MLB Player News

Senzatela allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out four over three innings during Tuesday's "B" game, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Senzatela sustained a hamstring strain in early March but wasn't bothered by the issue during Tuesday's "B" game. He threw 45 pitches across his three innings and only allowed a solo home run to Max Stassi. The right-hander's next appearance should come in a Cactus League game, and he remains on track to be built up in time for the start of the regular season.

The Reds had Mahle pitch three innings in a simulated game against their own minor leaguers Tuesday instead of in their spring training game against the Rockies, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Mahle is locked into a rotation spot this season, and there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with him physically. He struck out four of the first five batters he faced Tuesday, albeit against the Reds' minor-league hitters.

Kershaw allowed five runs across four innings in Tuesday's Cactus League loss to Milwaukee, yielding eight hits -- including two home runs -- and one walk while striking out three.

Two days after being named the Dodgers' Opening Day starter, Kershaw couldn't find his rhythm in his worst spring start in years. He allowed a pair of solo home runs to the first two batters he faced, then gave up three more runs in the third inning. Kershaw should be fine, of course, and will enter his age-33 season still ranked among the game's top hurlers.

Musgrove hurled four innings in a Cactus League contest versus the White Sox on Tuesday, allowing three unearned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four.

The first batter Musgrove faced reached base on an error, which set the tone for the remainder of the right-hander's appearance. San Diego committed three more errors behind Musgrove, leading to three unearned runs. The 28-year-old was also struck in the shoulder by a comebacker in the second inning, though he stayed in the game and appeared unscathed. Musgrove has a 2.00 ERA and 6:3 K:BB through nine innings this spring.

Williams has a 1.04 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and seven strikeouts across 8.2 Cactus League innings so far.

Williams actually leads the Cubs in innings pitched to date, as the organization is taking a long look at the veteran. He's mostly been a starter in the majors, but he's competing with Alec Mills and Adbert Alzolay for one of two open rotation spots, so someone could end up getting bumped to the bullpen, though the team could experiment with a six-man rotation as well.

Wood will have an ablation procedure for his back, but the Giants aren't yet ruling him out for Opening Day, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

The procedure involves burning away an inflamed nerve. Even if he does open the year on the injured list, it sounds like his absence will be weeks, not months. Logan Webb may make the rotation on merit anyway, but this only increases his chances.

DeGrom (2-0) went four innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League outing against Houston, striking out six while allowing one run on two hits.

It was yet another sharp outing for the Mets' ace, who surrendered his first run of the spring -- leaving him with a 1.00 ERA and 16 strikeouts through nine innings. The 32-year-old righty looks more than ready for Opening Day and is a lock to be one of the top two pitchers selected in this year's fantasy drafts.

Nola is testing out a cutter this spring, Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times reports.

Nola threw the pitch a few times in his outing Tuesday against Toronto, though not nearly frequently enough that it can be blamed for his disastrous line, as he allowed six runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings of work. Nola doesn't exactly need to add anything on the back of a season in which he struck out a career-high 33.2 percent of opposing batters en route to a 3.28 ERA, but more weapons certainly can't hurt. There's no guarantee the cutter develops into anything usable for Nola this season, and he doesn't intend to use it very frequently, but it's possible the offering slightly improves his profile if it does indeed turn into a useful pitch.

The Phillies optioned Sanchez to their minor-league camp Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The 24-year-old lefty has made only one career appearance above the High-A level, so he wasn't a legitimate candidate to claim a spot on the Phillies' Opening Day roster. Sanchez is expected to begin the season as a member of the rotation at Triple-A Lehigh Valley or Double-A Reading.

Strasburg (calf) will throw on flat ground Tuesday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

He said his calf felt "okay" when he arrived at the facility Tuesday and will have the injury evaluated following his throwing session. It's unclear when he will be ready to return to game action after being diagnosed with a strained plantaris muscle in his left calf Sunday.