MLB Player News

Clevinger (elbow) is scheduled to start Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Giants.

Clevinger's upcoming appearance will mark his first official game action since the 2020 postseason, when he aggravated an elbow injury that eventually required Tommy John surgery. Now more than 16 months removed from the elbow procedure, Clevinger appears on track to be part of the Padres' Opening Day rotation, provided he doesn't experience any setbacks in his buildup program leading up to the start of the regular season. Though he'll be making his Cactus League debut Tuesday, Clevinger has been steadily upping his pitch count by facing hitters in live batting practice and pitching in a minor-league game on the back fields at spring training.

Cabrera tossed three scoreless, no-hit innings against the Nationals in his 2022 spring training debut Monday, allowing one walk and striking out three. He also worked a new sinker into his arsenal, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports.

The power sinker is sitting in the high 90s, and Cabrera feels it will play well off his plus slider, which he used to fan Nelson Cruz on Monday. "It's something that I'm applying to the game," Cabrera said after the outing. "I'm throwing a 98 [mph] sinker and then it's something that I want to surprise some of the batters with an 88 [mph] slider, especially if it's breaking like it was today. I can apply it and have some success here." The 23-year-old right-hander struggled in his big-league debut last year after dominating in the high minors, but he still posted a solid 23.3 percent strikeout rate over 26.1 innings for Miami. The Marlins are hoping he can make the same kind of leap forward in 2022 that Trevor Rogers did in 2021.

Miley (neck) could be skipped in the Cubs' rotation to begin the season, potentially not making his debut until April 16 at Colorado, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Miley profiles as the team's No. 3 starter as the season moves along, but he could operate as the fifth starter in the early going due to his delayed start to camp. That could mean the veteran sticks in Arizona to get in some extra work while his teammates head to Chicago for the first series of the year, where a No. 5 pitcher won't be needed. The 35-year-old would then join up with them for the first road trip. This would allow Miley extra time to ramp up before potentially starting April 16 at Coors Field.

Hendricks allowed four runs on four hits across three innings in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Royals. He walked one and struck out five.

The five strikeouts were nice, but Hendricks otherwise struggled, as he allowed two home runs and saw his spring ERA climb to 9.00 through three starts. The righty's career track record suggests that he should be fine once the regular season begins, though last year's career-worst 4.77 ERA might put a damper on his outlook a little bit. Fantasy managers will want to see Hendricks start off 2022 on a positive note to feel a bit more comfortable about his prospects.

Webb was officially named the Giants' Opening Day starter Monday, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

It's been quite a quick rise for the 25-year-old righty, who wasn't particularly highly thought of heading into last season but finished the year with a 3.03 ERA. That number was backed by the rare combination of an elite 60.9 percent groundball rate and an above-average 26.5 percent strikeout rate. Webb will take the ball April 8 at home against Miami and will be lined up to take the ball the following week against the Padres, also at home.

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.