MLB Player News

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels gave up four runs during his season-debut start on Monday in an 8-0 loss to the Red Sox. 

All of the runs Hamels gave up came on home runs as he gave up four. Each run was earned, giving Hamels an ERA of 7.20 to start the season. Hamels went five full innings and threw 100 pitches. 

Hamels struck out six batters and walked three. 

''It's discouraging,'' Hamels said, via the Associated Press. ''You want to get the first win for your teammates and the organization. We didn't get the win and I'm the culprit.''

His next start is expected to take place Saturday against the Nationals. 

Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez is on track to throw a bullpen session Tuesday or Wednesday after throwing 20 pitches in relief during Sunday's opener against the Cubs, per MLB.com. 

Martinez needed the extra work Sunday since his last spring appearance was Wednesday. He is still on track for his season debut Saturday against the Reds.

The Mets plan to be cautious early in the season with starting pitchers Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom since neither player stretched out to 100 pitches during spring training, per NJ.com.

"It's not about health," general manager Sandy Alderson said. "Well in Harvey's case it's about his return. And in deGrom's case it's being a little conservative, that's all."

With the conservative approach in mind, the Mets chose to open the season with an eight-man bullpen.

"That gave us a little bit of flexibility," Alderson said. "That may change as well over time."

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright showed off his impressive skills Sunday in St. Louis' Opening Day win over the Cubs 3-0. Wainwright went six strong innings in the outing, allowing no runs with five hits and six strikeouts.

Wainwright kept Chicago off the scoreboard despite allowing two doubles to open the first two frames of the game. He also didn't allow a walk in the contest.

The Reds and pitcher Johnny Cueto are not expecting to reach an agreement on a contract extension before the beginning of the season Monday, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

If a new deal is not agreed to, Cueto will head into the offseason as a free agent. Cueto posted a 20-9 record in 2104 with a 2.25 ERA and 242 strikeouts over 243 2/3 innings.

The Mets placed four pitchers on the 15-day disabled list Sunday including: Vic Black (shoulder), Josh Edgin (Tommy John), Bobby Parnell (Tommy John) and Zack Wheeler (Tommy John), retro to March 27, the team announced.

Wheeler and Edgin underwent Tommy John surgery last month and are expected to miss the 2015 season while recovering from the injury.

The Dodgers placed pitchers Kenley Jansen, Hyun-Jin Ryu  and Brandon League on the 15-day disabled list to begin the season, according to SB Nation's True Blue LA. 

Jansen is recovering from foot surgery on Feb. 17, Ryu has left shoulder inflammation and League has right shoulder inflammation. League is the most likely of the three to endure a longer recovery period. 

Ryu is hoping to come back in late April and Jansen is expecting to return in early May. 

Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta is batting cleanup for Sunday's season opener against the Cubs.

Peralta took just 74 of his 560 at-bats from the fourth spot in the lineup last season but will fill the role in the team's regular-season debut.

The full Cardinals lineup: 3B Matt Carpenter, RF Jason Heyward, LF Matt Holliday, SS Peralta, 1B Matt Adams, C Yadier Molina, 2B Kolten Wong, CF Jon Jay, SP Adam Wainwright.

The Pirates have recalled pitcher Rob Scahill from Triple-A Indianapolis, earning him a spot on the Opening Day roster, the team announced. 

Scahill posted a 1.80 ERA with four strikeouts and two walks in nine spring training appearances.

The Pirates have placed Jaff Decker (calf), Charlie Morton (hip), Chris Stewart (hamstring), Justin Sellers (Achllies) and  Brandon Cumpton (elbow) on the 15-day disabled list, the team announced Sunday.