MLB Player News

Martinez's season debut will be pushed back to March 30 in Milwaukee due to a minor hamstring injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He had been slated to start Saturday in St. Louis but instead till get a couple extra days of rest. It's unclear how long Martinez's hamstring has been bothering him, but it could partly explain why he was lit up for 18 runs over 7.2 innings in his final two Grapefruit League starts.

The Rays placed Pepiot on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right hip inflammation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

It's an injury that seemingly came out of nowhere and will cost Pepiot at least his first couple turns in the rotation. Joe Boyle will be recalled from Triple-A Durham to slide into Pepiot's rotation slot. Manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that he does not anticipate Pepiot being sidelined long, so it could be a minimum stay on the IL for the right-hander.

Oviedo will open the season in Boston's bullpen, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

The Red Sox are going with Connelly Early as their fifth starter, with Oviedo occupying a piggyback/long-relief role. Early is expected to receive at least a couple turns in the rotation before the club reassesses its options. Oviedo came into spring training as the favorite to round out Boston's rotation, but his Grapefruit League showing ended on a sour note Monday versus the Twins when he showed diminished velocity and yielded six runs over 3.1 frames.

Early will open the season in the Boston rotation, garnering his first start Sunday in Cincinnati, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Johan Oviedo also made the Opening Day roster but will open the season in the bullpen as a possible piggyback option. The Red Sox plan to give Early at least a couple turns in the rotation before reassessing their options. Early was stellar in Grapefruit League play, posting a 1.59 ERA and 16:5 K:BB over 17 innings, which came after he held a 2.33 ERA and 29:4 K:BB across 19.1 regular-season frames down the stretch last year. He will have to pitch well to retain a rotation spot over the long haul, but the news is a big boost to Early's fantasy prospects.

The Rangers informed Wade on Monday that he won't be included on the Opening Day roster, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Wade and Mark Canha are two non-roster invitees that lost out on spots, while the Rangers announced Ezequiel Duran, Sam Haggerty and Andrew McCutchen secured bench jobs. Texas hopes Wade is willing to stick with the organization as a depth option at Triple-A Round Rock.

The Rangers informed McCutchen on Monday that he will be included on the Opening Day roster, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

McCutchen was a late addition to spring training, signing with Texas as a non-roster invitee earlier this month. He slashed .444/.583/.778/1.361 in 24 plate appearances in the Cactus League. McCutchen is expected to serve primarily as a designated hitter against left-handers.

The Rangers informed Canha on Monday that he won't be included on the Opening Day roster, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Canha, who slashed .300/.333/.525 during Cactus League play, fell short in his battle for a spot on the Opening Day roster, as Texas elected to keep Andrew McCutchen over him as a right-handed-hitting option at designated hitter and in the corner outfield. The 37-year-old indicated he doesn't plan to report to Triple-A Round Rock but will stay with the Rangers through their final exhibition game Tuesday.

Casas (knee) will continue his progression in Fort Myers for the next couple weeks before getting into extended spring training games, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Per Cotillo, sliding is the next big hurdle for Casas, who has already been cleared to run. Casas has been working on his rehab in Florida all offseason and is noticeably carrying less weight this spring.

Kwan will play both left and center field this season, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Kwan has rotated between the two positions all spring training, and manager Stephen Vogt confirmed over the weekend that the mixed deployment will continue into the regular season. The four-time Gold Glove winner in left field understands that playing center field will help the Guardians overall. Promising prospects, such as Chase DeLauter, CJ Kayfus and George Valera (calf), are best at corner outfield, so Kwan making left field available gives Vogt flexibility.

DeLauter went 2-for-2 with two solo home runs and an additional run scored in Monday's spring game against Arizona.

DeLauter is putting the final touches on a strong training camp. The 24-year-old outfielder has hit safely in seven consecutive games and is slashing .459/.535/.838 over 14 spring games. He's expected to be the Guardians' primary right fielder.