MLB Player News

Matthews (hip) threw three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and one walk in Wednesday's spring loss to Boston. It was his first outing since he suffered a strained hip during a Mar. 6 outing. "He probably had the sharpest outing that we've seen all spring," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Matthews exited his spring start last week due to what appeared to be an ankle injury but turned out to be a hip strain, but it sounds as though he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. He's battling for the fifth starter job but is likely to begin the season at Triple-A St. Paul as Simeon Woods Richardson and Chris Paddack (head) still appear on track to win the No. 4 and No. 5 starter roles.

Means (elbow) extended his throwing distance to 75-to-90 feet Wednesday.

Means is still in the early stages of what will be a lengthy throwing program after undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery in June. He likely won't be close to pitching in games until the final month of the season, though there's a possibility the team holds off on deploying him until 2026.

Bassitt gave up two hits and two walks over 4.2 scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins. He struck out four.

While he didn't have to deal with any of Minnesota's biggest bats, like Byron Buxton or Royce Lewis, Bassitt had little trouble dispatching the lineup he did face. The veteran righty built up to 71 pitches (46 strikes) in his longest outing of the spring, and he has a 10:6 K:BB through 9.2 Grapefruit League frames. Bassitt will be counted on to provide length in the middle of the rotation after posting a 3.86 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 371 innings over his first two campaigns with the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays placed Bastardo (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Dillon Tate, whose signing was officially announced Wednesday. A Rule 5 pick, Bastardo is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is slated to miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season.

The Rangers optioned Teodo to minor-league camp Wednesday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Teodo was impressive this spring, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings with a 6:1 K:BB. For now, the Rangers appear set on continuing to develop the hard-throwing right-hander as a starting pitcher. However, a move to the bullpen could come at some point, and if it does, Teodo has the potential to eventually be a closer option.

McCullers (forearm) could make his Grapefruit League debut as soon as Tuesday against the Nationals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCullers completed another live batting practice session Wednesday, saying afterward that he felt fine and touched 94 miles per hour with his fastball. The news has been promising on the right-hander this spring as he comes back from two missed seasons due to arm problems. McCullers will begin the season on the injured list, but he could be an option to join the Houston rotation by May 1 or so.

The Angels optioned Crouse to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Though he posted a tidy 2.84 ERA and 34 strikeouts over 25.1 innings out of the Angels' bullpen in 2024, Crouse had a poor spring, and that looks to be the main reason why he was unable to break camp with the big club. Over his six Cactus League appearances spanning 4.2 innings, Crouse yielded five earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out seven. He'll likely need to show improved control early on in the season at Salt Lake before receiving another look with the big club.

Mahle is expected to pitch within the next few days after an MRI on his right forearm came back negative, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Mahle was scratched from a scheduled Cactus League outing Tuesday due to right forearm soreness, but the move was said to be precautionary and he said Wednesday that he feels fine. Barring a setback, Mahle's readiness for Opening Day shouldn't be affected.

DeGrom plans to dial back the velocity on his pitches this season in an effort to stay healthy, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

DeGrom's average fastball velocity was 96 miles per hour during his best season in 2018, but it climbed each of the three years after that, peaking at 99.2 mph in 2021. Persistent arm trouble accompanied the added velocity, and deGrom hopes pumping the brakes a bit can help keep him on the mound. He averaged 97.3 mph during his three starts last season with the Rangers and sat at 97 mph in his first spring training outing. While the Rangers don't have a strict innings limit with deGrom in 2025, they will manage his workload, which will include starting him at the back end of the rotation when the season begins.

Leiter allowed one run on one hit and five walks while striking out five over 2.2 innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Angels.

Leiter was a late fill-in starter after Tyler Mahle was scratched due to forearm tightness. Perhaps the late change factored into the control issue exhibited by Leiter, who threw more balls (30) than strikes (29). Until this outing, Leiter was having an encouraging spring, handing out just one free pass over his first eight innings.