MLB Player News

May completed 5.2 innings in a Cactus League start against Kansas City on Saturday, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and no walks while striking out four batters.

May's outing was the longest by a Dodgers pitcher this spring and puts him in line to handle a nearly full workload once the regular season begins. The right-hander was tagged by Bobby Witt Jr. for a three-run homer in the third inning but otherwise allowed just one run. May is scheduled to start Los Angeles' second game of the season Friday at home against Arizona.

Wright isn't in line to start any of Atlanta's first five games of the season, as the club wants to give him extra time to get ramped up due to him being delayed in spring training by a shoulder injury, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Wright hasn't suffered any setbacks in his recovery from the shoulder injury, but he was roughed up in both of his first two appearances of the spring after he was cleared to make his Grapefruit League debut last Monday. In his most recent outing Saturday, Wright stretched out to four innings but was tagged for three earned runs on five hits -- including two home runs -- and a walk over four innings. Because Dylan Dodd and Jared Shuster have both made strong cases for the Opening Day rotation while competing for the fifth starter's role, Atlanta plans to have both young hurlers make one turn through the rotation while Wright gets more time to build up his arm. Atlanta could still be earmarking Wright for a start in its third series of the season (April 6 through 9 versus San Diego), so the right-hander could avoid a stint on the injured list and still be included on the 26-man Opening Day roster even though he won't pitch in any of the first seven games.

Shuster appears on track for a spot in Atlanta's season-opening rotation and is tentatively lined up to start the team's third game next Sunday in Washington, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Shuster and Dylan Dodd had been battling for the No. 5 starter's role, but Atlanta looks like it'll have room for both young hurlers to make at least two turns through the rotation to begin the season while Kyle Wright heads to the injured list as he ramps back up from the shoulder injury he suffered earlier in the spring. Because Shuster isn't currently on the 40-man roster, Atlanta may wait until next Sunday before formally selecting his contract to maintain more flexibility through the first two games. Shuster was able to earn a spot in the rotation -- at least temporarily -- after logging a 1.45 ERA, 0.59 WHIP and 18:4 K:BB in 18.2 innings in Grapefruit League play while holding opposing hitters to a .115 average.

Dodd is in line to open the season with Atlanta and is scheduled to start the team's fifth game of the regular season April 4 in St. Louis, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Dodd had been battling Jared Shuster for the No. 5 starter's role, but Atlanta will have room for both young arms in its season-opening rotation with the team set to skip Kyle Wright's first turn to afford him more time to get ramped back up following a shoulder injury earlier in the spring. With Wright set to be placed on the injured list, both Shuster and Dodd should be in store for at least two turns through the rotation before Atlanta decides which of the two sticks around in a starting role once Wright is healthy again. Dodd, 24, earned himself a spot with the big club by striking out 20 and walking just four over 18 Grapefruit League innings while holding opposing hitters to a .227 average.

Senzatela (knee) threw 20 pitches in a live bullpen session Saturday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Senzatela told Harding he felt well after the session. The right-hander is coming back from the torn left ACL he suffered in August. The hope is that Senzatela can come back at the start of May as a rotation option for Colorado, and this is a positive step in that direction.

Suarez (forearm) is feeling better but doesn't know yet when he'll throw his next bullpen session, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Suarez has dealt with forearm tightness this spring, and while an MRI revealed no structural damage, he's run out of time to get ready for Opening Day. Matt Strahm appears to be in line to take his spot in the rotation for now. Suarez's timeline won't become clear until he resumes throwing, but it's certainly a positive that he isn't in pain.

Houser left Saturday's game against the Athletics with groin tightness, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Houser has dealt with tightness in his groin both early in the spring and also at the end of the 2022 campaign. He'll be reevaluated on Sunday to help determine his status going forward. If healthy, Houser is expected to pitch in the bullpen to begin the season.

Houser exited his outing Saturday against the Athletics with a trainer, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The nature and severity of Houser's injury are not yet clear. He was expected to open the year in the bullpen but looked like one of the top options for a spot start in the absence of Aaron Ashby (shoulder). If Houser misses time as well, Bryse Wilson could fill that role instead.

Bundy signed a minor-league contract with the Mets on Saturday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Bundy showed promise with a 3.29 ERA in the shortened 2020 season but followed that up with a 6.06 ERA in 2021 and a 4.89 ERA in 2022, leaving him stuck without a big-league offer. His average fastball velocity dipped to 89.2 mph last season while his strikeout rate fell to 15.8 percent, so he won't be an exciting fantasy option even if injuries ahead of him open up a rotation spot.

Dodd was charged with three runs on eight hits and two walks over five-plus innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. He struck out five.

The southpaw performed better than his final line indicated -- two of the runs came on a wind-aided Justin Turner home run, and the third crossed the plate in the sixth inning after he'd left the game. Dodd has likely made his final start of the spring, ending camp with a dazzling 2.00 ERA and 20:4 K:BB through 18 Grapefruit League innings, and he remains neck and neck with Jared Shuster for Atlanta's fifth starter spot. If Kyle Wright's first start of the season gets delayed -- the right-hander got a very late start to his spring due to shoulder issues -- the battle for the open rotation spot could extend into the regular season.