MLB Player News

Castillo (shoulder) will open the season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Castillo has been battling shoulder soreness this spring. Reports from last week indicated that he might have a tough time getting ready by Opening Day, and that's now been officially confirmed. He's been going through a throwing progression and is expected to return sometime in April, but he'll miss at least a turn or two in the rotation to start the year. His absence, as well as the absence of Mike Minor (shoulder), could give rookies Hunter Greene or Nick Lodolo the chance to break camp in the rotation.

Lodolo is still battling for an Opening Day roster spot and slot in the rotation, as is fellow prospect Hunter Greene, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

If that last spot comes down to Greene vs. Lodolo, Greene has an advantage by being on the 40-man roster. However, it's possible that both pitchers make it, as only the top two spots in the rotation are currently settled with both Luis Castillo and Mike Minor not ready for Opening Day. Other options include Reiver Sanmartin, Ben Lively and Tony Santillan.

Greene has worked hard to improve his changeup, enough to the point where he's willing to throw it on a first pitch to a batter in a plate appearance, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Greene still has a chance to make the Reds' rotation out of spring training, instead of beginning the season at Triple-A Louisville as initially anticipated. He and Nick Lodolo both could make it, now that Luis Castillo and Mike Minor will not be ready to start the season.

Oviedo was optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Oviedo made 14 appearances (13 starts) for the Cardinals in 2021, but he'll be left off the team's Opening Day roster this year. He posted a 6.13 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 54.1 innings across 12 appearances (11 starts) in Memphis last season and should be a candidate to fill in as a starter in the majors at some point in 2022.

Lively has a chance to win a spot in the Reds' rotation, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Because Lively came back from the KBO and wasn't on the Reds' 40-man roster, he reported to camp in February and is ahead of other competitors for the spot. He began his professional career in the Reds' organization before having stops in Philadelphia, Kansas City and Arizona.

Gutierrez entered spring training as a favorite to win a rotation spot, and injuries to Luis Castillo and Mike Minor make it even more likely that Gutierrez will start, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Gutierrez may have a rotation spot, but there are plenty of red flags regarding his performance, starting with his measly 17.7 K% last season, along with a 9.3 BB%. The Reds have a number of young pitchers on the rise, some of whom might make the Opening Day roster, and others that could surpass him in the rotation in short order.

The Cardinals have informed Wainwright that he'll start the club's Opening Day game April 7 versus the Pirates, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Wainwright became the logical choice to start the Cardinals' first game of the regular season after Jack Flaherty developed shoulder inflammation earlier in spring training that will force him to open the campaign on the injured list. The 40-year-old has enjoyed a nice late-career resurgence over the past two seasons after his performance has previously nosedived during the latter half of the past decade. Since the beginning of the 2020 season, Wainwright has produced a 3.08 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 42 starts.

Cabrera is scheduled to start Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Cabrera finished the 2021 campaign on the injured list due to a blister on his right middle finger, but it was visa issues that prevented him from beginning his buildup program at the same time as the Marlins' other starting candidates at the start of spring training. After resolving the visa issue and reporting to camp, Cabrera is now on track to make his spring debut. Despite the missed workouts, Cabrera still looks like he'll be ready to go for the start of the regular season, though he may need to pitch well Monday and in his subsequent spring outings to clinch a spot in Miami's Opening Day rotation. Over his first seven big-league starts in 2021, Cabrera posted a 5.81 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 28:19 K:BB across 26.1 innings.

Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Anderson will likely begin the season as a piggyback bulk arm when needed, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Anderson was in the mix for a starting role during spring training, but it appears as though Tony Gonsolin will win the team's fifth rotation spot while Andrew Heaney serves as a fill-in starter with Trevor Bauer (not injury related) on administrative leave. Anderson served exclusively as a starter with the Pirates and Mariners last year and posted a 4.53 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 167 innings. However, his fantasy value will take a hit if he ultimately serves as a long reliever this year.

Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Heaney will start in the Dodgers' first turn through the rotation in 2022, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

While Roberts said that Tony Gonsolin is the leading candidate for the fifth rotation spot, Heaney should begin the season as a starter while Trevor Bauer (not injury related) remains on the restricted list. Heaney made 30 appearances (23 starts) between the Angels and Yankees last year and posted a 5.83 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 129.2 innings. However, his role beyond the first week of the season will likely depend on whether the league elects to suspend Bauer.