MLB Player News

Glasnow (illness) is expected to throw a side session Thursday in preparation for his next start, Lance Lysowski of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

The 6-foot-8 righty missed his Monday start with the flu. Glasnow last pitched March 7, when he allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits and three walks in 2.2 innings. Given that he's struggled against major-league hitters, he'll likely need to string together an effective outing or two before breaking camp or risk yet another demotion to Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Cubs optioned Farrell to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Farrell posted a 4.78 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 116.2 innings at the Triple-A level in 2017 with three different organizations. The 26-year-old had a solid stint in the majors with the Reds as well with three earned runs allowed on five hits and seven walks over 10.1 innings, and a low-leverage role is a possibility with the Cubs at some point in 2018..

Syndergaard will pitch for the Mets on Opening Day against the Cardinals, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.

The decision ultimately came down to either him or Jacob deGrom, but with deGrom still dealing with a back issue, Thor will get the nod for the season opener. Syndergaard has looked dominant this spring, allowing just one run in 8.1 innings pitched while producing a 13:3 K:BB and routinely hitting triple digits with his fastball.

DeGrom (back) is slated to start the Mets' second game of the regular season March 31 against the Cardinals, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

There had been some worry that deGrom wouldn't be recovered from his back stiffness in time to be available for Opening Day, and it turns out that technically he won't be. The Mets may have turned to Noah Syndergaard for Opening Day regardless of the health of deGrom's back, though, so this shouldn't be taken as a negative sign for deGrom going into the regular season. It's undoubtedly positive that deGrom won't have his turn skipped in the rotation at all, as the back no longer appears to be a concern and the right-hander's main focus at this time is simply building up his pitch count in his subsequent spring outings.

Quintana threw 63 pitches across five innings in a simulated game against minor-league hitters Monday, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

While the rest of the Cubs had Monday off from Cactus League action, Quintana got some work in to stay on his regular pitching schedule this spring. The lefty said he mainly worked on his changeup in the outing. Quintana is expected to ramp up to around 85 pitches in his next spring training appearance.

Pill (elbow) recorded an out and failed to give up a run on one walk while striking out a batter Monday against the Rockies.

Pill made his first spring training appearance after undergoing elbow surgery back in August of 2017. Although he made his major-league debut last season with the Mets, he's likely a long shot to make the Opening Day roster. Pill figures to start the season somewhere in the upper minors with the hope of getting a look in Arizona when injuries create an opportunity.

Urias (shoulder) has progressed to throwing from 120 feet, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Slowly but surely, Urias continues to work his way back from June shoulder surgery. The next step in his rehab will be to extend his long-tossing out to 135 feet. While he's making solid progress, Urias is still expected to miss the first half of 2018. A more concrete timetable for his return should emerge once he's able to resume mound work, which should be sometime after Opening Day.

Eflin no longer appears to be in contention for the fifth spot in the Philadelphia rotation after the team signed Jake Arrieta to a three-year, $75 million contract Sunday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Eflin had been competing with Ben Lively, Mark Leiter, Jake Thompson and non-roster invitee Drew Hutchison for the No. 5 role, but the Phillies now appear set to proceed with a rotation of Aaron Nola, Arrieta, Vince Velasquez, Nick Pivetta and Jerad Eickhoff to open the season. Considering that Thompson and Leiter worked in long relief at times last season, both would seem to have a leg up on Eflin for bullpen gigs as well. With that in mind, expect Eflin to settle into a rotation spot for Triple-A Lehigh Valley when spring training ends.

Buehler was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Buehler dazzled in his Cactus League debut over the weekend, striking out five batters in a pair of scoreless innings, but he was always expected to open the year in the minors barring an injury to the Dodgers' starting rotation. The highly-regarded prospect could earn a promotion early this summer, though that will likely depend on how he does at Triple-A and the Dodgers' rotation status. He could throw 140 to 150 innings this year after being limited to 98 frames in 2017.

Lively no longer appears to be in contention for the fifth spot in the Phillies' rotation after the team signed Jake Arrieta to a three-year, $75 million contract Sunday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Lively had been competing with Zach Eflin, Mark Leiter, Jake Thompson and non-roster invitee Drew Hutchison for the No. 5 role, but the Phillies now appear set to proceed with a rotation of Aaron Nola, Arrieta, Vince Velasquez, Nick Pivetta and Jerad Eickhoff to open the season. Considering that Thompson and Leiter worked in long relief at times last season, both would seem to have a leg up on Lively for spots in the bullpen as well. That likely means that Lively will join the rotation at Triple-A Lehigh Valley when camp breaks.