MLB Player News

Greinke allowed one hit and two walks while striking out three over two scoreless innings Thursday against the Indians.

Greinke labored through this outing, loading the bases in the first and requiring 48 pitches to get his six outs. He tossed another 10 pitches in the bullpen to get his pitch count up. The right-hander has fired four shutout spring innings thus far.

Castillo gave up three runs over two innings against the Mariners on Thursday, allowing three hits (including a homer) and two walks, striking out four.

While the strikeouts are encouraging, this is a second consecutive bad outing for Castillo, and he now has a 17.36 ERA this spring.

Lyles limited Baltimore to two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk in four innings Thursday. He struck out three batters.

Thursday's outing was Lyles' longest of the spring as he battles for the team's fifth starter's spot. The right-hander remains the favorite to start the season in the rotation, even though he's made only 18 starts out of 113 appearances since 2016.

Davies allowed one run on four hits and a walk and struck out two over four innings Thursday against the White Sox.

Davies surrendered his lone run in the second inning on a single to center, but he was otherwise untouched on the afternoon. He's looked solid in camp to this point and will continue to battle it out for a spot in the starting rotation as Opening Day approaches.

Updating a previous report, Kershaw (shoulder) did not throw off a mound Thursday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group reports.

Wires were apparently crossed and Kershaw did not actually return to mound work. He played catch Thursday, extending out to 150 feet, before bringing it in and throwing 12-15 pitches to a catcher in the crouch on flat ground. It's a step forward regardless for the lefty, but his availability for the start of the year remains up in the air.

Contrary to a previous report, Kershaw (shoulder) threw to a crouching catcher, but did not throw off a mound Thursday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Multiple beat writers reported that Kershaw threw off a mound, but that turns out to be incorrect. He continues to make small positive strides, but it is unclear when he will be able to throw off a mound. Kershaw threw from 150 feet, in addition to throwing to a catcher from around 60 feet on flat ground.

Kershaw (shoulder) threw 12-15 pitches off the mound Thursday, to the surprise of manager Dave Roberts, and did not report any issues, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Earlier in the day it was reported that there was no timetable for Kershaw to throw off a mound, yet he then proceeded to do just that later in the day. He also threw from 150 feet. These are both positive signs, but Roberts did say earlier in the day that it would be "tough" for Kershaw to get ready in time for Opening Day. If Kershaw starts the year on the injured list, Ross Stripling will be the next man up.

Wood (back) hopes to pitch Saturday against the Padres, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

He has been briefly sidelined with a tight back, but it sounds like a minor issue that could be in the rearview mirror after this weekend. Assuming he returns fairly soon, Wood will have no trouble breaking camp in the rotation.

Burnes is now working with a five-pitch mix, adding a changeup and sinker, in an effort to win a rotation spot out of camp, Robert Murray of The Athletic reports. "The most exciting part is getting through a lineup three times," Burnes said. "It'll be nice to work through an order, have to think through pitch sequencing. It'll be good."

He showed last season that his fastball/slider combo was deadly in relief, but he is going to need more than a couple pitches to turn a lineup over multiple times. The plan will be for Burnes to use the fastball, slider and occassional curveball the first time through before introducing the changeup and sinker. He apparently had an excellent changeup in college, but lost feel for the pitch after altering his mechanics in pro ball. Eight Brewers pitchers are competing for five rotation spots, but Murray concludes for a variety of reasons that it is highly likely Burnes wins one of the five spots.

Urias will not be the next man up if Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) is not ready for Opening Day, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Manager Dave Roberts said Ross Stripling would step in if Kershaw opens the year on the injured list, which seems likely at this point. That's no slight on Urias -- Stripling just happens to be an extremely overqualified sixth starter. Of course, other injuries will surely pop up at some point, which should open the door for Urias. He will likely open the year in the Triple-A rotation unless other injuries strike during spring training.