MLB Player News

Mets pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard experienced some forearm tightness during spring training, one of the reasons why the team did not put him on the major league roster to start the season, per MLB.com. 

Syndergaard was viewed as a potential replacement for injured starter Zack Wheeler, but the team sent Syndergaard down to their Triple-A camp on March 20.  Last year, he went 9-7 with a 4.60 ERA in 26 starts at Triple-A Vegas. 

The Phillies selected the contract of pitcher Sean O'Sullivan from Triple-A Lehigh Valley Sunday, designated pitcher Cesar Jimenez for assignment in a corresponding move.

O'Sullivan will take the mound as the team's starter against the Nationals Sunday. Jimenez retired the two batters he faced in his only appearance with the Phillies before being shipped off the roster.

The Phillies are heavy home underdogs (+180) against the Nationals and Max Scherzer Sunday.

Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings of work Saturday in Chicago's 9-5 win over the Rockies.

Hammel, who also added six strikeouts and zero walks to his totals, was tagged early after Nolan Arenado homered to left center field, driving in Justin Morneau. After giving up another run in the third, Hammel settled down and kept the Rockies off the scoreboard.

He begins the year with a 4.50 ERA. Hammel will look to keep rolling Friday against the Padres.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw surrendered six runs, five earned, on 10 hits, including one home run, in 6 1/3 innings Saturday in Los Angeles' 6-0 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Kershaw started out in a jam in the first inning, allowing a run on three singles. Then in the fourth, Kershaw also allowed two walks and two singles, leading to two more runs. His ERA ballooned to 5.84 after the tough game. 

He will look to get back on track Friday against the Rockies.

Diamondbacks pitchers Patrick Corbin and David Hernandez each threw 30 sliders off the mound Friday as they work back from Tommy John surgeries, reports AZCentral.com.

The pitch is considered the toughest on a pitcher's elbow, but Hernandez felt strong when throwing it on the mound.

"I'm excited to throw a pitch that I heavily depend on," Hernandez said. "The first time out, I liked where it was at. It had good break and good command."

Corbin left his command left something to be desired. Both are scheduled to face live hitters later this month and begin their rehab schedules, according to the report. Hernandez may be able to return by the middle of May.

"I'm excited to finally see that light at the end of the tunnel," Hernandez said. "Seeing a hitter in the box, that's going to be fun. I'm looking forward to it."

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels gave up one run on two hits in seven innings of work in Philadelphia's 3-2 win in 10 innings over the Nationals Saturday.

Hamels only blemish came in the fourth inning when Wilson Ramos took him to deep right field for a solo home run. Hamels added five strikeouts and two walks to his totals. He also lowered his ERA to 3.75. He will look to pick up his first win of the year Thursday when he faces the Nationals again.

Pirates pitcher Vance Worley allowed six runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings in Pittsburgh's 6-0 loss to the Brewers Saturday.

Worley, who also added four strikeouts and two walks to his totals, was touched for two runs in the second inning before Jean Segura ripped a two-run home run to left in the fourth. He begins the year with an 8.53 ERA. 

Worley will look to get back on track Friday when he faces the Brewers again.

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran went six strong inning Saturday, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits in Atlanta's 5-3 win over the Mets.

Teheran added five strikeouts and four walks in to his totals. He made it through the first six innings without allowing a runner past second base. Then in the seventh, Teheran walked two straight batters, followed by a fielder's choice and a throwing error to make it 5-3.

Teheran also survived a line-drive comebacker from Lucas Duda, which scared him a bit, reports MLB.com.

"I felt a little pinch in my knee, but after that I didn't feel anything," Teheran said. "It was just in my mind a little bit and I was a little scared. But other than that, I felt good. I was trying to make pitches to get out of that inning. The guys in the bullpen got my back again."

Teheran will look to keep rolling Friday against the Blue Jays.

Rockies pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (groin) won't make his season debut Tuesday, the Denver Post reports.

"We could bring him back, but he's not quite built up enough yet," manager Walt Weiss said. "We want to give him more time to build up some confidence in the groin."

The Rockies need a fifth starter for the first time Tuesday, and the team initially hoped De La Rosa would be ready to return from his groin injury at that point. Instead, he'll start for Triple-A Albuquerque Tuesday.

"They want to make sure I'm good," De La Rosa said. "I didn't pitch very much in spring."

Christian Bergman will get the call for Tuesday's start against the Giants in San Francisco. De La Rosa's return could come April 20 against the Padres in Colorado.

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha picked up a win in his season debut Saturday, giving up one earned run on five hits and one walk in 6 1/3 innings while striking out two in his team's 4-1 win over the Reds.

"He was good right off the bat," manager Mike Matheny said of Wacha. "He was working the bottom of the zone, and we were surprised at how good his curveball was. It has always been a good pitch for him, but he didn't have confidence in it. Now that he sees results, he'll trust it and use it."

Wacha surrendered a home run to Todd Frazier in the first inning but buckled down after that, coming out of the game after walking the second batter of the seventh inning. He'll face the Reds again Friday.