MLB Player News

Lyles allowed five runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three over 3.1 innings in Sunday's spring game against the Dodgers.

Lyles was knocked around for a second straight Cactus League start and has an 11.37 ERA (eight runs, 6.1 innings) over two appearances. He's allowed runs in four of six-plus innings pitched, including multiple runs in three frames. If you're part of the crowd that believes spring results mean nothing, then this should not alarm you. At some point, however, it would be comforting to see Lyles have a good result. A strong finish to the 2019 season along with an improved K/9 rate are hopeful signs for the 29-year-old right-hander, who will operate as Texas' No. 5 starter.

Urquidy allowed three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three over four innings of relief in Sunday's spring game against the Mets.

Despite coming in as a reliever, Urquidy is currently the No. 4 starter in the rotation and will be starting games come the regular season. The right-hander has allowed five runs over 8.1 Grapefruit League innings.

Perez allowed four hits and one walk while striking out seven in Sunday's spring start against the Twins.

Perez, who was unable to get out of the first inning during his spring debut last Tuesday, was much improved Sunday. The left-hander told Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com that he followed the advice of Red Sox pitching instructors, who told Perez to focus on location, not velocity. Perez had initially been penciled in as Boston's No. 5 starter but has since moved up in the wake of the David Price trade and Chris Sale's elbow setback.

Kopech (elbow) will start Tuesday's game against the Rangers, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

This will mark Kopech's first game pitched since Sept. 5, 2018, against the Tigers. A day later, he was diagnosed with a torn right ulnar collateral ligament and underwent Tommy John surgery soon thereafter. The right-hander has thrown bullpen sessions and batting practice on backfields this spring, featuring his upper 90s fastball. Kopech intends to make three spring starts but won't break camp with the team. He's targeting a May or June return to the White Sox.

Manager Dusty Baker said Verlander made a precautionary exit from Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets due to right triceps soreness, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The 37-year-old was scheduled to throw four innings but was removed after two frames once the soreness cropped up. The right-hander dealt with a similar injury in 2015 and was unable to make his season debut until June. Baker may have labeled Verlander's removal as precautionary, but there won't be any sort of timetable for his return until the testing is completed.

Verlander exited Sunday's Grapefruit League start against the Mets after two innings to "get some testing done," Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The veteran right-hander dealt with groin discomfort earlier in spring training, but it's unclear if he aggravated that injury during Sunday's outing or is dealing with a different issue. Verlander had one strikeout and allowed three hits over two innings (28 pitches), but he was scheduled to throw four frames as he builds up for Opening Day. The team announced that manager Dusty Baker will provide an update after the game.

Heaney will be the Angels' Opening Day starter March 26 at Houston, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Heaney took a step back in 2019 with a 4.91 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 118:30 K:BB over 95.1 innings as he battled multiple injuries, but he'll be the first hurler to take the mound for the Angels this season. The left-hander began the last three seasons on the injured list but utilized a different offseason approach in his preparations for 2020.

Hart was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday.

Hart had an outside chance at a spot in the starting rotation, but he'll end up beginning his season at Triple-A. The 27-year-old started 15 games for Pawtucket during 2019 and had a 3.86 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 80:36 K:BB across 100.1 innings.

Luzardo started a Cactus League win over the Mariners on Saturday, recording eight strikeouts over 3.1 innings while allowing an earned run on two hits and a walk.

As his final line indicates, the Mariners had few answers for Luzardo, whose only true blemish was a run-scoring double he allowed to Cal Raleigh in the second inning. Chris Haft of MLB.com reports Luzardo frequently flummoxed the Mariners with a mix of sliders, curveballs and changeups alongside a fastball that consistently remained in the 96-97-mph range. Notably, the aforementioned two-bagger by Raleigh brought home the only run Luzardo has allowed through his first 8.1 spring innings, leaving him firmly in control of his destiny for a spot in the starting rotation to open the season.

Milone (neck) completed a bullpen session Sunday and could return to spring games in a week, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The left-hander was scratched from his simulated game last Tuesday after dealing with a trapezius issue, but his quick return to mound work indicates it's a minor concern. Milone is in camp as a non-roster invitee and is competing for a back-end rotation spot.