MLB Player News

Soroka will not be held back by his shoulder this spring and will take part in normal throwing sessions, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Soroka missed the second half of his rookie campaign with shoulder inflammation and was expected to take it easy this spring. He's been able to undergo a normal offseason throwing program, however, and has had no issues during early sessions in camp, so the team feels confident moving him forward without restrictions. The 21-year-old is expected to battle for the Braves' fifth starter job.

Urias is expected to open the season as a starter at Triple-A Oklahoma City or as a reliever for the big club after manager Dave Roberts suggested Wednesday that no rotation spots will be up for grabs for the Dodgers during spring training, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Dodgers are likely to have Urias get stretched out as a starter in camp, but he and All-Star Ross Stripling will both merely be insurance options to begin the season after Roberts declared that he intends to include Kenta Maeda in the rotation. With Maeda's role now established, he'll join a starting staff that already included four pitchers guaranteed spots in Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill. While the blocked path to the rotation figures to limit Urias' early-season fantasy upside, it probably won't take long for an opening to arise after all five starters spent time on the disabled list in 2018.

Manager Dave Roberts indicated Wednesday that the Dodgers won't hold an open competition for any rotation spots in spring training, meaning Stripling will likely open the 2019 campaign in the bullpen, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Rich Hill and Hyun-Jin Ryu were already assured starting gigs entering camp, and Roberts' declaration that Kenta Maeda would also begin the season as a starter leaves no spots left up for grabs. Given that all five pitchers spent time on the disabled list last season, the Dodgers will presumably keep Stripling, Julio Urias and potentially a few other arms on the 40-man roster stretched out in the likely event another healthy arm is needed in the rotation. Stripling should get the first look should an opening arise after compiling a 3.39 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 over 21 starts in 2018, earning an All-Star nod along the way.

Manager Craig Counsell said Woodruff will be stretched out as a starter during camp, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff is set to transition back to the rotation after being used primarily as a reliever in 2018. The 26-year-old righty seems like a good bet to break camp in Milwaukee's rotation after posting a 3.61 ERA and 10.0 K/9 in 42.1 innings (four starts, 15 relief appearances) last season.

Cueto (elbow) will begin playing catch next week, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

The veteran hurler underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2018, but it seems like he's making good progress in his rehab program. Cueto is still on track to miss most if not all of the 2019 season, though his timetable for return will likely become clearer once he gets back onto the mound.

Houser was granted a fourth minor-league option Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Typically, players on the 40-man roster are only allotted three minor-league options. However, since Houser missed nearly the entire 2017 season -- an option year -- due to Tommy John surgery, he is eligible for a fourth minor-league option. This certainly bodes well for the Brewers, as it gives them a bit more roster flexibility, though it could hurt Houser's chances of breaking camp with the big-league club since he's now able to be stashed in the minors a bit longer.

DeGrom was named the Mets' Opening Day starter Thursday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

In a move that surprises no one, the reigning Cy Young Award winner will get the ball for New York's season opener. DeGrom produced a stellar 1.70 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP and a 269:46 K:BB in 217 frames last season and will look to start 2019 on the right note as he faces off with the Nationals.

Musgrove (abdomen) says he is "on or close to a regular schedule" for spring training, though he's not yet throwing full-intensity bullpen sessions.

"I feel like we're in a good spot," Musgrove said. "It's just going to be a day-by-day thing. I haven't gotten off the mound and really fired balls yet." The righty, who underwent abdominal surgery in October, is expected to serve as Pittsburgh's fourth starter. Musgrove compiled a 3.31 ERA in his first 14 starts (87.1 innings) last season. He slumped to an overall 4.06 ERA over his final five starts, though his performance was likely hampered by injury. The 26-year-old has dealt with constant health concerns, but he's pitched well for extended periods and has the backing of a solid bullpen. As a result, he makes for an interesting end-game pick.

Manager Don Mattingly said Thursday that Urena would serve as the Marlins' starter for their Opening Day game March 28 at home versus the Rockies, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Urena hasn't been a standout performer by any means over the past two seasons, but his 3.90 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 65 outings (59 starts) during that span are solid enough to make him the ace of a beleaguered Miami pitching staff. He'll have some appeal as an innings eater in NL-only formats and deep mixed leagues, but Urena's inability to regularly induce swings and misses (career 6.1 K/9) significantly undercut his fantasy upside.

Senzatela is being considered for one of the Rockies' final rotation spots, Nick Groke of The Athletic reports.

The 24-year-old spent time as both a starter and as a long reliever for the Rockies. The end product was a serviceable 4.38 ERA, though he held a 3.86 ERA in the last two months of the season and even started Game 1 of the NLDS for Colorado. Senzatela will have to outperform Chad Bettis and Jeff Hoffman to avoid starting the season either in long relief or in the minors again.