San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (elbow) is set to begin the season on the injured list, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. The 31-year-old is working his way back from Tommy John surgery. He missed the entirety of the 2021 season after having the surgery in the fall of 2020. This recent news comes right on the heels of the team's acquisition of starting pitcher Sean Manaea from the Oakland Athletics. Manaea will take Clevinger's spot in the rotation to start the year. The absence of Clevinger to start the season opens up a spot for highly-touted prospect MacKenzie Gore, who has looked great this spring with a 2.00 ERA and 0.56 WHIP over nine innings. Other options for that fifth spot are Chris Paddack, Ryan Weathers and Nick Martinez. Expect to hear an official fifth starter named by the team soon.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (elbow) made his first Spring Training start on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants. It was a rough outing for the right-hander as he allowed seven hits, two walks and eight earned runs over 1 2/3 innings. He was tagged for two home runs in the outing. Clevinger underwent Tommy John surgery after the 2020 season and he has been working his way back ever since. As of now, he appears set to be part of the Padres' starting rotation to begin the year. He has an ADP of about 150 and carries both significant upside and significant risk. Steer clear of him if you already have a few big question marks in your rotation.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (elbow) is making his Cactus League debut on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants. It will be Clevinger's first game action since he aggravated a right elbow injury in the 2020 postseason that eventually required Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss all of last year. As long as the 31-year-old doesn't suffer any setbacks, he appears poised to open the regular season in San Diego's starting rotation. Clevinger has the upside to be a fantasy ace when healthy, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the Padres bring him along slowly early in the season.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (elbow) tossed three perfect innings in 41 pitches against Chicago White Sox minor-leaguers on Wednesday in his first time on a mound in a competitive setting this spring. Clevinger sat at 94-95 mph throughout his outing and threw all of his pitches. It's great news for the 31-year-old right-hander, who missed all of the 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery. He's expected to be part of the team's Opening Day rotation, but don't be surprised if the Padres ease him into a heavier workload as the season progresses. There's a lot of injury risk with Clevinger, but if he's fully healthy, he has the potential to be a low-end ace for fantasy managers. Manager Bob Melvin said last week that Clevinger is "set in stone" for the rotation if he's healthy.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (elbow), who missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, said that he'll be ready for the start of the 2022 season. "I feel healthier than I have in my entire career," Clevinger said. The right-hander made just five starts for the Friars in 2020 after being acquired from Cleveland in a trade. It's good news on Clevinger, but fantasy managers should still expect the Padres to take it easy on him going into the season, especially with a shortened spring training due to the lockout. When healthy with Cleveland, Clevinger was a borderline ace for fantasy managers with a 2.96 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP over 82 starts from 2017-20.

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians’ struggling offense will be without cleanup hitter Franmil Reyes for between five and seven weeks because of an internal oblique strain. Reyes, who leads the team in RBIs and is second in home runs, was placed on the 10-day injured list before Sunday's game against Minnesota. Cleveland's designated hitter left Saturday's game with the injury, which the team initially called a strained left abdominal muscle. “We knew he’d be an IL and miss some time,” manager Terry Francona said Sunday before the team issued the detailed medical update. Reyes was injured while fouling off a pitch in the sixth inning. He underwent an MRI on Sunday morning. Reyes’ absence will be a major setback for the Indians. He has 29 RBIs and 11 homers while batting .257 in 40 games. Reyes and third baseman José Ramírez have carried Cleveland’s offense for most of the season. Reyes hit a two-run homer in the first inning Saturday. He doubled over in pain after taking a swing in the... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians placed cleanup hitter Franmil Reyes on the 10-day injured list Sunday because of a strained left abdominal muscle. Reyes was injured while fouling off a pitch in the sixth inning Saturday against Minnesota. He underwent an MRI on Sunday morning. The team is expected to provide a more detailed medical update before Sunday’s game, but Reyes could miss a significant amount of time. Reyes’ absence will be a major setback for Cleveland’s offense, which has struggled most of the season. He leads the Indians with 29 RBIs and is second with 11 homers as the designated hitter. Reyes and third baseman José Ramírez have carried Cleveland’s offense for most of the season. Reyes is batting .257 in 40 games. He hit a two-run homer in the first inning Saturday. Reyes doubled over in pain after taking a swing in the sixth and was replaced during the at-bat by Jordan Luplow. Infielder Owen Miller, the top hitting prospect in Cleveland’s minor league system, was called... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians third baseman José Ramírez and slugger Franmil Reyes rejoined their teammates at training camp Tuesday after being banned for breaking COVID-19 protocols. The players tested negative for the coronavirus and were back at the team's facility in Goodyear, Arizona. They are scheduled to play in Wednesday's exhibition against the Los Angeles Angels. Ramírez and Reyes had been isolated at their temporary spring training homes since Saturday after they went out to dinner indoors, which violated virus guidelines set by Major League Baseball and the players' union. Indians manager Terry Francona said Ramírez and Reyes addressed the team after returning and spoke “in a very thoughtful and sincere way.” Francona said any team discipline against the players would stay internal. “The idea is never to embarrass anybody, and I explained that to José and Franmil,” he said. “I’m really comfortable where we are right now. And like anything that doesn’t go perfect, where you go from... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians third baseman José Ramírez and slugger Franmil Reyes rejoined their teammates at training camp Tuesday after being banned for breaking COVID-19 protocols. The players tested negative for the coronavirus and were back at the team's facility in Goodyear, Arizona. They are scheduled to play in Wednesday's exhibition against the Los Angeles Angels. Ramírez and Reyes had been isolated at their temporary spring training homes since Saturday after they went out to dinner indoors, a behavior that violated virus guidelines set last season by Major League Baseball and the players' union. Indians manager Terry Francona said Ramírez and Reyes addressed the team after returning and spoke “in a very thoughtful and sincere way.” Francona said any team discipline against the players would stay internal. “The idea is never to embarrass anybody, and I explained that to José and Franmil,” he said. “I’m really comfortable where we are right now. And like anything that doesn’t go perfect,... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians third baseman José Ramírez and slugger Franmil Reyes have rejoined the team after being banned for breaking COVID-19 protocols. The players tested negative for the virus on Tuesday and were back at the team's facility in Goodyear, Arizona. They are scheduled to play in Wednesday's exhibition against the Los Angeles Angels. Ramírez and Reyes had been isolated at their temporary spring training homes since Saturday after they went out to dinner indoors, a behavior that violated virus guidelines set last season by Major League Baseball and the players' union. Indians manager Terry Francona said the team followed the guidelines and reported the violation. It's the second time Reyes has broken the rules. Last year, he attended a July Fourth party without wearing a mask and the team learned of his violation from a social media posting. On Friday, Reyes went to get a haircut after the Indians played the Chicago Cubs in an exhibition game in Mesa, Arizona, and then he and... [More]

The Cleveland Indians have broken COVID-19 protocols for the third time in less than a year, this time costing them third baseman José Ramírez and slugger Franmil Reyes. Manager Terry Francona said Sunday the two players were sent to their Arizona homes while the Indians wait to hear from Major League Baseball when they can rejoin the team. Francona said Reyes, who had a virus-related misstep last season, and Ramirez went out to dinner on Friday following an exhibition game in Mesa against the Chicago Cubs. They reported to the team’s complex on Saturday and were immediately sent away. They did not have contact with any other players or team personnel. “The players themselves actually self-reported that they had made a mistake," Francona said on a Zoom call. When spring training resumed last year after being stopped due to the pandemic, Reyes was forced to quarantine after the team learned via a social media posting that he attended a July 4 party while wearing a mask. A month later, the... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — For the third time in less than a year, the Cleveland Indians are having to isolate players because they broke COVID-19 protocols. Third baseman José Ramírez and slugger Franmil Reyes are being kept away from their teammates at spring training in Arizona after they reported to the team that they went out to dinner in violation of team and Major League Baseball regulations. Manager Terry Francona said Sunday that the two players were sent to their temporary homes as the Indians await word from the league as to when they can rejoin the team. Francona said Reyes, who had a virus-related misstep last season, and Ramirez went out to dinner on Friday following an exhibition game in Mesa against the Chicago Cubs. They reported to the team’s complex on Saturday and were immediately sent home. They did not have contact with any other players or team personnel. “We’re pretty fortunate here,” Francona said on a Zoom call. “We have some medical people who are right on top of things... [More]

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Indians third baseman José Ramírez and slugger Franmil Reyes have been isolated from their teammates at spring training after breaking COVID-19 protocols. Manager Terry Francona said Sunday that the two players have been sent to their temporary homes in Arizona as the Indians await word from the league as to when they can rejoin the team. Francona said Reyes drove to the Indians' exhibition game on Friday in Mesa and went to get a haircut following the 10-4 win. Reyes, who had a similar misstep last year when spring training resumed after the coronavirus-caused shutdown, told the Indians that he and Ramirez then went out to dinner and were indoors, which violates COVID-19 guidelines established by Major League Baseball and the players' union. Francona said Reyes and Ramirez came to the team's complex on Saturday and were immediately sent home. They did not have contact with any other players or team personnel. “We’re pretty fortunate here,” Francona said. "We... [More]

Dinelson Lamet’s breakout season with San Diego ended just short of the Padres’ first playoff appearance in 14 seasons. That turned out to be a good thing. The big right-hander, who finished fourth in the NL Cy Young Award balloting in 2020, said Friday that he thinks he narrowly avoided another Tommy John surgery when he agreed with team doctors to shut down his season. Lamet underwent platelet-rich plasma therapy in the offseason and, coupled with rest, was able to bounce back. “I took my time, let everything take its course and I think everything has progressed as we wanted it to,” he said through an interpreter after throwing a bullpen session in Peoria, Arizona. “I feel like I’m 100% myself.” While the Padres will closely monitor his progress, particularly when he's relying on his slider, Lamet's status is good news to a team that ran out of starting pitching in the playoffs and lost newcomer Mike Clevinger to Tommy John surgery in mid-November. Lamet and Clevinger both came out of... [More]

A team-by-team look at the National League West entering spring training, including key players each club acquired and lost, and dates of the first workout for pitchers and catchers, and the full squad: ___ Los Angeles Dodgers Manager: Dave Roberts (sixth season). 2019: 43-17, first place, World Series champions. Training Town: Glendale, Arizona. Park: Camelback Ranch. First Workout: Feb. 18/23. He’s Here: RHP Trevor Bauer, RHP Tommy Kahnle, LHP Garrett Cleavinger. He’s Outta Here: 3B Justin Turner, RHP Pedro Báez, INF/OF Enrique Hernández, LF Joc Pederson, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Jimmy Nelson, OF Terrance Gore. Going campin’: After winning their first World Series title since 1988 during the pandemic-shortened season, the Dodgers are looking to repeat. They made a major splash just before spring training, signing Bauer a year after trading for Mookie Betts and David Price in February. The roster boasts an enviable three MVPs and three Cy Young Award winners, making the Dodgers the favorites... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — It turns out that Joe Musgrove was prescient when, at 18, he got a tattoo of a baseball with the San Diego Padres' logo in it, along with his last name and the year he was born. His grandmother chewed him out, telling the teenager he had no idea if the Padres would draft him out of Grossmont High in suburban El Cajon. They didn't. A decade later, though, it's all good. The big right-hander finally is a member of his hometown Padres, who obtained him Tuesday from the rebuilding Pittsburgh Pirates in a seven-player, three-team trade that also included the New York Mets. Musgrove had some fun with his grandmother Tuesday via FaceTime. “I said, ‘Remember how stupid you made me feel when I got this at 18? I told you it would play out,'“ the right-hander said in a videoconference with reporters. ”We had a cool little moment with that." Three teams and six seasons into his big league career, Musgrove will toe the rubber at Petco Park wearing the brown and gold of a Padres team... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joe Musgrove grew up a San Diego Padres fan and now the right-hander gets to pitch for his hometown team, which in less than a month has remade itself into perhaps one of the best in the major leagues. The Padres brought Musgrove home Tuesday, adding yet another starting pitcher via a seven-player trade involving the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets. The Padres, who believe they can contend for the World Series title, sent major league reliever David Bednar and three prospects — outfielder Hudson Head, left-hander Omar Cruz and right-hander Drake Fellows — to the rebuilding Pirates. The Padres sent left-hander Joey Lucchesi to New York, and the Pirates got catcher Endy Rodríguez from the Mets. Musgrove, who played at Grossmont High in suburban El Cajon, California, joins a rotation that includes Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, who were obtained in blockbuster trades after Christmas, and Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack. The Padres are considering using a six-man rotation... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres brought right-hander Joe Musgrove to his hometown team Tuesday, adding yet another starting pitcher in a seven-player trade involving the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets. The Padres, who believe they can contend for the World Series title, will send major league reliever David Bednar and three prospects —outfielder Hudson Head, left-hander Omar Cruz and right-hander Drake Fellows — to the Pirates. As part of the agreement, the Padres will send left-hander Joey Lucchesi to New York, and the Pirates will receive catcher Endy Rodríguez from the Mets. Musgrove, who played at Grossmont High in suburban El Cajon, California, joins a rotation that includes Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, who were obtained in blockbuster trades after Christmas. Musgrove heads from a Pirates team that had the worst record in the majors during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season to a Padres club that ended a 13-year playoff drought and believes it can make a deep postseason run... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres are adding yet another pitcher to their rotation, agreeing to bring right-hander Joe Musgrove to his hometown team in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to a person familiar with the deal. Another person confirmed the New York Mets were also involved in the trade, acquiring left-hander Joey Lucchesi from San Diego. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because the deal had not been announced. Musgrove, who played at Grossmont High in suburban El Cajon, California, will join a rotation that includes Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, who were obtained in blockbuster trades after Christmas. Musgrove will head from a Pirates team that had the worst record in the majors during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season to a Padres club that ended a 13-year playoff drought and believes it can contend for the World Series title. Anchored by a star-studded infield with Fernando Tatis Jr. at shortstop and Manny Machado at third... [More]

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Yu Darvish found out things move fast when San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller is wheeling and dealing. The right-hander didn’t think he’d be traded away by the Chicago Cubs but was caught up in Preller’s vortex. Within the span of about 24 hours this week, the Padres obtained left-hander Blake Snell in a big deal with Tampa Bay, finalized a $28 million, four-year deal with South Korean slugger Kim Ha-seong, a deal that could be worth $34 million over five seasons if a a mutual option is excised and contains $1 million annually in performance bonuses. San Diego then obtained Darvish in another blockbuster deal. Darvish found out about it on social media. “When I woke up that morning I saw the Snell trade go down and I thought nothing’s going to happen,” Darvish said through an interpreter during a videoconference Thursday. “I wasn’t expecting the Padres to make another move but I was receiving phone calls within the hour and I found out on Twitter, yeah. “I wasn’t... [More]