MLB Player News

Walker threw a live batting practice session against Kyle Seager and Dee Gordon in Tuesday's summer camp session, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. "I feel good, my arm feels good. I like where I'm at, " Walker said. "It's usually a marathon to get ready and keep going, but it's almost like a sprint now. We have three weeks to get ready. Obviously we have to do it smart and listen to our bodies, but we don't have much time to get ready and going."

Walker was encouragingly hitting 90-93 mph with his fastball during the session, which was his first live BP of camp. The 27-year-old, who is on the comeback trail after reconstructive elbow surgery and a shoulder capsule issue wiped out much of his last two seasons, is set for a back-end rotation spot to open 2020. Walker was able to keep his arm in condition during the shutdown by building a garage gym in his home, playing catch regularly with a friend and eventually accessing the Mariners' spring training facility in Peoria, Arizona once it reopened in late May. The shortened 60-game season might be a silver lining for Walker, as it sets the right-hander up for a more gradual return to the mound after pitching just 14 regular-season innings since the beginning of the 2018 campaign.

Bassitt would likely be brought into the starting rotation if Jesus Luzardo (illness) isn't cleared before Opening Day, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. "He showed he's a real weapon last year," Melvin said of Bassitt. "It wasn't an easy role. He had to acclimate to it. All guys that were starters want to be starters. They want that routine. Then realizing you have to do things differently, buying in is the big thing. He bought in and realized how important he is to the team. When we talk about starters, you have to include him."

The 31-year-old has worn several hats since joining the Athletics back in 2015, including logging 50 starts over that span. Half of those came last season, when Bassitt forged a 10-5 record, 3.18 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 144 innings. With Luzardo having tested positive for COVID-19 and now forced to self-isolate for a minimum of 14 days, there's an outside chance the talented southpaw misses at least his first turn through the rotation. If so, Bassitt is a very likely candidate to step in, given his extensive starting experence and solid body of work in that capacity.

Cole pitched five innings in an intrasquad game Tuesday, allowing one run on one hit and two walks while striking out six, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Cole gave up a home run to Miguel Andjuar in the first inning, but the staff ace was otherwise dominant, retiring the final 10 batters he faced. Perhaps most impressively, Cole was able to complete five frames, unofficially tossing 67 pitches -- 45 of which were strikes. That bodes well for the right-hander's readiness to hit the ground running when he faces the Nationals in the opening game of the MLB season July 23.

Tigers pitching coach Rick Anderson said he expects Turnbull and the other Detroit starters to be stretched out to at least 75 pitches by the end of summer camp, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

This should put Turnbull and the other starters in line for pretty regular workloads by their first or second start of the season. If that's the case, Detroit will likely stick with a standard five-man rotation and could use Tyler Alexander and Michael Fulmer in long-relief roles out of the gate. Turnbull averaged right around five innings per start in 2019, compiling a 4.61 ERA and 1.44 WHIP, though his 3.99 FIP suggests he could lower that ERA with a little better luck in 2020.

Faedo hasn't reported to the Tigers' camp yet for an undisclosed reason, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Pitching coach Rick Anderson revealed Tuesday that Faedo isn't in camp yet, although he was unable to provide a reason why. It's unclear when the right-hander will be able to join the team. Faedo is listed as part of the 60-man roster, but the move is mainly for developmental purposes.

Skubal hasn't yet reported to the Tigers' camp for an undisclosed reason, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Pitching coach Rick Anderson said Tuesday that Skubal and Alex Faedo still haven't reported to camp, although he was unable to provide a reason behind their absences. Skubal is listed as part of the Tigers' 60-man roster, but it's unclear whether the team plans to use him in the majors this year. A timeline for the southpaw to report to camp remains to be seen.

Keller tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Andersen Pickard of MLBDailyDish.com reports.

Keller said that he's experienced only mild symptoms, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports, but he'll have to go into isolation and won't be allowed to return to the field until he tests negative twice. He's expected to be one of the Royals' top starters this year, but his positive test likely means he won't have enough time to get into game shape by Opening Day.

Sandoval has yet to report to the Angels' camp for undisclosed reasons, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Manager Joe Maddon revealed Sandoval as one of three Angels who have yet to report to camp as of Tuesday, but he was unable to provide a reason behind their absence. It's unclear when Sandoval will rejoin the team or whether his absence will affect his availability for the start of the regular season. The southpaw is a candidate to serve as a No. 6 starter for Los Angeles during the abbreviated 2020 campaign.

Lynn fired six scoreless innings in Tuesday's intrasquad game. He gave up two hits and no walks while striking out eight, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Lynn was initially scheduled to throw five innings in Tuesday's intrasquad matchup. However, he was efficient over the first five frames by throwing just 70 pitches, so he was able to get an extra inning of work in. The Rangers' Opening Day starter reportedly threw eight strikeouts while only allowing two batters to reach base in his solid performance.

Luzardo tested positive for COVID-19, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Luzardo was missing from the first day of the Athletics' summer camp due to "pending issues," but he'll now miss time after it was reported Tuesday that he tested positive for the coronavirus. It's unclear whether the 22-year-old is experiencing symptoms, but he'll have to self-isolate for 14 days and have two negative tests before MLB protocol allows him to return to the team.