MLB Player News

May was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

While May won't begin the season with the big-league club, the Dodgers haven't ruled out the possibility of his major-league debut sometime this season. He posted a 3.67 ERA with 28 strikeouts over 34.1 frames a season ago with Double-A Tulsa.

Quintana is slated to be the Cubs' fifth starter to begin the season, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Quintana has averaged 32 starts and 190.1 innings per season over the past three years, and despite slotting in fifth in the rotation, the lefty should once again be a workhorse in 2019. Things might get interesting if the Cubs make the playoffs and all of their starters are healthy, but for regular-season fantasy purposes, Quintana should be a useful option who will likely rack up decent strikeout and win totals while offering serviceable ratios.

Hendricks is slated to be the Cubs' fourth starter to begin the season behind Jon Lester, Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Hendricks has a career 3.07 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, but Chicago's rotation is stacked, so the righty will have to settle for being a top-tier fourth starter to begin the season. He should still be able to record good ratios and pick up plenty of wins backed by a strong offense in the Windy City. This will set him up for a two-start week next week, as the Cubs will only play three regular-season games this week.

Hamels is slated to be the third starter for the Cubs to begin the season behind Jon Lester and Yu Darvish, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

It appears manager Joe Maddon will alternate lefties and righties in his rotation, with Lester, Darvish and Hamels followed by the righty Kyle Hendricks and lefty Jose Quintana. Hamels pitched well for the Cubs after coming over in a deadline deal last season and should be primed for continued success heading into his age-35 season.

Kershaw (shoulder) felt good following Monday's simulated game but will start the regular season on the injured list, Steve Henson of the L.A. Times reports.

Kershaw continues to progress through his throwing program, but the Dodgers' ace remains a few weeks away from a return to the rotation. Assuming he doesn't suffer any setbacks, he's slated to gain clearance around the second week of the regular season.

Buehler has been named the starting pitcher for Sunday's game against the Angels, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Buehler will start the fourth game of the regular season for the Dodgers after being ruled out for an Opening Day start. He didn't make his spring debut until March 18, but he tossed a four-inning simulated game Monday, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez and has evidently shown enough progression to toe the rubber on opening weekend.

Darvish (finger) is scheduled to start the second game of the season, Saturday against the Rangers, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Darvish is scheduled to throw a bullpen in the coming days. If it goes off without a hitch, he'll slot into the Cubs' rotation behind Opening Day starter Jon Lester.

Martinez (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday.

This was expected. Martinez, who has been sidelined for most of spring due to a shoulder issue, recently resumed his throwing program. Pete Wickham of MLB.com reports that manager Mike Shildt estimates Martinez is "a month to a month and half away, to where we can evaluate where he is and how we want him to progress." This timeline makes it seem like a return sometime in May would be a best-case scenario. He will need to go on a rehab assignment before getting activated and occupying either a rotation spot or a high-leverage relief role.

Wood (back) threw the equivalent of two innings of live batting practice Sunday morning, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Wood will remain in Arizona in extended spring training when he's on the injured list, pitching in a minor league spring training game or two before beginning a rehab assignment. He's still due back at some point in mid-April. Looking at the schedule, the Reds begin a trip with two games in Mexico on April 13 against the Cardinals and then continue on a West Coast road swing. It would make sense if Wood joins the team at some point on that trip.

Gray allowed one earned run over five innings in Sunday's spring training finale and emerged fully recovered after an early spring elbow tweak, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Gray didn't accumulate many spring training innings at the big-league level, but allowed just one earned run over 10 innings, striking out 11 without walking anyone. "I feel strong from where we were at the beginning of camp with that little setback," Gray said. "We've hit steps along the way and lined it up to throw that second game. I'm excited to get out of Arizona and get this thing going."