MLB Player News

Stripling could return to the Dodgers' rotation this season after David Price elected to opt out of playing due to the coronavirus, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Stripling would seem to be battling with Dustin May for the Dodgers' fifth starter job, though the team will likely need to have at least six pitchers make a handful of starts at some point this season. Stripling made 15 starts and 17 relief appearances for the Dodgers last season, posting a strong 3.47 ERA on the back of a 25.1 percent strikeout rate and a 5.4 percent walk rate.

May has a clearer path to a rotation spot this year after David Price announced on his personal Twitter page Saturday that he will sit out the season.

May already had a decent shot to make a fair amount of starts this season, as he lined up as the team's sixth starter in a year in which teams are likely going to be forced to get creative. He now looks like one of the team's top five options, as he's fully recovered from a side injury that would have forced him to miss the start of the year had play not been paused back in March. The 22-year-old struck out a modest 22.7 percent of opposing batters in his 34.2-inning debut last year, but a 3.5 percent walk rate helped him to a 3.63 ERA and a 2.90 FIP.

Nola has yet to report to the Phillies' summer camp, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The Phillies are legally unable to say whether or not Nola's absence, along with those of his teammates Christian Bethancourt and Adam Haseley, are related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Whether or not Nola's availability for the upcoming season will be impacted remains to be seen.

Manager Brian Snitker said Saturday that Toussaint tested positive for COVID-19, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Toussaint is one of four members of the Braves to test positive for COVID-19. While the 24-year-old is reportedly asymptomatic, he'll need to clear the league protocol prior to rejoining the team.

Fried threw a live batting practice session Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The team will begin intrasquad scrimmages next week, but until then sessions like this will have to make do for the pitching staff. Fried is likely to be among the Atlanta arms on limited pitch counts to begin the season, which could make him a risky fantasy option the first couple turns through the rotation.

Soroka threw a live batting practice session Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The team will begin intrasquad scrimmages next week, but until then sessions like this will have to make do for the pitching staff. Soroka is likely to be among the Atlanta arms on limited pitch counts to begin the season, but his control and ability to generate weak contact could allow him to last five innings and qualify for wins even if he isn't ready for a full workload.

Corbin threw a bullpen session Friday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

The Nats' top three starters (Corbin, Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg) all got in work Friday as the club tries to quickly ramp up before Opening Day later this month. There was no indication of how many pitches Corbin was able to throw, however, so while GM Mike Rizzo described him as being in "full bullpen mode," how close he is to being ready for the regular season is still unclear.

Strasburg threw a bullpen session Friday, Jessica Camerato of MLB.com reports.

The Nats' top three starters (Strasburg, Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin) all got in work Friday as the club tries to quickly ramp up before Opening Day later this month. There was no indication of how many pitches Strasburg was able to throw, however, so while GM Mike Rizzo described him as being in "full bullpen mode," how close he is to being ready for the regular season is still unclear.

Flaherty received praise for his work during the Cardinals' first summer camp workout at Busch Stadium on Friday, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The staff ace and projected Opening Day starter wasted no time getting back into the thick of things, facing several of his teammates in live batting practice. Pitching coach Mike Maddux described Flaherty as being in midseason form to manager Mike Shildt, certainly an encouraging sign given the right-hander's importance to the team's fortunes.

Gomber, who posted an impressive 2.25 ERA over eight spring frames, worked the equivalent of three innings while facing hitters during the Cardinals' first summer camp workout Friday, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Gomber's ability to fill a variety of roles for manager Mike Shildt seemingly gives the 26-year-old southpaw a solid chance of making the expanded 30-man Opening Day roster. Gomber earned the boss's praise for his work Friday, giving the young hurler a solid start to the ramp-up period for the regular season.