84 ERA and 1.59 WHIP.

The Orioles reassigned Watkins to minor-league camp Wednesday, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Watkins is expected to open the season at Triple-A Norfolk, where he'll likely be a candidate to fill a rotation spot. He had previously been competing for a spot on the Orioles' Opening Day roster as a long man out of the bullpen, even though he worked primarily as a starter or primary pitcher for the big club in 2021. Watkins didn't find much success over his 54.2 innings with Baltimore a season ago, logging an 8.07 ERA and 1.70 WHIP.

Ray and the Mariners won't face the Twins on Thursday after the Opening Day game for both teams was postponed due to inclement weather in Minnesota.

The contest was rescheduled for Friday, which was originally an off day in the schedule amid the four-game series. Ray remains in line to start Friday's game, which will keep the other four members of the rotation on their normal pitching schedules. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner closed his first spring with the Mariners with a 4.61 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 13.2 innings over his three starts.

Ryan and the Twins won't face the Mariners on Thursday after the Opening Day game for both teams was postponed due to inclement weather.

The contest was rescheduled for Friday, which was an off day in the schedule amid the four-game series. Ryan remains in line to start Friday's game, which will keep the other four members of the rotation on their normal pitching schedules. The 25-year-old right-hander closed the Twins' Grapefruit League slate with six strikeouts in five innings between his two starts.

Cole and the Yankees won't face the Red Sox on Thursday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

The season opener will be postponed to Friday, which was initially an open date for both teams. Cole, who had been in line to start Thursday's Opening Day game, will simply be pushed back a day in light of the postponement, while Luis Severino and Jordan Montgomery are likely lined up to start the final two games of the series with Boston.

Eovaldi and the Red Sox won't face the Yankees on Thursday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

The season opener will be postponed to Friday, which was initially an open date for both teams. The Red Sox still plan to hand Eovaldi the Opening Day nod and keep the rest of their rotation in order.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated Tuesday that Schmidt has made the team's Opening Day roster, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Schmidt was injured most of last season but came into spring training healthy. He was one of the team's top pitchers in Grapefruit League play, posting a 3.86 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 11:2 K:BB across 9.1 innings. The 26-year-od will likely take on a bullpen role to begin the campaign.