MLB Player News

Dunn threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session against Dee Gordon and other teammates during Saturday's summer camp session and was particularly impressive with his breaking pitch, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports. "It's a big year for Justin," said manager Scott Servais. "I like where he is at; he knows what is ahead of him. I think the fact that we are going to go with a six-man rotation gives him an opportunity to make 10 starts."

The young right-hander, who's thought to have a chance to open the 2020 season at the back end of the starting rotation, has jumped right into action at the Mariners' summer camp at T-Mobile Park. While Dunn's options for throwing and working out were limited early during the shutdown, he and several teammates eventually gained regular access to an indoor facility in the Arizona area. Dunn subsequently was one of the first arrivals when the Mariners reopened their spring training facility in Peoria, and the regular routine he was able to maintain is now paying off. "I'm definitely ready to go," Dunn said. "I understand there is still some room to go with building up and really locking in the pitches and fine tuning and getting it into game shape, but I definitely feel strong. I feel I haven't really regressed since spring training, which I am really happy about."

Eovaldi is slated to throw his second simulated game of summer camp Thursday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Based on the tentative throwing schedule for the Red Sox's prospective rotation candidates, Eovaldi would currently be lined up for the Opening Day nod. Coming off an injury-plagued season in which he posted a 5.99 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over 67.2 innings, Eovaldi doesn't profile as an ideal No. 1 starter entering the 60-game season, but the Red Sox aren't left with many alternatives while Chris Sale (elbow) recovers from Tommy John surgery and while Eduardo Rodriguez (not injury related) remains away from summer camp. Rodriguez is currently awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test and could be in danger of missing the start of the season if a positive result were to come up.

Manager Joe Maddon announced Sunday that Heaney will be his Opening Day starter, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The official MLB schedule has yet to be released, but Heaney is set to open things on the mound for the Angels on July 23 or 24. The southpaw battled multiple injuries in 2019 and struggled with a 4.91 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 118:30 K:BB over 95.1 innings, but he'll look to get back on track during the shortened 2020 campaign.

Gibson is scheduled to pitch in an intra-squad game Sunday, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Gibson is expected to be part of the Rangers rotation in 2020, but his situation got murky after the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. As an ulcerative colitis patient, Gibson suffers a higher risk of complications if he contracts COVID-19.

Eovaldi threw three innings in a simulated game Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Eovaldi threw approximately 45 pitches during his first throwing session of summer camp. "The stuff was great," said Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke. "The cutter was good, the slider, the curveball. Threw some really good split-fingers and the velocity was there on his fastball. He got what he needed to do today. Moving forward, we're thinking his next outing will be an intrasquad game." Saturday, Eovaldi built off the positive results he had during spring training, when the right-hander tossed eight scoreless innings while striking out 12 and walking one over three Grapefruit League starts. With Eduardo Rodriguez (not injury related) not yet in camp due to possible exposure to someone who tested positive for coronavirus, Eovaldi temporarily moves up a slot in the rotation.

Kluber tossed five innings in a simulated game Saturday, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Kluber shouldered a heavy load during his first summer-camp session, throwing 85 pitches (55 strikes). The right-hander struggled at the beginning, according to manager Chris Woodward, but once he found his arm slot, he commanded better. During the shutdown, Kluber had pitched regularly at his home in suburban Boston (Mass.) and also made a two-week trip to Florida in early May to join private workouts with other major-league players.

McCullers pitched three innings of a simulated game Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCullers, who missed all of 2019 due to recovery from Tommy John elbow surgery, reported to spring training healthy and ready. He made three Grapefruit League starts before the coronavirus pandemic halted his comeback. Saturday was his first action in game-like conditions since summer camp started. "He was pretty sharp," Houston manager Dusty Baker said. "The other day, he didn't have the command that he had today. He had a good changeup, he had a good breaking ball and his two-seamer and four-seamer were looking pretty good." The Astros are hoping McCullers can make up for the loss of Gerrit Cole, the team's No. 2 starter last season who bolted to the Yankees as a free agent over the winter.

Giolito will throw a simulated game Sunday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Giolito will get up and down at least three times in what will be his first session of summer camp. The right-hander reported pitching regularly during the shutdown, including facing hitters of all levels in his home area of Sacramento (Calif.). The White Sox plan to gradually stretch out their starters, beginning Thursday when the club plans its first intra-squad game.

Montas' velocity stood out during his bullpen session in the Athletics' first day of summer camp Saturday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Montas had posted a video to social media in late May that showed him ringing up triple digits on the radar gun, and he demonstrated that wasn't any fluke in Saturday's session. Catcher Sean Murphy vouched for Montas' velocity, noting how sore his hand was after catching the right-hander. Montas had tuned up for what was expected to be a prominent 2020 role with 5.2 scoreless innings in Cactus League play, and he'll now have a chance to prep against his teammates in summer camp for the shortened regular season.

Heaney is one of a handful of Angels pitchers already stretched out to 55 pitches, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The progress of Heaney, Dylan Bundy and Matt Andriese among others has taken on greater importance with Julio Teheran not yet in camp. Manager Joe Maddon said that he expects the Angels starters to be around 90 pitches by the end of summer training.