MLB Player News

DeGrom gave up four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four over 5.1 innings during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

It was his worst outing of the spring so far, but deGrom still held his velocity and increased his pitch count nearly to regular season levels, so all in all it counts as a successful start. The 28-year-old righty now holds a 2.93 ERA and dominant 17:2 K:BB through 15.1 spring innings, so he seems to have put his September elbow surgery firmly behind him.

Strasburg allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three over 4.1 innings during Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

He tossed 79 pitches in his longest spring outing to date; while Strasburg's 7.20 ERA so far is ugly, his 12:2 K:BB in 12.1 innings is a better reflection of how he's looked during the exhibition schedule. The 28-year-old is on pace to be ready for Opening Day.

Eickhoff will start the second game of the season for the Phillies, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Eickhoff was in the running for the Opening Day nod, but manager Pete Mackanin opted to go with Jeremy Hellickson. Nonetheless, Eickhoff looked ready for the regular season Sunday against Tampa Bay, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings with nine strikeouts and no walks.

Cole gave up one run in five innings Sunday, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out five.

He's only made two official appearances this spring but threw three shutout innings against the Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic squad. Perhaps more importantly, Cole appears healthy after three trips to the disabled list in 2016. He touched 97 mph during his Sunday outing and will start for the Bucs in Boston on April 3 in the season opener.

Glasnow gave up one run in four innings Saturday, striking out five while allowing four hits and two walks. "A very productive day for him," pitching coach Ray Searage told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "After the leadoff walk, he still was in control. He turned the page and started making pitches."

While Glasnow has the highest upside of any contenders for the team's fifth and final rotation spot, he's either looked really good or really bad this spring. Pittsburgh also might only go with four starters in April. "We've talked about how we maximize the rotation out of the gate," general manager Neal Huntington said. "How aggressive do we want to be with these guys every fifth day so early in the season, given the odd schedule we have? Part of it will be based on who we decide is going to be the last starter, how much of a stranglehold he has on that spot and also matchups from there on out."

Wacha gave up three earned runs on five hits and one walk over four innings in Saturday's 5-4 Grapefruit League loss to the Mets. He struck out four.

Wacha, who manager Mike Matheny confirmed Sunday will be in the starting rotation, has now posted a 2.65 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over his five spring starts while generating a 15:4 K:BB over 17 innings. He's been able to throw three pitches -- his fastball, changeup and curve -- with effectiveness this spring and could approach the career-high 17 wins he logged back in 2015 if he remains healthy.

Teheran was named the Braves' Opening Day starter Sunday.

It's the fourth consecutive Opening Day nod for Teheran, who will take on the Mets on April 3. The 26-year-old enjoyed a nice bounce-back season in 2016, trimming his ERA from 4.04 to 3.21 while submitting a 16.6 K-BB percentage, his best mark since 2012.

Wainwright, who was pounded for 10 earned runs on seven hits and four walks over 1.2 innings by the Mets on Friday, is taking the outing in stride, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports. "I'm very confident," Wainwright said afterward. "It's hard to look you in the eyes and say that after a 10-run game, but I'm very confident that things will be good. This is what Spring Training is for. Obviously, you don't want to go out there and give up 10 runs. But that's what we're here for."

The veteran right-hander had given up just three earned runs over his first three spring starts coming into Friday's outing before imploding and coming well short of the five innings he'd hoped to pitch. Facing the Mets regulars, Wainwright endured a 33-pitch first inning and couldn't locate his fastball throughout his time on the mound. His day ended with a grand slam by Wilmer Flores and despite the nightmarish results, the two-time 20-game winner was already planning on reliving his start through film study in order to correct what went awry. "I'll watch that game pretty intensely the next couple days before my side [session], and then I'll get on the mound and get some good work," Wainwright said. "I'm not discouraged, though, because where I've been throwing the ball and the way I've been throwing the ball, it's not very much different. I just have to make some minor adjustments."

Urias has been sent home from Dodgers camp with strep throat, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Urias was scheduled to pitch in a minor league game Tuesday but may be forced to miss that start due to his illness. His return date to big league camp is yet to be determined.

Syndergaard worked five innings and threw 70 pitches in Saturday's minor league game, striking out eight and walking two, the New York Daily News reports. "His command has gotten a lot better each and every time," said catcher Travis d'Arnaud, who also played in the game. "Today he was putting his fastball where he wanted, throwing his curveball wherever he wanted it. Using his changeup whenever he wanted it. Using his slider to get ground balls whenever he wanted to."

The Mets wanted Robert Gsellman to face big league hitters Saturday as they evaluate him for the fifth starter role, so Thor got to toy with minor leaguers instead. Syndergaard will get two more spring starts before Opening Day, but it doesn't look like he needs them.