MLB Player News

Wheeler allowed four runs on six hits, struck out seven and walked one in five innings during a no-decision against the Nationals on Sunday.

The 28-year-old retired the Nationals in order during the second and fourth innings, but he allowed leadoff hits in the first and third, along with a run in the fifth. Wheeler struggled in April and May last season, but then pitched extremely well in the final four months of 2018. At least through one outing, he's off to another slow start, but the silver lining was Wheeler's strikeout rate in his 2019 debut. He posted a 8.8 K/9 last year.

Corbin earned a no-decision Sunday, allowing two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks over six innings against the Mets.

Corbin looked like he had pitched well enough to post a victory in his Nationals debut, but the Washington bullpen yielded three runs in the eighth to cough up the lead. The 29-year-old will have to wait for that first victory with the Nationals, and he posted fewer strikeouts than usual Sunday, but owners should still be pleased with his first outing. Corbin is 5-3 with a 3.01 ERA and 101 strikeouts in his last 83.2 innings dating back to July 23.

Gray (0-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with four walks and no strikeouts over 2.2 innings during a loss to the Pirates on Sunday.

The 29-year-old was extremely sharp in spring training, allowing just one run and no walks with 11 strikeouts during 10 innings. But his Reds debut was the exact opposite story. He wasn't sharp at all and allowed four walks in a game for the first time since last April. Gray experienced a poor first half last season, and anyone hoping the strong spring training meant he would avoid another disappointing start to a season was wrong, at least through one outing.

Williams (1-0) threw six shutout frames, posting six strikeouts with three hits and one walk, to secure a 5-0 victory against the Reds on Sunday.

The 26-year-old has picked up in 2019 right where he left off last year. In eight of his final 13 starts of 2018, Williams didn't allow a run. He posted another such outing Sunday, and over his last 14 starts, Williams now owns a 1.20 ERA. The keys for Williams becoming an even better fantasy asset are generating more strikeouts and getting run support from his offense, both of which happened in his 2019 debut.

Alcantara (1-0) threw eight shutout innings, allowing four hits with six strikeouts and no walks to beat the Rockies 3-0 on Sunday.

The 23-year-old threw seven shutout innings against the Phillies last September, which was previously the longest outing of his career. Alcantara is a candidate to strike out one per inning this season, but in his first 14 MLB appearances, he's also posted a 6.2 BB/9 rate. Seeing Alcantara display excellent control in his first 2019 start is a good sign that he has a chance to remain worthy of a rotation spot, given questions about that possibility in recent years.

Gray was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Marlins due to a right calf cramp, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

The news certainly could have been far worse, as it wasn't clear exactly what had forced Gray from the game initially. He believes he was simply suffering from a bit of dehydration and expects to make his next start, which should come Saturday against the Dodgers.

Gray left Sunday's game against the Marlins with an apparent injury, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

The nature of the issue is unclear, but it didn't appear to be arm trouble. Prior to suffering the injury, Gray had allowed three runs on five hits and a walk in 6.2 innings while striking out 10 batters.

Buehler will be limited in his season debut Sunday against Arizona, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Dodgers want Buehler to get through five innings, so he'll still be in line for a win if he pitches well enough, but he won't reach the 100-pitch mark. The team is known for handling its pitchers cautiously, but the decision Sunday is primarily due to the fact that Buehler didn't make his spring debut until March 18. He'll eventually be allowed to go deep in games as the season progresses.

Musgrove will make his first start of the season Friday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Musgrove was set to make his first start of the season on Sunday against the Reds, but a Saturday rainout shuffled the team's rotation. As a result, he is set to make his first start of the season Friday at home against the Reds. He is available out of the bullpen Sunday, if needed.

Kershaw (shoulder) will make a rehab start Thursday, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kershaw will start at Triple-A Oklahoma City and is slated to throw four or five innings. It has not yet been determined whether he will need a second rehab start, or if Thursday's effort will be sufficient to get him prepared to rejoin the big-league rotation.