MLB Player News

Manager A.J. Hinch said Friday that Turnbull is out due to health and safety protocols, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

It's not clear how long Turnbull will be away from the team, but his absence will presumably affect his throwing program, and Stavenhagen suggests it "could potentially throw a wrench in (the) plans for the Opening Day rotation."

Keuchel made his Cactus League debut Thursday and allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one over 2.1 innings against the Royals.

Even though Thursday was a late debut, Keuchel was able to throw 54 pitches because the left-hander had thrown simulated games and bullpen sessions on the back fields. His first inning was rolled, and he was removed before returning for the start of the second inning. The results were not good, but they aren't as important as getting the work in. "Really, the only way to get volume in is kind of give up some base hits, ground balls, I gave up a hard hit, was consistently in the stretch. So I'm checking off all these boxes that I actually need to do to make it through six, seven innings a start in the regular season," he told Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Keuchel is set to start the second game of the regular season.

Flexen allowed six earned runs on nine hits and a walk over three innings in a Cactus League loss to the Angels on Wednesday. He struck out four.

The right-hander's spring ERA climbed to 10.13 across three starts with Wednesday's outing, which Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports included the first eight hitters in the Angels lineup coming to bat over the first inning-plus -- resulting in three runs -- due to Flexen's poor command. Flexen was ultimately pulled for a reliever in the second and then brought back out for the third inning, which allowed him to settle down some and finish on a high note with a strikeout. "Obviously Flex wasn't as sharp early in the game as he was in his first couple starts," said manager Scott Servais. "I give him credit for hanging in there. He did not have his best stuff or command but he'll learn from it and move forward."

Quintana has started four games this spring, tossing 9.2 scoreless innings and yielding only three hits while posting an 11:6 K:BB.

Aside from issuing a few too many walks, Quintana has been superb against Cactus League opponents, and he worked up to 70 pitches in his most recent outing Wednesday. The left-hander, who signed with the Angels on a one-year contract in the offseason, is looking to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2020 campaign during which he hurled only 10 innings. He's currently slated to fill the No. 5 spot in the team's starting rotation.

Heaney hurled five scoreless innings in a Cactus League contest versus Milwaukee on Thursday, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out eight.

Heaney got through 4.1 frames before the Brewers notched their first hit, and the single was quickly wiped out by an inning-ending double play. The southpaw had his full arsenal working in the contest, racking up eight strikeouts and 18 swinging strikes, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. Heaney entered the contest with only two strikeouts across 4.2 innings, though his last outing came in a B game that did not count toward his spring stats. The 29-year-old is slated to fill a role in the middle of the Angels' six-man rotation this season.

Kremer has allowed four runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out eight over 7.2 innings during three spring starts this year.

All four of Kremer's appearances with the Orioles last year came as a starter, and he's worked exclusively as a starter this spring. The right-hander appears to be building up for a rotation role to begin the regular season, but manager Brandon Hyde hasn't yet indicated which pitchers will serve as starters early in the season. Hyde has said that the team has as many as 12 pitchers who could serve as starters, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports. Kremer will start Friday's Grapefruit League game and could make one or two more spring appearances before presumably beginning the year as part of the starting rotation.

Matz is expected to begin the regular season in the starting rotation, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Matz served as a swingman for the Mets during the abbreviated 2020 season, struggling to a 9.68 ERA and 1.70 WHIP over 30.2 innings across nine appearances (six starts). While the Blue Jays could use openers to begin the regular season, Matz is expected to have a starting role, although his spot in the rotation hasn't been determined. The southpaw, who was traded to Toronto in January, has made two Grapefruit League starts, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out six across five scoreless innings.

Paxton's next start will come in a Cactus League matchup, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Paxton has been healthy and free of any issues early in spring training, but he had been preparing for the regular season during morning workouts and "B" games to begin camp. However, manager Scott Servais confirmed Thursday that Paxton's next appearance will be in a Cactus League game. While Servais didn't reveal what day Paxton will start, the southpaw remains on track for the regular season.

Glasnow recorded seven strikeouts but also allowed four earned runs on six hits and a walk over four innings in a Grapefruit League win over the Pirates on Wednesday.

The newly minted Opening Day starter's biggest mistake came in the form of a two-run homer he surrendered to Bryan Reynolds, but Glasnow was otherwise able to miss plenty of bats for the second straight start. The big right-hander also stretched out to 76 pitches (50 strikes), keeping him right on track to open the regular season spearheading the Rays' rotation.

Paxton, who hasn't pitched in any Cactus League games, continues to ramp up for the regular season with morning workouts and "B" games, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports. "We've been doing morning work with James; no injuries, no issues at all," general manager Jerry Dipoto said. "The fact that you haven't seen him in an 'A' game has nothing to do with his physical health. He's looked great since the day he got in."

Paxton is the only member of Seattle's projected six-man starting rotation who hasn't yet taken the mound in an official spring training game, but the team has repeatedly confirmed the veteran isn't dealing with any health issues. Dipoto also said Wednesday that Paxton has been regularly hitting 95-96 mph with his fastball and has already stretched out to four innings. The projected No. 2 starter remains on track to take his first regular-season return through the rotation, and he's slated to pitch in another "B" game this coming weekend.