MLB Player News

Reds manager Bryan Price said the instincts of Johnny Cueto on the mound are as good as any pitcher he's ever seen, highlighting his ability to make adjustments within a given at-bat, MLB.com reports.

"If there's anyone that I've ever been around that could simply go into a game and pitch it without any understanding of the lineup he was facing -- it'd be Johnny," Price said. "He cuts you up, spits you out. He's special."

Price also compared Cueto to Greg Maddux -- ""[Maddux's] ability to find that spot in the zone and the speed with which to induce that ground ball -- that's what I sense where Johnny has elevated himself" and Pedro Martinez -- "A lot [of similarities] -- enjoyment, they're so acute with their command, they're so precise."

Cueto finished second in the voting for NL Cy Young in 2014, going 20-9 with a 2.25 ERA and 242:65 K:BB ratio in 243 2/3 innings.

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu said he made about 35 throws from 60 feet in a game of light catch Friday and reported no ill effects, MLB.com reports.

Ryu, whose back stiffened up after a bullpen session Tuesday, reiterated that he should be back on a normal throwing schedule soon and was "not worried at all" about being ready for the start of the season. He went 14-7 with a 3.38 ERA and 139:29 K:BB ratio in 152 innings last season, his second with the Dodgers.

Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu (back) will not throw a bullpen session Friday, according to MLB.com. However, he is expected to play catch.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright is targeting 2-3 weeks before he is able to pitch in a spring game, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Wainwright was diagnosed with an abdominal strain Thursday after heading back to St. Louis for further evaluation.

Wainwright will have 4-5 days of light activity before he can gradually increase his workouts. He will be re-evaluated Monday before the Cardinals decide if he can rejoin the starters’ throwing program.

“The good thing is it doesn’t hurt so I can continue to throw off the mound and face hitters,” Wainwright said. “I can throw live BP and just won’t field my position.”

With his current timetable and barring setback, Wainwright could make four starts during spring training. 

“Everybody was saying that you need to scale back your innings in spring training,” Wainwright said. “God just naturally found a way to make that happen without ticking me off. ‘OK, Adam, you don’t want to have time off? I’ll make you take time off.’”

The Diamondbacks consider Chase Anderson a favorite to break camp in the rotation, according to azcentral.com.

The club wants to create a lot of competition for the rotation, and it was initially believed Anderson would be competing for a spot. General manager Dave Stewart sort of quashed those rumors, saying he perceives Anderson as a strong favorite right now. "Chase Anderson won nine games for us last year; you have to strongly consider him as part of our rotation," Stewart said. 

Anderson is expected to pair with Josh Collmenter and Jeremy Hellickson for now. The club will determine the final two spots in the rotation during camp.

Anderson, 27, posted a 4.01 ERA over 114 1/3 innings last year.

Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles is hoping a new changeup will lead to success this season, according to the Denver Post. 

Lyles started experimenting with a split-change last year, and spent all offseason honing the pitch. I've been working on that all offseason," Lyles said. "I wasn't paying too much attention to my curveball and cutter. I really wanted to give a bigger gap between mph."

Manager Walt Weiss came away impressed with the offering. "His confidence in that pitch has skyrocketed," he said. Weiss added that he views Lyles as "a staple for [the Rockies."

Lyles is expected to open the year in the team's rotation. He posted a 4.33 ERA over 126 2/3 innings last season.

While Padres manager Bud Black is not ready to put odds on the competition for the final spot in the team's rotation, he did seem to indicate Brandon Morrow and Odrisamer Despaigne might be a little ahead of Robbie Erlin and Matt Wisler , per U-T San Diego.

"I think we're going to look at them all, but Morrow and Despaigne have a little something to them," Black said. "It doesn't hurt Matt to go back to the minors. Robbie Erlin was in our rotation last year, made some starts and pitched well at times. He's still developing. I don't know if there's a front-runner, but you can maybe say that Morrow and Despaigne are out there just a touch."

After being examined Thursday in St. Louis for lower abdominal soreness, Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright won't need surgery and was only prescribed two weeks rest, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"Based on all the different studies and what the doctor saw, (the doctor) feels this probably is the best news you could have gotten," general manager John Mozeliak said.

Wainwright was already on a delayed throwing schedule before injuring himself while replacing a 45-pound weight during a workout session. The right-hander can still throw despite the discomfort, but his workout will be limited and his throwing schedule will modified moving forward.

"If all goes well, he should be full-go probably in a couple of weeks," Mozeliak said.

Wainwright, 33, posted a 2.38 ERA over 227 innings in 2014 before having surgery to trim cartilage in his throwing elbow in October.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu was held out of workouts again Thursday due to a back injury. However, Mattingly had some good news as Ryu underwent an MRI and the results were negative.

Ryu told reporters that he expects to return within a few days, and doesn't see his back issue affecting his spring schedule too much, according to SB Nation.

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha felt good after tossing batting practice on Wednesday, according to MLB.com.

Wacha said he's "definitely where I need to be" following the session. The 23-year-old missed time due to shoulder issues last season, but said he hasn't experienced any pain since he was activated from the disabled list in September. 

Wacha has happy to finally throw with some hitters in the box. It's good to get back on the mound and face hitters again," he said. "I think you get a little bit more adrenaline going. It's closer to games, obviously, and definitely a step in the right direction."

Last season, Wacha posted a 3.20 ERA over 107 innings.