MLB Player News

Gilbert allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks over 4.2 innings in a Cactus League tie with the Cubs on Sunday. He struck out seven.

Gilbert was tagged for solo home runs by Michael Busch and Garrett Cooper in the third and fifth inning, respectively, for the only two runs he surrendered, but the right-hander otherwise put together an encouraging tune-up for the regular season. Gilbert finished the Cactus League slate with a 6.75 ERA across 16 innings, yet almost all his trouble was limited to two of his five starts. Gilbert finished with a 14:2 K:BB across the 9.2 innings covering his last two spring turns, and he'll now turn his attention to his regular-season debut Saturday against the Red Sox.

Snell could throw up to five innings in his next appearance, which is scheduled for Friday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The Giants have yet to decide where Snell will throw Friday, but it's a good sign to see him continuing to ramp up after signing late in spring training. It's already been reported that the southpaw won't be ready for Opening Day, though how much regular-season action he'll miss remains to be determined. The club could have a better idea following his upcoming outing.

Hancock will step into the Mariners' rotation to replace Bryan Woo (elbow), Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Hancock was just optioned down two days ago, but he has rejoined the big-league team in light of Woo's injury and will step in as the fifth starter, beginning next Monday in the series opener against Cleveland. Woo's MRI came back clean, but he will be shut down from throwing for at least a week. With that, Hancock, the sixth overall pick in 2020, figures to make at least a few starts early on. His numbers in the Cactus League were not good, but the Mariners were said to be pleased with Hancock's overall spring training, Divish adds.

Woo will be placed on the 15-day injured list due to elbow inflammation, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Divish notes that Woo felt discomfort while warming up for his last side session, and he ultimately couldn't get loose. He later underwent an MRI, which came back clean. The Mariners are hopeful that Woo can let the inflammation calm down over the next 7-to-10 days, at which point he can resume throwing. Emerson Hancock will take Woo's place in the starting rotation to begin the season.

Waldron has won the fifth spot in the Padres' rotation, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

The knuckleballer won the job after posting a 1.35 ERA and 11:0 K:BB over 13.1 Cactus League innings. Waldron was solid during a look-see with the big club last season in posting a 4.35 ERA over 41.1 innings, although that came after a 7.31 ERA at Triple-A El Paso. His leash will be short, with Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez looming as alternatives.

Musgrove will start for the Padres on Friday against the Giants, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

The Padres went with Yu Darvish and Musgrove in their two games in South Korea versus the Dodgers and have elected to run it back with those two in their first two contests back in the states. Musgrove was roughed up for five runs over just 2.2 innings back on March 21 against the Dodgers.

Darvish will start for the Padres on Thursday versus the Giants in the team's domestic opener, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Darvish drew the start in the first game of the team's series in South Korea versus the Dodgers back on March 20, and the Padres have elected to give him the ball again for their home opener. He'll be followed by Joe Musgrove, Dylan Cease, Michael King and Matt Waldron.

Manager Matt Quatraro said Monday that Wacha will not miss time due to a bruised right middle finger, Jackson Stone of MLB.com reports.

Wacha sustained the injury Sunday during an intrasquad game. Quatraro added that Wacha woke up Monday morning and "forgot about" the injury, so the right-hander should be ready for his first regular season start against the Orioles on April 1.

Verlander (shoulder) will throw a two-inning, 30-to-35 pitch live batting practice session Tuesday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 reports.

If Verlander gets through the live BP without any issues, he will likely then be cleared to begin a rehab assignment. The 41-year-old will require multiple rehab starts in order to get his stamina built up, so a return to the Astros' rotation is still multiple weeks away.

Astros manager Joe Espada said that Whitley (finger) threw a live batting practice session at minor-league camp Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Before he was optioned to the minors March 10, Whitley hadn't made any Grapefruit League appearances for the Astros while he contended with right middle finger inflammation. Whitley's ability to face hitters suggests the injury is mostly behind him at this point, though it's unclear if he'll be ready to go when Triple-A Sugar Land begins its season Friday. Once viewed as one of the top pitching prospects not only in Houston's organization but in all of the minors, Whitley is slated to work in a relief role at Sugar Land after numerous setbacks on the health front in recent years derailed his development as a starter.