MLB Player News

Manager Derek Shelton confirmed Keller will start Sunday's series finale at St. Louis, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old received the start in Tuesday's intrasquad game, and he'll remain on the five-day schedule to begin the season. Keller made his major-league debut in 2019 and struggled with a 7.13 ERA in 11 starts, but he made a concerted effort during the shutdown to increase the spin efficiency on his fastball, which theoretically should help him miss more bats.

Flaherty, who'll start Opening Day against the Rangers, allowed three earned runs while recording 10 outs across 92 pitches in an intrasquad scrimmage Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander faced plenty of regulars and gave up a first-inning home run to Matt Carpenter, a leadoff triple in the second to Lane Thomas, and a two-run double to Paul DeJong as far as extra-base hits. Flaherty also struggled with control, getting just 52 of his offerings into the strike zone. Despite the uneven performance from his ace, manager Mike Shildt didn't convey concern following the game, instead focusing on the progress the team's hitters seem to be making in getting their timing down ahead of the start of the season.

Urias took the win in Monday's exhibition contest against Arizona, pitching five innings and allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three.

Urias gave up a second-inning home run to Ildemaro Vargas but was otherwise sharp in his final tuneup before the regular season. The southpaw is penciled in as the Dodgers' No. 3 starter this season and is slated to make his first appearance of the 2020 campaign this weekend against San Francisco.

Kershaw has been experimenting with a changeup, though at this point he feels "average" about it, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Kershaw chose his words carefully when discussing where he's at with the pitch, first stating "I feel good with it" before pivoting and saying, "Well, good might not be the right word. I feel average." The southpaw has gone to the changeup with decreasing frequency over the course of his career and threw it only 16 times last season. Though it doesn't sound like he's brimming with confidence regarding the pitch, mastering the offering could help him prolong his run of excellence as his fastball velocity continues to drop in the latter stages of his career.

DeGrom (back) felt good after a side session Tuesday and is considered fully ready to go for Friday's Opening Day start against Atlanta, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

DeGrom has battled back soreness over the past week, causing him to cut an intrasquad appearance short last Tuesday after just one inning. An MRI revealed no significant issues, and he's continued to feel fine following multiple bullpen sessions as well as another simulated game, so there's little reason to doubt his health heading into Friday's contest. Since he threw just 60 pitches in his final simulated game Sunday, deGrom estimated that he would be capped at around 85 pitches in his first start of 2020, per Zach Braziller of the New York Post.

Burnes will start Saturday against the Cubs, Sophia Minnaert of Fox Sports Wisconsin reports.

Brett Anderson (blister) will open the year on the injured list, so Burnes takes his spot in the rotation -- he may have made the rotation regardless, but this expedited that announcement. Burnes had electric stuff last year but really struggled with his command and confidence, eventually seeing a sports psychologist in the offseason. Since reporting to camp in February, his stuff has been perhaps even better, touching the high-90s with his fastball while also showing off a devastating low-90s cutter/slider. He will face Yu Darvish in Chicago on Saturday and will then start at home against St. Louis the following weekend.

Strasburg allowed one run on six hits while striking out six over five innings in Monday's exhibition game against the Orioles.

The reigning World Series MVP tossed 81 pitches in his final trip to the mound before the regular season begins. Strasburg appears ready for his first start Saturday against the Yankees.

Kim will move to bullpen and likely begin the season as the Cardinals' primary closer, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Kim will head to the bullpen after Carlos Martinez earned the fifth spot in the Cardinals' starting rotation, which was announced Monday. With Giovanny Gallegos (undisclosed) currently on the 10-day IL, Kim will have the opportunity to establish himself as the premier late-game option for manager Mike Shildt. Ryan Helsley remains a candidate as well to pitch in late-game situations. Kim is set to make his major-league debut after pitching in the Korean Baseball Organization for the past three seasons, posting a 2.51 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 180 strikeouts across 190.1 innings in 2019.

Martinez will begin the season as the fifth starter in the Cardinals rotation, Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com reports.

Martinez and Miles Mikolas will round out the bottom of the St. Louis starting rotation to begin the 2020 campaign. Kwang-Hyun Kim will move to the bullpen and likely serve as the closer while Giovanny Gallegos (undisclosed) remains on the 10-day IL. Martinez earned high praise from manager Mike Shildt earlier during summer camp for earning every opportunity to be in the starting rotation. The 28-year-old is coming off his seventh season with the Cardinals, during which he notched 24 saves while posting a 3.17 ERA and 53:18 K:BB across 48.1 innings.

May will throw in a voluntary workout Wednesday and remains in line to form a piggyback pairing with Walker Buehler early in the season, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts conceded Sunday that the Buehler-May piggyback idea is "certainly a possibility," and both pitchers are slated to throw on Wednesday. That would put them in line to pair up in the team's fifth game of the season, July 28 at Houston. May had been battling for a spot in the starting rotation, but Ross Stripling was instead named the Dodgers' fifth starter Monday, Michael J. Duarte of NBC LA reports.