MLB Player News

Manager Joe Maddon reiterated Sunday that there is nothing "highly negative" regarding the status of Hendricks' right forearm, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Hendricks was removed from Saturday's NLDS Game 2 after being struck with a batted ball in the forearm, and X-rays later came back negative. The Cubs are referring to it as a contusion, and as of Sunday, there is no indication Hendricks is in danger of missing a start.

Strasburg (elbow) threw from flat ground Sunday, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports.

Strasburg is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday, as long as he feels fine following Sunday's workout. Although he's been ramping up his throwing activity recently, there's yet to be a clear indication that he'll be able to contribute to Washington's postseason efforts.

X-rays of Hendricks' right forearm came back negative.

At this point, the Cubs are referring to the problem as a contusion.

Hendricks was removed from Saturday night's NLDS game against the Giants after he was hit by a batted ball on the right forearm, MLB.com reports.

Hendricks allowed two runs on four hits in 3.2 innings before being lifted for Travis Wood.

Urias has been confirmed as the starter for a potential Game 4 on Tuesday in Los Angeles, FOX Sports' Jon Morosi reports.

There was a chance that the Dodgers would turn to Clayton Kershaw on short rest if they were down 1-2 heading into Game 4, but with Saturday's rainout, Rich Hill wouldn't be able to start Game 5 on normal rest in that scenario, so Kershaw will be saved for a potential Game 5. Urias will be the first 20-year-old to start a postseason game since Bret Saberhagen in 1984.

Kershaw could start Game 4 of the NLDS on short rest if the Dodgers lose the next two games, otherwise he wouldn't pitch again until a potential Game 5, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

He gave up three runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out seven over five innings in Game 1, and it was enough for him to get the win. Unless the Dodgers drop their next two games, Kershaw won't pitch until Game 5 of the NLDS or Game 1 of the NLCS.

Urias will start Game 4 of the NLDS unless the Dodgers are down 1-2, in which case Clayton Kershaw could get the ball on short rest, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Dodgers won Game 1, so unless they drop the next two, Urias figures to take the ball Tuesday in Los Angeles. He has a 1.34 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB over his last 33.2 innings, although he hasn't gone deeper than six innings into a game over that stretch, and therefore probably wouldn't be asked to turn the Nationals lineup over more than twice in a Game 4 start.

Hammel (elbow) was left off the Cubs' NLDS roster.

Elbow tightness prevented Hammel from starting during the final weekend of the regular season and he was left off the NLDS roster in favor of John Lackey, who will start Game 4 if necessary. Hammel has struggled in his last four trips to the mound, allowing 20 earned runs on 29 hits (including six homers) in 20.2 innings, but there's always a chance he could return if the Cubs advance to the Championship Series.

Strasburg (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday for the first time since injuring his elbow, Jamal Collier of MLB.com reports.

This is great news for the Nationals, as the stud pitcher has been sidelined since the beginning of September due to this ailment. Strasburg likely won't be able to pitch in the NLDS, but if his bullpen sessions continue to go well, he could return in a limited capacity for the NLCS and/or the World Series if the Nationals were to advance that far.

Manager Mike Matheny said the Cardinals still view Wacha as a starting pitcher despite injury and performance concerns in 2016, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The club may consider revising his mechanics or having Wacha put on "15 to 20 more pounds of muscle", in Matheny's words, to help him better adapt to a full season of starter work.

They've also debated simply making him a reliever permanently, but they want to extract more value out of him. The 25-year-old's frustrating combination of durability issues and high ceiling makes him worth watching this offseason. Also deserving attention is how a potentially crowded group of St. Louis rotation options will fare come late March.