MLB Player News

Kim (back) allowed two earned runs on three hits over two innings in a Grapefruit League loss to the Marlins on Saturday. He struck out two.

Kim worked up to 35 pitches in his first game action since March 8 and gave up multiple earned runs for the third time in as many spring appearances. The left-hander was able to steer clear of the long ball, but he allowed back-to-back triples before settling down. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Kim was able to throw five pitches at higher than 90 mph, a reassuring sign after recent back trouble had robbed him of velocity. The left-hander will remain in Florida when the team breaks camp, and he'll likely either throw a simulated game in Miami when the Cardinals visit the Marlins in the second series of the season or report to the team's alternate training site. Once Kim is able to reach the 80-pitch threshold effectively and recover comfortably from that workload, he'll be deemed ready to make his regular-season debut.

Snell hurled five scoreless innings against the Angels in a Cactus League contest Saturday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out six.

Snell concludes his first spring as Padre without yielding a run across 14.1 frames. Collectively, the southpaw gave up only five hits while posting a 13:4 K:BB. He's slated to start San Diego's second game of the regular season, Friday at home against Arizona.

Ynoa is expected to begin the season as a member of the Atlanta bullpen, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Atlanta has yet to name a fifth starter, and manager Brian Snitker appears content to wait on that decision until the club's sixth game of the season April 7 in Washington, where the club wraps up a stretch of five games in five days. Though Ynoa will be available in relief for Atlanta's first five contests, O'Brien notes that the right-hander is the prime candidate to serve as the opener April 7 in what will likely be a bullpen game. Ynoa could stake his claim to a more permanent rotation spot if he makes a strong impression against the Nationals.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Saturday that Velasquez (oblique) is on track to begin the season as a member of the Phillies' bullpen, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Velasquez hasn't appeared in a Grapefruit League game since March 9 due to an oblique injury, which effectively took him out of the running for a spot in the rotation. The injury apparently won't disqualify Velasquez from making the Opening Day roster as a reliever, provided he's able to face hitters without issue before camp ends. The Phillies could revisit the idea of using Velasquez as as starter once the oblique injury is further in the rear-view mirror and if he has some time to get fully stretched out.

Manager Bud Black named Marquez the starter for Opening Day against the Dodgers on Thursday, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

It's not much of a surprise the 26-year-old will start Opening Day for Colorado, but it's now been confirmed by the team. Marquez started 13 games for the Rockies in 2020 and posted a 3.75 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 73:25 K:BB across 81.2 innings.

Wood (back) threw a bullpen session Saturday, but is likely to begin the season on the injured list, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Back troubles, which eventually required a minor surgical procedure, have kept Wood from appearing in game action since March 9. While it's a positive that he's throwing again, it doesn't sound like he'll be ready to pitch in a regular-season game until mid-April at the earliest. Aaron Sanchez will likely begin the season as the fifth starter as a result.

DeSclafani appears set to begin the season as San Francisco's No. 4 starter, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Manager Gabe Kapler named the first three starters of the season (Kevin Gausman, Johnny Cueto, Logan Webb) with DeSclafani likely then set as the fourth starter and Aaron Sanchez as the fifth starter. DeSclafani has a 2.79 ERA (3 ER in 9.2 IP) with 12 strikeouts and three walks this spring.

Webb will begin the season in the starting rotation and make his first start Saturday at Seattle, manager Gabe Kapler told the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Anthony DeSclafani will begin the season as the No. 4 starter and Aaron Sancher as the No. 5 starter as a result. Webb has had an outstanding spring by throwing 11 scoreless innings with 17 strikeouts and one walk.

Lorenzen (shoulder) is not expected to be ready to start any of the Reds' first five games, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lorenzen looked likely to open the season as a starter but has been dealing with a strained right shoulder for the past week. It's not yet clear whether or not he'll need a trip to the injured list, but he won't have time to build up as a starter by Opening Day. With Tejay Antone (hip) and Sonny Gray (back) also dealing with injuries, Jeff Hoffman and Jose De Leon are both expected to begin the season in the rotation.

Senzatela allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out three in five innings during Friday's spring loss to Cleveland. He didn't factor into the decision.

Senzatela gave up eight hits during his last spring start but was much sharper against Cleveland on Friday. The right-hander has moved past his hamstring issue during his two Cactus League starts and could start during the Rockies' opening series against the Dodgers this year since Kyle Freeland (shoulder) is slated to miss at least a month.