MLB Player News

Bielak will serve as a reliever to begin the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Bielak was in the mix to start the Astros' fifth game of the regular season Monday, but manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Luis Garcia will serve as the team's fifth starter while Jake Odorizzi (conditioning) is unavailable. Bielak should take on a multi-inning role out of the bullpen this season. The right-hander made five appearances (two starts) this spring and posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 16 innings.

Astros manager Dusty Baker named Garcia the team's fifth starter Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Jake Odorizzi (conditioning) will join the Astros' starting rotation at some point, but he isn't expected to debut until at least mid-April as he continues to build up after a late start to camp. As a result, Garcia will serve as a starter to begin the regular season while Brandon Bielak takes on a bullpen role. Garcia made two appearances (one start) for Houston this spring and posted a 7.94 ERA and 1.94 WHIP in 5.2 innings. He should make his season debut against the Angels on Monday.

Odorizzi (conditioning) is unlikely to make his season and Astros debut until at least April 13 against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Since he didn't sign his two-year, $17 million deal with the Astros until two weeks into spring training, Odorizzi is still playing catchup with his throwing progression and won't be included in the Astros' Opening Day rotation. Odorizzi was able to build up to three innings and 54 pitches in his final Grapefruit League outing Monday against Washington, but the Astros want him to complete two more live outings before activating him. He's tentatively scheduled to face hitters in simulated games Saturday and April 8, making April 13 his earliest possible debut date if the Astros keep him on a normal four-day rest schedule.

Manager Charlie Montoyo confirmed Stripling would start the Blue Jays' second game of the season Saturday against the Yankees in New York, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Heading into the spring, Stripling looked to be on the outside looking in for a rotation spot, but injuries to Robbie Ray (elbow) and Nate Pearson (groin) allowed him to claim a starting role. In order to keep the Blue Jays' other starters on their normal throwing schedules, Stripling will be slotting into Ray's No. 2 spot in the rotation to begin the season. Though Stripling was effective this spring with a 3.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB in 14.1 innings, the matchup versus a potent Yankees offense makes it difficult to justify keeping him active this week in most fantasy leagues.

Ray (elbow) will begin the season on the 10-day injured list, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Ray was already expected to miss his first start of the season due to a bruised elbow. However, manager Charlie Montoyo announced Wednesday that the southpaw will be placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to March 29. T.J. Zeuch will likely start for the Blue Jays during Sunday's game against the Yankees, and it's not yet clear whether Ray will be cleared to make his season debut when he's first eligible to return from the injured list April 8.

Montas (finger) is tentatively lined up to make his first start of the season in Monday's series opener against the Dodgers, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Montas would have been on track to start in the Athletics' season-opening four-game series with the Astros this weekend, but those plans were foiled after he suffered a torn cuticle on his right middle finger during his final Cactus League start last week. The Athletics don't seem particularly concerned about the issue, but Montas will still need to complete a simulated game Wednesday without any setbacks before he's confirmed as a member of the Opening Day rotation. Since the Athletics want to give him his normal four days off following the simulated game, he won't be available to make his 2021 debut until Monday.

Dunning will pair with Wes Benjamin as tandem starters, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Texas set its opening-week rotation and the Dunning/Benjamin tandem will throw the fifth game of the regular season, April 6, against Toronto. Dunning, a promising prospect, hasn't pitched much over the last two seasons due to injury, so his pitch count will be monitored. He's expected to open the game, then give way to Benjamin when reaching his pitch limit.

Texas manager Chris Woodward said Lyles is "close" to becoming a traditional starter, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Lyles will operate in a tandem starter role along with Taylor Hearn and start the third game of the regular season, April 4, against the Royals. However, Woodward cited Lyles' strong spring as a motivating factor in a potential move to traditional starter. Lyles allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 11 Cactus League innings.

Quintana tossed five innings in Tuesday's exhibition contest against the Dodgers, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Quintana struggled to keep the ball in the park, yielding a pair of home runs to Mookie Betts and four long balls overall. He threw 95 pitches and racked up seven strikeouts, so it wasn't a futile effort despite the end result. Quintana has pitched well overall this spring, securing a spot in the Angels' rotation. He's likely to make his first start of the regular season during the club's second series of the campaign, at home against Houston.

Flexen fired three scoreless innings during which he allowed just two hits and no walks in a Cactus League tie with the Reds on Monday. He struck out three.

The right-hander wrapped up Cactus League play with eight scoreless frames across his last two appearances, which is particularly encouraging because that pair of outings followed a six-earned-run hiccup versus the Dodgers on March 17. Flexen will open the 2021 campaign as the Mariners' No. 5 starter after revitalizing his career overseas in the KBO last season.