MLB Player News

Padres pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne continued his solid spring during Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks when he pitched five innings and gave up one run.

Despaigne gave up seven hits while walking two and striking out four. He received a no-decision. Despaigne has thrown 17 innings this spring and given up four runs. Despaigne is competing for the final spot in the Padres' starting rotation.

Padres manager Bud Black said he liked what he saw from Despaigne, but admits he could use better command, reports MLB.com.

"The results were good, but I thought he was a little spotty with his command," Black said. "But I liked the high fastball to some of their power hitters. He battled."

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw said Thursday that his jaw still feels sore from the line drive that hit him during Friday's game.

Kershaw had two teeth damaged during the incident. He had one tooth extracted and another one repaired last week, and is expected to have his stitches removed before his next start.

"I can't eat any jaw breakers," Kershaw said, jokingly, per the Orange County Register.

Making his second spring training appearance, Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright received the loss during Thursday's game against the Marlins.

Wainwright started the game and threw 3 1/2 innings, but surrendered six hits for four runs. He struck out two batters and walked one. He also gave up a solo home run to Giancarlo Stanton.

Despite his struggles during the game, Wainwright said he was encouraged with how the start ended, reports MLB.com.

"I was driving the ball for the first time all spring," Wainwright said. "It was the best I've felt all spring. I know it's not against hitters, but it translates for me... Those [extra pitches] were very productive. I went from being kind of frustrated by the way I pitched to when I left that cage thinking, 'I'm ready for next time."

Wainwright will make his final spring start in five days and said he'll treat as a regular-season game.

"There were plenty of times today where I probably would have normally thrown a cutter or a hook, and I threw a changeup or a fastball," Wainwright said. "In my next bullpen session, I'll put a little more into it. Then in a game, I'll go into it like a normal regular-season game."

During an outing cut short by a rain delay, Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez pitched three innings and gave up two runs during Thursday's game against the Cardinals.

During the outing, Alvarez surrendered four hits, including a solo home run to Jason Heyward. In four spring outings, Alvarez has produced a 5.54 ERA. Despite his struggles, Alvarez is expected to be the Opening Day starter for the Marlins.

Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels tossed five scoreless innings during Thursday's spring start against the Blue Jays. He allowed two hits and three walks, while striking out four.

Hamels did not allow a hit until Kevin Pillar led off the bottom of the fifth inning. Thursday was Hamels' first scoreless appearance since his spring debut March 6. He has a 5.17 ERA through five spring starts (15 2/3 innings).

Pirates pitcher Vance Worley had his worst outing of spring training during Thursday's game against the Braves.

Worley pitched six innings, but gave up five runs and seven hits, including one home run. He did not walk a batter and struck out three. He received a no-decision.

Worley is competing with Jeff Locke for the final rotation spot in the Pirates' rotation. In four appearances this spring, Worley has produced a 5.29 ERA.

"It's going to be a tough decision," manager Clint Hurdle said, per triblive.com. "I don't think we can make a bad choice. Obviously, one guy will be happier than the other. We need to make a decision sooner than later just so they can both post up with what they're going to do next."

Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels pitched five scoreless innings in a 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays, reports the NY Times. 

Hamels, 31, only gave up two hits during his outing on Thursday. The left-hander has been a part of trade speculation this entire offseason. Prior to Thursday, he had an ERA of 7.59 with 10 strikeouts and four walks.

Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto was back in camp and resumed workouts Thursday, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. Cueto was away from the team for a week while he returned to the Dominican Republic for a family medical situation.

Reds manager Bryan Price is not expecting Cueto's absence to keep the right-hander from starting Opening Day.

"We'll get a look at him today and hopefully he'll pitch here in the next couple of days," Price said. 

Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani allowed four hits and three walks in six scoreless innings while racking up nine strikeouts in Wednesday's spring start against the Rangers.

DeSclafani is locked into a rotation spot and showed why Wednesday, though he continues to have issues with his control as Wednesday's outing was his third in a row issuing multiple walks. He owns a 1.83 ERA and 17:8 K:BB ratio in 19 2/3 innings this spring.

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu said Wednesday he wasn't surprised that an MRI didn't turn up any new damage in his shoulder earlier this week, MLB.com reports.

"I wasn't too worried," Ryu said. "It's very similar pain to last year."

Ryu was shut down twice last season with discomfort in his shoulder, and he was prescribed a few weeks of rest after dealing with stiffness and having a subsequent MRI.

"Now I'm just focusing on the two weeks and get my condition back and get my arm in shape," Ryu said.

Ryu is likely to open the season on the disabled list as he continues to recover from the shoulder issue.