MLB Player News

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.

Quintana pitched four innings of relief in Saturday's 8-6 loss to the Rangers. He allowed two runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out eight.

Quintana entered in the fourth inning after starter Yu Darvish only went 2.2 innings, and the lefty tossed 81 pitches while giving the Cubs valuable length. He was a bit all over the place with the six hits and three walks, but Quintana mostly stayed out of trouble with the help of the eight strikeouts, and he earned his first MLB hold in the process. With the Cubs having an off day this past Friday and again Tuesday, they can skip past Quintana's No. 5 spot in the rotation, which explained his availability for long-relief work in this one. Expect the lefty to take his regular turn sometime next weekend.

Lyles (side) will make his 2019 debut Thursday against the Reds, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Lyles completed a simulated game and bullpen session at extended spring training Friday, throwing a total of 100 pitches. In the aftermath, he apparently feels well enough to make his season-debut, which will come at home in pitcher-friendly PNC Park. Lyles operated as a swingman last season and recorded a 4.79 ERA with 40 strikeouts across 47 innings of work as a starter.

Manager David Bell said Alex Wood's (back) mid-April timetable might have been aggressive, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

There are no known setbacks in Wood's return, but he will still have to build up innings after throwing only one official frame in spring training. He may still be in line for a return later in April, but Tyler Mahle will serve as the team's fifth starter in his place.