MLB Player News

Masterson has signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.

Masterson missed the entirety of the 2016 season with shoulder issues, but he's been successful enough over an eight-year career to draw consistent interest this winter. Although Masterson is unlikely to open the season with the Dodgers, he'll serve as important depth for a rotation with many injury-prone pitchers. Masterson has also expressed a willingness to pitch out of the bullpen, so we'll keep an eye on how the Dodgers intend to deploy him.

Ryu has earned a spot in the Dodgers' rotation to open the season, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.

Ryu's early spring was hampered by injury, which put his status to open the season -- whether he would play at all, whether he would start the year in the bullpen -- in doubt. However, manager Dave Roberts expressed his confidence in Ryu's ability and health, so there's some hope he can repeat his efforts from 2013 and 2014 (combined 28-15, 3.17 ERA, 1.20 WHIP over 56 starts).

Stripling will not make the Dodgers' rotation out of spring training, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Stripling still has a chance to make the club as a reliever, but since the Dodgers seem committed to using one of Alex Wood or Brandon McCarthy in the bullpen, even that isn't guaranteed. Stripling was solid in 22 games (14 starts) for Los Angeles last year, posting a 3.96 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, so even if he has to open the season in the minors, it wouldn't surprise to see him in Chavez Ravine at some point in 2017.

Wood is a finalist for the Dodgers' fifth and final rotation spot along with Brandon McCarthy, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Hyun-Jin Ryu has cemented a spot in the rotation, putting the squeeze on the rest of the Dodgers' potential starting pitchers. Manager Dave Roberts said Wood will make the team either way, with the loser of the battle for the rotation bound for a role as a swingman out of the bullpen. Wood owns a 2.85 ERA in 41 career relief innings and a 3.40 ERA in 458.1 innings as a starter, so the Dodgers can be confident he'll contribute in either role.

Hendricks flew back to the Cubs' facility Monday morning after battling food poisoning late Saturday evening, Bruce Levine of 670 AM The Score reports.

Hendricks said Monday that his illness was caused by a late night trip to a taco restaurant, which didn't sit well with his stomach. Fortunately, the 27-year-old will have plenty of time to get himself ready to go for the regular season, considering that he's not slated to start for the Cubs until their fifth game.

Matz (elbow) is in danger of missing the start of the season, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.

Matz said Sunday that there is no ligament damage in his elbow and he expects to make his first start of the season, but manager Terry Collins admitted to MLB.com that "it's going to be tough for him [to make the Opening Day roster] if he's not going to pitch this week." According to both Heyman and Matt Ehalt of the Bergen Record, the Mets are preparing to turn to Zack Wheeler or Seth Lugo if Matz is unable to go early on. Matz was able to throw off flat ground from roughly 70 feet Monday after being scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League outing.

Matz was able to throw off flat ground from about 70 feet Monday, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

Just as the Mets had suggested after Matz was scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League start Monday after experiencing elbow discomfort, the lefty opted for a light throwing session instead. Matz reportedly looked fine during the session, and the expectation remains that he'll be able to make his first start of the season, though the team hasn't provided an official timeline for when he'll get back on the mound in spring training. With Robert Gsellman seemingly locking down the final spot in the rotation, Seth Lugo or Zack Wheeler would likely fill in for Matz if his injury lingers longer than anticipated.

Taillon allowed two runs in six innings in a minor-league game at Pirate City on Sunday, Pirates Prospects reports. "I feel really good; I feel healthier than I did last year," Taillon said. "I feel fresher, stronger, more athletic. I'm ready to go."

Taillon, who will throw a scaled back start later this week to stay sharp, has registered a 3.65 ERA in 12.1 spring innings, including a 10:4 K:BB. He worked on his two changeup grips Sunday. "I'm lucky I have a feel for both. I can go back and forth," Taillon said. "If I'm throwing 80 percent four seams one day, my two seam doesn't feel good, I can throw 80 percent four-seam changeups that day." After missing all of 2014 and 2015, the righty threw a combined 165.2 innings split between the minors and majors last season. As a result, he shouldn't face an innings restriction in 2017.

Wacha, who allowed just two hits and a walk over five scoreless innings while striking out three in a victory over the Nationals on Friday, is now 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA over six spring appearances.

Wacha looks like he's all the way back to his 2015 form, when he notched a career-high 17 victories and posted a solid 3.38 ERA. He's generated a sparkling 18:5 K:BB over 22 innings in spring training and has been able to mix his pitches effectively virtually every time he's been on the mound, an encouraging development after shoulder woes helped lead to a 7-7 record and career worsts in ERA (5.09) and WHIP (1.48) in 2016.

Matz (elbow) plans to throw off flat ground Monday, MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reports.

The Mets scratched Matz from his scheduled Grapefruit League start Monday after he experienced elbow irritation, but the team seems to be downplaying the setback. The fact that Matz will be able to throw in some capacity offers credence to the notion that the lefty is still on track to be ready for the start of the season, though his checkered injury history makes it worthwhile to track his progress. If Matz's latest elbow issue proves to be more serious than the team has let on, it could potentially create room for both Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo in the rotation to begin the season.