MLB Player News

Ryu (groin) will debut Saturday, MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reports.

He was originally slated to make his Cactus League debut Friday, and while he was only pushed back one day, this is in line with the trend of delayed returns that have become so common for Ryu over the past two seasons. Until he logs exhibition innings over multiple starts this spring, it will be hard to have any faith in the southpaw providing value at the outset of the season.

Kolek is in the final stages of rehab from his Tommy John surgery, and is hoping to get back on the mound in May, The Miami Herald reports.

Still only 21, the second overall pick in the 2014 draft has had a brutal start to his pro career, showing poor control and command in the low minors for two seasons before blowing out his elbow last spring. Kolek still rates as one of the top prospects in a talent-starved Marlins system, but in most dynasty leagues there's little reason to use a roster spot on him until he shows any kind of progress.

Matz threw two shutout innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, allowing three hits and striking out one.

He was primarily focused on locating his fastball and incorporating a slight hesitation into his move from the stretch to try and keep baserunners guessing, but overall Matz's first game action since having bone spurs removed from his elbow in the offseason was a success. The talented but oft-injured lefty will look to make 30 starts, and win at least 10 games, for the first time in his career in 2017.

Ryu (groin/elbow) is scheduled to make his first appearance of spring on Friday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ryu has struggled with injuries over the last couple seasons, and he's been dealing with multiple issues throughout spring, most recently coming off elbow surgery in September 2016. The Dodgers have been bringing him along slowly this spring, and he's set to make his Cactus League debut Friday after multiple bullpen sessions over the past week. With his spring hampered by injuries thus far, it seems decreasingly likely that he'll crack the Dodgers' Opening Day rotation.

Thompson (wrist) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Tuesday, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Thompson could appear in a spring training game later this week if all goes well in Tuesday's session. He has been sidelined with a sprained right wrist.

Rye (groin/elbow) is expected to make his Cactus League debut on Tuesday or Wednesday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ryu has been dealing with multiple injuries this spring and is coming off of an elbow surgery that he underwent in September 2016. The veteran lefty has thrown several bullpen sessions recently but has yet to return to live action. Due to his hampered spring training, an Opening Day rotation spot is looking increasingly unlikely at this time.

Making his spring training debut, Hendricks pitched two innings and allowed a single hit in Saturday's win against the Dodgers. He struck out one.

Hendricks needed just 16 pitches to cruise through the two innings, as the Cubs turned a double play behind him after he allowed a hit. Hendricks led MLB with a 2.13 ERA last season, and while he doesn't offer the strikeout upside of other top fantasy starters, he should still be a very good option on the mound in 2017.

DeSclafani (elbow) likely won't be ready to start on Opening Day, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

DeSclafani is tabbed as the Reds' top starter entering the 2017 season, but it's looking like he won't take the mound on Opening Day due to the elbow tenderness that he's been dealing with during spring camp. However, it is being reported that he could make his first start as early as the second regular season game, which is an encouraging sign.

Lynn struck out one and gave up one unearned run on two hits over four innings in Saturday's 1-1 Grapefruit League tie with the Cardinals.

Lynn became the first Cardinals starter to go a full four innings this spring, firing 36 of his 52 pitches for strikes. What trouble he did encounter was largely of his own doing, as Lynn made an errant high lob to Paul DeJong at third on an attempted second-inning rundown and then uncorked an inaccurate throw on an attempted pickoff of Wilmer Difo in the third. The latter gaffe placed Difo on third base, and he came home on Grant Green's groundout a batter later. Despite having to scuffle some, Lynn took the big-picture view of the outing and came away satisfied. "As long as they're not barreling it, we're fine," Lynn said. "[I got] a lot of grounders and weak flyballs, so I did what I wanted to do."

DeGrom (elbow) touched 97 mph in his spring debut Saturday against the Astros, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.

The appearance was deGrom's first since September 1, and his first since having surgery to repair the ulnar nerve in his pitching elbow. The procedure required deGrom to revisit the fundamentals of his mechanics during the winter. In addition to the injury, deGrom believes that his tendency to fly open in his delivery was behind his reduced velocity, which included a 1.5-mph drop in his fastball. In addition to the encouraging radar gun readings Saturday, deGrom struck out three in two scoreless frames.