MLB Player News

Flaherty (shoulder) played catch on flat ground ahead of Friday's game at Milwaukee, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Flaherty has been building up his arm and shoulder strength with plyometric exercises, and he's now been cleared to start a throwing program. The 26-year-old was shut down from throwing in mid-March after receiving a PRP injection to address inflammation in his right shoulder, so he'll likely require a significant buildup period before progressing to mound work.

The Diamondbacks list Gallen (thumb) as their probable starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Mets.

Gallen was initially lined up to make his season debut earlier this week against the Astros, but the Diamondbacks opted to push him back four days in the schedule while he contended with a small cut on his thumb. The injury apparently wasn't anything that hindered him in his throwing session after he was pushed off Tuesday's start against Houston, so he'll take the hill for the second game of the Diamondbacks' weekend series in New York.

Contreras (1-0) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out five across three scoreless innings to earn the win Thursday against the Nationals.

JT Brubaker was knocked out of the game after just 4.1 innings, which left a lot volume to be covered by the Pittsburgh bullpen. Contreras stepped up and delivered an excellent three frames of work, highlighted by nine swinging strikes on only 46 pitches. Though he's pitching in a relief role for the time being, Contreras has already thrown 4.2 innings this season and could enter the rotation should Brubaker or others falter in a starting role.

Walker (shoulder) played catch for a second straight day Friday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Walker felt good following Friday's throwing session, and he hopes to throw a bullpen Sunday, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports. He's hopeful that he'll be able to make a rehab start sometime next week, which would put him on track to join the Mets' rotation early the following week as long as he's built up enough strength and is feeling good.

DeGrom (shoulder) will undergo a follow-up MRI on April 25, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

DeGrom is in the midst of a four-week shutdown due to a stress reaction in his right scapula, and his MRI should provide an idea of his recovery progress. The right-hander got a bone scan recently to confirm the original diagnosis of a stress reaction. A timetable for deGrom's return to game action is unlikely to be set until he's cleared to resume throwing.

Buehler pitched 5.2 innings against Cincinnati on Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four. He didn't factor in the decision.

Buehler wasn't at his sharpest in the Dodgers' home opener, throwing only 60 of 98 pitches for strikes and walking three batters. However, he kept the Reds off the scoreboard for five innings and needed one more out to notch his first quality start of the campaign before Aristides Aquino ended his night with a two-out, two-run homer in the sixth. Buehler has been fine through his first two starts, allowing four runs and registering a 9:5 K:BB across 10 frames. He was commonly drafted as a top-five pitcher in fantasy leagues, however, so his managers would love to get more from him, especially in terms of strikeouts. Buehler's next start is lined up to come at home against Atlanta on Tuesday.

Freeland (0-2) took the loss against the Cubs on Thursday, tossing 5.1 innings and allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out one.

In Freeland's Opening Day loss to the Dodgers, he started off strong with three shutout frames before wilting in the fourth. It was the opposite story Thursday, as the left-hander was tagged for three first-inning runs before settling down to keep Chicago off the scoreboard for the following four frames. However, his night ended on a sour note as four of the five batters he faced in the sixth reached base, resulting in two more runs and the hook after 73 pitches. Freeland has thus far allowed 10 earned runs over nine innings to begin the season, emphasizing his lack of reliability in fantasy. He'll face another tough test his next time out as he's tentatively slated to face the Phillies at Coors Field on Tuesday.

Steele allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four across 4.1 innings against Colorado on Thursday. He did not factor in the decision.

Steele allowed plenty of traffic on the bases in the outing, but all five hits against him were singles, and he wiggled out of a few jams to surrender just two runs. He wasn't able to go deep enough to pick up the win, however, as he needed 80 pitches to get through 4.1 frames and allowed two of the final three batters he faced to reach base. The southpaw has been a pleasant surprise early in the season, allowing just two runs and posting a 9:3 K:BB across 9.1 innings across two starts. His next trip to the mound is expected to come at home against Tampa Bay next week.

Brubaker allowed four earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out five across 4.1 innings Thursday against the Nationals. He did not factor into the decision.

Brubaker was both hit hard and betrayed by his defense in a three-run first inning. He walked three of the first four batters he faced, which were immediately followed by a pair of singles and an error by Hoy Park in right field. Brubaker settled in from there to turn in a more respectable effort, but even so, he has now issued seven free passes across only 7.1 innings on the season. He'll look to get some improved results in his next outing, which currently lines up to come Tuesday at Milwaukee.

Gibson (1-1) allowed four earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six across 4.2 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Marlins.

Gibson shut out the Phillies through the first three innings. However, he allowed three extra-base hits in the fourth frame -- including a solo home run to Garrett Cooper -- and walked two batters in the fifth to account for his four earned runs. In contrast to his first start of the campaign, Gibson labored mightily by requiring 91 pitches to record 14 outs. He'll face a challenge in his next outing as well, which is currently projected to come Tuesday at Colorado.