MLB Player News

Nelson allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking one over 1.2 innings in Thursday's spring game against the Dodgers.

Nelson, who is in the mix for the final spot in the rotation, had a second consecutive rocky outing to begin the Cactus League, raising his spring ERA to 23.63 through 2.2 innings. It's wise for fantasy managers to recognize that pitchers are working on things during spring training, so results aren't primary. That's a point the right-hander made to Michael Reynolds of MLB.com when discussing the two-run, first-inning home run Freddie Freeman hit on a changeup, a pitch Nelson wouldn't normally throw to a hitter like Freeman. "Sometimes my plan doesn't line up with how to attack these hitters [in spring training]," Nelson said. "I probably shouldn't have thrown that changeup in the zone, but I'm just trying to fill up the zone with all my pitches right now." Arizona manager Torey Lovullo is confident Nelson will settle in with more reps and innings.

Syndergaard topped out at 93 mph with his fastball during Thursday's spring game, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Offseason reports suggested that Syndergaard might be on the path back to the high-90s with his heater, and there's still time for his velocity readings to improve before Opening Day, but the 30-year-old right-hander acknowledged he thought he'd be further ahead with it at this point. He averaged around 98 mph during his best years with the Mets and came in just shy of 94 mph last season between the Angels and Phillies.

Flaherty had his Grapefruit League debut pushed back to Sunday due to lower half discomfort, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Flaherty was originally scheduled to debut Saturday. If this remains a one-day delay, it should hardly be a blip, but the 27-year-old right-hander carries a ton of injury risk in general after logging only 154.2 total major-league innings for the Cardinals between 2020-22. He tossed just 36 frames for St. Louis last year.

Elder is scheduled to make his second Grapefruit League start Friday against the Astros, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Elder said he felt rushed while adjusting to the new pitch clock in his spring debut Sunday, when he was lit up for four earned runs over just 1.2 innings versus the Yankees. Fighting for the final spot in Atlanta's season-opening starting rotation, he'll look to show more comfort and command Friday afternoon against the reigning World Series champs. Ian Anderson is Elder's primary competition for that No. 5 starter role.

Wainwright said Thursday that he's been dealing with a muscle issue around his lower back, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Wainwright noted that he came down with back spasms just before he arrived at Cardinals camp in Florida last month and is still trying to get certain muscles to engage in that area. He also recently suffered a burn on the index finger of his right hand, and it opened up during another rough Grapefruit League start Thursday afternoon against the Astros. The 41-year-old had trouble even topping 85 mph with his fastball toward the end of that outing versus Houston. It's all somewhat concerning, but Wainwright remains committed to pitching for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Wainwright acknowledged last week that he's been working through a hitch in his delivery, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

That might help to explain why Wainwright's fastball has been sitting in the mid-80s so far in Grapefruit League play. In his second spring start Thursday afternoon against the Astros, the 41-year-old right-hander gave up three runs on five hits over three innings, and four batted-balls were clocked at over 104 mph. His next appearance on the mound will be with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Maybe the elevated level of competition can bring out a little more heat.

DeSclafani will make his Cactus League debut Friday versus the Rangers, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

DeSclafani has been able to go through a normal camp after recovering from ankle surgery he had last July. The right-hander will be in the mix for a spot in the Giants' rotation. He's looking to bounce back from an ugly 2022 in which he made just five starts and posted a 6.63 ERA.

Buehler (elbow) began a throwing program Wednesday, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.

Buehler made just a handful of flat-ground tosses from a distance of 60 feet, but it's a significant step forward nonetheless in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old right-hander had the procedure last August and obviously has many more months of rehab work ahead. If he does pitch for the Dodgers in 2023, it will probably only be a handful of innings in September/October.

Steele (arm) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Padres, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Steele got the go-ahead after throwing another successful bullpen session Tuesday in Cubs camp. The 27-year-old left-hander came down with a bit of arm soreness last week, but all is well now as he readies himself for a spot in Chicago's season-opening starting rotation. He posted an impressive 3.18 ERA with 126 strikeouts over 119 innings in 2022.

Marquez (hamstring) is set to make his Cactus League debut Saturday against the Mariners, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

He'll do so in a piggyback role after Saturday's starter Kyle Freeland, which is fairly custom in spring training games. Marquez tweaked his left hamstring in mid-February and had to bow out of the World Baseball Classic, but all signs point to him being fully cleared for the beginning of the 2023 regular season.