MLB Player News

Walter (shoulder) allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out one batter over one inning in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Nationals in Grapefruit League action.

Walter missed the entirety of the 2024 season while nursing a right shoulder strain, but he's now all set for the 2025 campaign. The left-hander last pitched in 2023, producing a 6.26 ERA and 1.70 WHIP with 16 strikeouts over 23.0 innings in nine appearances with the Red Sox. Walter is participating in spring training as a non-roster invitee and if he sticks around with the Astros, he'll likely begin the year with Triple-A Sugar Land.

Mize tossed two scoreless innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He allowed two hits and struck out three.

Mize made the start for the Tigers and helped blank New York along with five Detroit relievers. The 27-year-old was making his return from Tommy John surgery in 2024 and posted a 4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 78 strikeouts across 102.1 regular-season innings. Mize mostly worked as a starter last year, though the Tigers did shift him to the bullpen down the stretch. It's unclear what his role will ultimately be in 2025, but the Tigers will likely give the 2018 No. 1 overall pick every opportunity to win a rotation spot this spring.

Houck threw indoors to make up for the innings he lost due to Monday's game against the Yankees getting postponed, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Houck will build up his workload in an unofficial setting Monday rather than try to make up the innings Tuesday. The 28-year-old righty logged a career-high 178.2 innings in 2024, and his 55.9 percent groundball rate was the fifth-best mark among qualified starters.

Stroman, who had been scheduled to start Tuesday against the Twins in Fort Myers, will stay back in Tampa to pitch live batting practice instead, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Stroman logged a scoreless inning with two hits allowed and one strikeout in his first start of the spring last week. If Clarke Schmidt is able to put his back issue in the rearview mirror, Stroman will likely open the year in a long-relief role, although he has been vocal this spring about wanting to start.

Champlain will start Thursday's Cactus League game against the Brewers, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Champlain isn't a serious contender for a rotation spot out of spring training, but the 25-year-old righty will serve as rotation depth this season. Last year, Champlain was excellent at Double-A (29.5 K-BB%, 0.92 WHIP) as an older pitcher but was much less effective after a promotion to Triple-A (5.6 K-BB%, 1.40 WHIP). Still, he covered 140.1 innings last year, so he's ready to handle a significant workload again, and it's possible he can take a step forward in a return to the highest level of the minors.

Bello (shoulder) is expected to be ready for the start of the season, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

This is a fluid situation, as Bello has been throwing from 90 feet and will need to avoid any setbacks, but he's at least more likely to be ready than teammate Kutter Crawford (knee), per Abraham's report. Lucas Giolito (elbow) is also expected to be ready for the start of the season.

Crawford (knee) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

Per the same report, Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (elbow) are on track to be ready for the start of the season, which gives clarity for projecting Boston's rotation. Crawford is dealing with patellar tendon soreness and is unlikely to be able to build up in time. He seems likely to open the year on the 15-day injured list.

Gausman threw live batting practice Sunday and will do one more such session before making his first spring start, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Gausman is seemingly a little behind the rest of the Jays starters, as Easton Lucas is currently working in Gausman's spot in the Jays' Grapefruit League rotation. It sounds like Gausman is on track to potentially make his first spring start next week. He showed up to camp intentionally carrying more weight because he says he loses weight throughout the MLB season and wanted to better hold up over the full season. In 2024, he had his lowest strikeout rate (21.4 percent) since 2018 and his highest walk rate (7.4 percent) since 2017.

McCullers (forearm) will be cleared for live batting practice if he gets through a bullpen session Monday with no issues, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCullers has thrown several recent bullpen sessions without any hiccups and is almost ready to face hitters. The right-hander will not be ready in time for Opening Day, but he hopes to make some Grapefruit League appearances before the schedule runs out. McCullers hasn't appeared in a big-league game since the 2022 World Series due to multiple arm injuries.

Giolito (elbow) is expected to throw a live batting practice session Monday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Giolito is behind some other Boston starters but appears on track to be ready for Opening Day. The Red Sox typically have pitchers throw a couple of live BPs before getting into game action. Kutter Crawford (knee) is unlikely to be ready for the start of the season, per Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe, so there's a spot for Giolito if he's ready.