MLB Player News

Gray gave up just one hit, struck out five and issued no walks over four innings in Colorado's 6-5 Cactus League defeat against the Angels on Wednesday.

It was a sharp outing for the 27-year-old, who breezed through four innings allowing just one baserunner before exiting the contest. Gray is coming off a season in which he logged 183 strikeouts but posted subpar ratios with a 5.12 ERA and 1.35 WHIP that offset the lofty punchout total. The 6-foot-4 righty bulked up to 235 pounds in the offseason and has had a strong spring so far. He will look to lower those ratios and hold down the No. 4 starter role for Colorado.

Gray (elbow) is listed as the Reds' expected starter for Saturday's spring game against the Padres, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Gray threw a successful live batting practice session Tuesday and the Reds apparently saw enough to list him as the probable starter for Saturday. Assuming Thursday's scheduled side session goes smoothly, the 29-year-old will make his return to game action from the right elbow stiffness that's sidelined him for nearly two weeks.

Buehler threw a bullpen session Wednesday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Buehler isn't dealing with any sort of injury, but the Dodgers are taking things slow with the young right-hander in camp after he saw his innings jump from 98 to 177 (including the playoffs) last year. He's expected to face hitters for the first time this spring in a few days, and if everything goes as planned during his live batting practice session, Buehler could be cleared to make his Cactus League debut shortly thereafter.

Kershaw (shoulder) threw from 120 feet Wednesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kershaw has apparently been playing catch every day, gradually increasing the distance and intensity of his throws with each session. While the southpaw is certainly trending in the right direction, it's still unclear when he'll be cleared to resume mound work, leaving his status for the start of the season up in the air.

Gray (elbow) will throw a side session Thursday and could return to game action soon after, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Elbow stiffness delayed Gray's spring buildup in late February, though he'll still have time to make at least several Cactus League starts. Barring setbacks, he should be ready to go by the start of the regular season.

Fried's finger laceration has healed, and he'll take his next turn in the rotation as scheduled, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

It's unclear exactly when that turn will come, but he last appeared Saturday, so his next turn is likely to come within a few days. Fried doesn't appear to be a favorite for an Opening Day rotation spot, but he should wind up making at least at few starts at some point this season when other Atlanta starters go down with injuries.

Darvish's next spring appearance will come during a simulated game Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The Cubs' initial plan called for Darvish to make his third Cactus League start on the road Friday against the Mariners, but he'll instead stay back at camp and likely face off against some minor-league hitters. After a rocky spring debut Feb. 26 against the Diamondbacks, Darvish was sharp in his most recent outing Sunday versus the White Sox, tossing two scoreless frames while sporting a fastball that hit 97 miles per hour, per Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.

Alcantara tossed 3.2 scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets, allowing one hit and four walks while striking out three.

Facing a starting lineup featuring only two likely Mets starters in Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto, Alcantara threw more balls than strikes (30-29) on the day but still escaped any real damage. The 23-year-old right-hander has a rough 9:8 K:BB through 7.2 innings to begin the spring after posting a 6.1 BB/9 over 34 innings for the Marlins last season, and if Alcantara can't sharpen his control over the next few weeks, a return trip to Triple-A New Orleans rather than a spot in the Opening Day rotation seems likely.

Lopez has touched 97 mph with his fastball this spring, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports.

The 22-year-old averaged only 92.7 mph with the pitch over 58.2 big-league innings last season, but a shoulder strain that eventually ended his campaign may have had something to do with that. Lopez isn't viewed as a top prospect despite his heat due to undeveloped offspeed pitches, but his 0.62 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 51:8 K:BB in 43 Double-A innings in 2018 was still impressive. The Marlins' pitching staff is far from set in stone, so if Lopez continues to flash his upside this spring, he could break camp in the rotation.

Nola allowed one walk and one hit with three strikeouts over three scoreless innings against the Cardinals on Tuesday.

Nola eased into his pitching schedule this spring after throwing 212.1 innings during 2018, and his spring debut went off without a hitch. The 25-year-old needed only 21 pitches to work through three frames as he begins to ramp up for Opening Day.