MLB Player News

Kikuchi gave up one run on four hits and a walk over 3.2 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He struck out five.

Roberto Perez took him deep for a solo shot in the fourth inning, but prior to that Kikuchi was looking sharp. He worked his way up to 71 pitches (44 strikes) and appears just about ready for Opening Day as he gets ready to handle No. 5 starter duties for the Blue Jays, but the southpaw's spring has been a microcosm of his big-league performance to date. Kikuchi has an 11:4 K:BB through 8.1 innings but has also served up four homers.

Valdez, who was scheduled to pitch in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, will now pitch in a minor-league game on the back fields, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Due to the threat of inclement weather Saturday, the Astros will alter Valdez's pitching plans to make sure that he's able to get some work in. The southpaw has been named the starter for Thursday's Opening Day matchup against the Angels, so Saturday's outing should serve as a final tune-up ahead of the regular season. Brandon Bielak will now serve as the starter in Saturday's Grapefruit League game.

Sale (ribs) said Saturday that he feels good physically but hasn't yet been cleared to resume throwing, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Sale expects that he'll be cleared to throw relatively soon, and he also said he doesn't expect to need a full allotment of time to build up since he was able to throw early in camp. Although the southpaw's updates Saturday provide some encouragement, a better idea of his return timetable is unlikely to come into focus until he officially resumes throwing.

Allard allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out three over three innings in Friday's spring training game against the Giants.

Allard entered in the second inning following opener Dennis Santana in what was the left-hander's second Cactus League appearance. His first appearance was as a traditional starter, but at this point, Allard is not expected to be part of the rotation that opens the season. He'll stay stretched out and be able to pitch long relief, spot start or serve as the bulk-innings hurler if the Rangers play around with openers in 2022.

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.