PHILLIES
Lee to toss opener
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Cliff Lee (Benton, Arkansas Razorbacks) will pitch the Philadelphia Phillies ’ opener March 31 at the Texas Rangers, the team he helped to reach the 2010 World Series.
Taking over for injured pitcher Cole Hamels, Lee will be making the second opening-day start of his career and first since 2009 for Cleveland. Lee, 35, pitched 5 shutout innings Saturday against Boston and has a 2.63 ERA in 4 spring training games. Manager Ryne Sandberg announced the news Monday.
METS
Niece’s good report
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Jonathon Niese was relieved to be back at spring training with the New York Mets camp Tuesday after receiving a relatively good medical report.
The left-hander had a MRI of his pitching elbow Monday in New York, and the scan revealed he had some inflammation but no damage to his ulnar collateral ligament.
“They said the UCL is strong and big and strong — no bone arthritis or spurs or anything,” Niese said. “So all the bones and ligaments are perfect. There’s just a little inflammation in that joint in the back of my elbow. So I got a cortisone shot. It’s a little sore today from the shot, but the soreness is going down. So I should be able to throw tomorrow.”
Niese has a 13.50 ERA in two spring training appearances. He was slowed early in camp by muscle weakness in his shoulder, which also was examined in a main stream MRI.
Mets Manager Terry Collins said Monday that Niese could begin the regular season in Port St. Lucie rather than New York to build arm strength, but cautioned that it was General Manager Sandy Alderson’s decision whether to put Niese on the disabled list. Niese was New York’s opening-day starter last year.
“Whatever. I don’t have an ego,” he said. “I just want to get my arm ready. If that means I’m the fifth starter, the eighth starter, it doesn’t matter to me, just as long as I get my arm right and I’m healthy so we can play in October.”
BRAVES
Medlen to miss season
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Atlanta Braves pitcher Kris Medlen underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday, while teammate Brandon Beachy is getting another opinion on his ailing elbow. The Braves announced Medlen’s surgery after he was examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews in Gulf Breeze, Fla.
Beachy was also examined by Andrews and will now head to Los Angeles to get another opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Dodgers’ team physician.
Medlen will undergo the second Tommy John surgery of his career after having the elbow ligament replaced in 2010. Beachy underwent the same procedure in 2012 and has endured multiple setbacks since then. Medlen and Beachy were expected to be stalwarts of the Braves’ rotation. After they went down, the team hastily signed free agent Ervin Santana to a $14.1 million, one-year contract.
ATHLETICS
Parker needs surgery
PHOENIX — Oakland Athletics right-hander Jarrod Parker needs elbow ligament-replacement surgery and will miss the season.
Parker was examined Monday in Gulf Breeze, Fla., by Dr. James Andrews, who repaired his elbow on Oct. 28, 2009, when Parker was with Arizona. Parker is to have surgery again on March 25.
Parker had a 10.61 ERA in three spring training starts.
He becomes the latest pitcher who needs a ligament replaced, joining Arizona’s Patrick Corbin. Atlanta pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy also were being examined by Andrews on Monday and might need season-ending elbow surgery.
Parker’s surgery clears the way for Jesse Chavez and Tommy Milone to join Oakland’s starting rotation.
ORIOLES
Tillman to open
SARASOTA, Fla. — Right-hander Chris Tillman has been selected by Orioles Manager Buck Showalter to start on opening day against the defending champion Boston Red Sox. Tillman, 25, went 16-7 with 3.71 ERA last season and made the American League All-Star team for the first time. He had a 16-18 lifetime record before his breakthrough 2013 season.