MLB Player News

Cubs manager Joe Maddon indicated Monday starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks is pretty much a lock for the team's rotation, leaving just the fifth spot in the rotation open, according to CSNChicago.com.

Hendricks was outstanding as a rookie in 2014, going 7-2 with a 2.46 ERA in 13 starts. He struck out 47 batters and issued 15 walks in 80 1/3 innings. He also allowed just 72 hits and four home runs.

Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu (back) and reliever Joel Peralta (shoulder) said they felt fine after throwing bullpen sessions Monday, per the Los Angeles Times. Both players threw in the rain Monday.

"I thought the weather might be a problem, but after I got loose I was fine," Peralta said, per MLB.com. "I threw harder than I thought I would. My arm strength is not there yet; I need a couple games to get that back."

In a move that is of little surprise, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly announced Monday he is planning to start ace Clayton Kershaw on opening day (April 6) against the Padres.

Kershaw is on track to start his fifth straight opening day, which would mean Don Sutton would be the only other pitcher in franchise history with more consecutive opening day starts. Sutton started seven straight times from 1972-78.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright was back on the mound Monday to throw his first bullpen session since being sidelined last week due to an abdominal strain, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Wainwright threw 30-40 pitches and mixed in his curveball.

"His arm feels good," manager Mike Matheny said, per MLB.com. "It's in a great slot. Everything is coming out nice. We just have to stay on top of it."

Monday marked the first time Wainwright was on the mound since the first official day for pitchers and catchers 10 days ago.

Matheny said Wainwright will have to face hitters in batting practice before being able to pitch in a game.

"My arm feels great," Wainwright said, per MLB.com. "My body is in the perfect position to throw the ball. It's getting better each time. … I was very happy with where my pitches were. I kept the ball down for the most part; that's what I was working on today, staying knees and below. I worked sides. I worked pitches. The changeup has come a long way. I'm going to throw more than one a game this year."

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright is meeting with trainers Monday to get the go ahead to continue in his rehab from an abdominal strain, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The team's ace is scheduled to throw a bullpen Monday.

Rockies pitcher Christian Bergman chose not to feel slighted when the team added several rotation options this offseason, MLB.com reports.

"It motivates me in a sense, but when I achieve the goals that I want to achieve, that could go away," Bergman said Saturday. "Then you have to find new motivation. I like to motivate myself with more internal things than what other people say, because that changes -- day to day, even."

Bergman made three starts and four relief appearances during the Arizona Fall League, going 2-0 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 18 2/3 innings, and chose to work on elements of his game against the quality competition.

"I worked on particularly my cutter and curveball, some basic stuff -- particularly getting back on top of the ball, getting everything going downhill," Bergman said.

Bergman, who missed two months last season due to a broken hand, went 3-5 with a 5.93 ERA and 31:10 K:BB ratio in 54 2/3 innings over 10 starts in 2014.

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright told ESPN that he feels "dramatically better" in his recovery from an abdominal strain. 

Wainwright said he wasn't concerned that the injury would put him at risk of missing opening day, and he's ready to get back onto the field. 

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu is set to get back on the mound Monday to throw, manager Don Mattingly said Saturday.

Ryu is dealing with a back injury, but has been throwing the last couple of days without pain. He went 14-7 in 2014 with a 3.38 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 152 innings pitched.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw will make his spring training debut Thursday against the White Sox, manager Don Mattingly said Saturday.

Kershaw went 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA in 2014 with 239 strikeouts in 198 1/3 innings pitched, leading the National League MVP and Cy Young awards.

Though Stephen Strasburg's agent Scott Boras denied a report that he wanted to be traded in January, the right-handed pitcher said himself that he wants to remain with the Nationals and has no issues with the organization. 

"I haven't said anything like that," Strasburg said in an interview with MLB.com. "I don't feel like that. You have to accept it because that's how the system works. It's like they pick up on any little thing and they twist it. Some people want to turn it to see how many clicks they can get on the webpage."

Strasburg is set to be the ace of a deep rotation that looks to be on of the best in baseball this coming season. With the Nationals winning their second divisional title in the past three seasons, Strasburg said he's happy with the organization. 

"It's the team that drafted me. I love the players here, I love D.C. Winning cures everything, that's for sure," Strasburg said. "I'm excited to be part of the resurgence so far. It's great to see the type of players we bring in here every year. The expectations keep going up and up. Hopefully, we can do big things this year."