MLB Player News

Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Stripling will continue to build up towards a starter's workload, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Stripling is scheduled to pitch four innings during Wednesday's spring start against the White Sox as he remains on the path to work as a starter. Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) and Walker Buehler are still on the comeback trail, otherwise Stripling likely would have begun to wind down in preparation for a bullpen role. The 29-year-old will likely be in the starting rotation should Kershaw or Buehler not be ready to begin the season.

Buehler is healthy now but wasn't feeling right early in camp, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Buehler has been built up very slowly and has yet to make a Cactus League appearance, but the team said it was just slow-playing him. What originally appeared to be general workload management now seems to have been at least a minor issue such as dead arm. It's good news that Buehler is fine now, but it's discouraging that he's already battled some sort of problem. With Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) on a similar delayed timeline, Ross Stripling is looking increasingly likely to crack the Opening Day rotation. If Buehler and Kershaw are ready but limited initially, Stripling could piggyback with one or both.

Kershaw (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Thursday and a live batting practice session next week, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Kershaw continues to build back up after a pair of brief shutdowns earlier in camp. He hasn't ruled out an Opening Day return but time is getting tight for him to get any spring training action in before the regular season starts. A clearer picture of his readiness for the start of the season could come following the bullpen session.

Mikolas allowed five earned runs on eight hits over five innings in a 5-0 Grapefruit League loss to the Braves on Tuesday. He struck out two.

The right-hander cruised through his first two spring starts before Tuesday's debacle, with the five runs he allowed serving the initial blemishes on his ERA during exhibition play. Mikolas is already slated to serve as the Opening Day starter, and one redeeming quality of his performance Tuesday was that he significantly built up his workload by matching the number of innings he'd logged in his first two outings combined. The 30-year-old likely figures in for two more Grapefruit League appearances before taking the hill against the Brewers to kick off the 2019 season March 28.

Senzatela did not throw Tuesday or Wednesday while battling a stomach virus, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The illness doesn't appear likely to threaten Senzatela's readiness for Opening Day. He's locked into a battle with Chad Bettis and Jeff Hoffman for the Rockies' final rotation spot, with his 5.14 ERA being the worst mark of the trio so far.

Freeland (illness) will start Wednesday in the Rockies' Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Freeland was scratched ahead of his previous scheduled start Friday against the Rangers after falling ill, but the ailment didn't keep him idle for long. The lefty completed a simulated game over the weekend without incident and will get the green light to take back his normal spot in the Cactus League rotation. He should be ready to handle a starter's workload when the season begins and could get the nod for the Rockies' Opening Day game March 28 versus the Marlins.

Martinez (shoulder) will initiate a throwing program Thursday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

With the platelet-rich plasma injection Martinez recently received for his shoulder having the desired effect, the 27-year-old should begin playing catch off flat ground before progressing to mound work toward the end of spring training. Once he's regained strength in his throwing shoulder, the Cardinals will then decide whether Martinez will build up for a starting role or prepare for a bullpen assignment. If the Cardinals opt to go the latter route, it would shorten Martinez's time on the injured list, as Mark Saxon of The Athletic relayed Tuesday that the right-hander likely wouldn't be ready to join the rotation until around May or June. The potential move to relief would limit Martinez's fantasy upside, however, especially if he's used in a setup capacity rather than as a closer.

Greinke pitched 4.2 scoreless innings before rain cut short his outing against the Rangers on Tuesday, Richard Morin of the Arizona Republic reports. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out six.

Greinke looked in top form, retiring the first 13 batters faced before giving up a walk and a hit to lead off the fifth inning. That's when the weather intervened. "Great outing for Zack," manager Torey Lovullo said. "The fastball command, the velocity was exactly where he wants it. It looked like midseason form, for me." The right-hander was unable to hit his pitch count, so he tossed another dozen pitches in the bullpen before calling it a night. He'll get two more starts before the regular season kicks off.

Mahle threw three shutout innings against the Cubs on Tuesday night in a split-squad win, striking out five while allowing two hits and no walks. He's a candidate to pitch in place of Alex Wood to begin the season if Wood's back injury puts him on the IL, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Mahle now has pitched six shutout innings to begin spring training, striking out 11 while walking two and allowing five hits. Reds manager David Bell stopped short of endorsing Mahle for Wood's spot. "I think Tyler is part of that discussion, for sure. It has not been determined, and Alex's readiness for the season hasn't been determined, but we do need to start planning for multiple scenarios," Bell said. "Tyler is right there anyway. He's doing everything he can. He's going to be an option certainly for helping us, whether it's the beginning of the season or shortly thereafter. He's definitely part of that picture."

DeSclafani continued to focus on throwing more curveballs in his most recent outing against the Indians on Monday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "I thought I threw some really good curveballs, but I want to get it a little more action as far as swings and misses and stuff like that," DeSclafani said. "I think that's just going to come with time. I just have to keep throwing it."

DeSclafani is searching for an out pitch to throw against left-handers, as his fastball got crushed by them last season, and lefties were his nemesis all season long. To that end, the home run he gave up Monday night came on a 3-1 fastball.