MLB Player News

Gonzalez was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals and then optioned to Double-A Springfield.

The Cardinals presumably want to try to continue developing Gonzalez as a starting pitcher at Double-A. He had been used primarily as a reliever by the Marlins last year, but had been a starter prior to that, although his strikeout rate has been awful above Low-A. Brett Cecil was transferred to the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.

Finnegan has been designated for assignment by the Reds.

The Reds claimed Jose Lopez from the Giants, and it spelled the end of Finnegan's run on the 40-man roster. He was one of the headliners the Reds received from the Royals in the Johnny Cueto trade at the 2015 trade deadline, but never made good on his high pedigree. It would not be surprising to see another team roll the dice on Finnegan.

Darvish tested his finger in a bullpen session and confirmed that he is good to go for Saturday's start against the Rangers, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

He was always expected to make this start, but needed to test his finger/blister one final time Thursday before it was official. This will be a homecoming for Darvish, who spent the first five and a half years of his MLB career as a member of the Rangers.

Senzatela (foot) was placed on the 10-day IL.

He threw a bullpen session over the weekend, but will likely need a couple more weeks to build back up to the point that he can join the big-league rotation.

Nix (elbow) was placed on the 10-day IL.

He is dealing with a UCL tear in his right elbow, and it is unclear if he will undergo Tommy John surgery or opt for rest and rehab instead. Nix should be considered out indefinitely.

The Pirates placed Lyles (side) on the injured list Thursday.

Pittsburgh isn't expected to need a fifth starter -- Lyles' expected role -- until late next week. He is symptom-free but still building up his workload. The expectation is that he will throw a six-inning, 100-pitch sim game later this week and if all goes well he will take the ball April 7 against the Reds. Lyles, a free agent acquisition, registered a 5.06 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 16 spring innings.

Gausman (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day IL, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

He tossed 3.1 innings, striking out five, in his final Grapefruit League outing over the weekend, but is not quite ready to take a spot in the Braves' rotation. He could return late next week.

Wood (back) was placed on the 10-day IL.

He threw the equivalent of two innings of live batting practice over the weekend, but was fully expected to open on the IL. In his absence, Tyler Mahle will serve as the fifth starter for at least a couple turns in the rotation.

Manager Dave Roberts said that Kershaw (shoulder) will throw a three-inning simulated game Saturday, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kershaw completed his first simulated game Monday without incident, so he'll be given a slightly longer leash this weekend while continuing to face hitters in a controlled setting. The Dodgers should map out the next steps in Kershaw's recovery program upon re-evaluating him Saturday, with a minor-league rehab outing perhaps coming after the second simulated game. The southpaw will open the season on the Dodgers' injured list but looks on track to debut at some point in April if he avoids any further snags in his rehab.

Urias tossed four perfect innings Tuesday in the Dodgers' 9-2 exhibition win over the Angels, notching four strikeouts in the 42-pitch outing.

Urias completed an outstanding spring with his best start to date, finishing the exhibition slate with a 1.72 ERA, 0.51 WHIP, 15:3 K:BB and .098 batting-average against over 15.2 frames. According to Rowan Kavner of the Dodgers' official site, Urias sported a mid-to-high-90s fastball during the outing, roughly in line with the velocity he flashed in the 2018 posteason. Now well removed from the June 2017 shoulder surgery that threatened to derail his career, Urias is expected to start the Dodgers' fifth game of the season April 1 versus the Giants and could earn multiple turns while Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) and Rich Hill (knee) are both on the injured list.