MLB Player News

Nationals manager Matt Williams announced Thursday starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg will start the NLDS opener against the Giants. Jordan Zimmermann will start the second game and Doug Fister will start the third game.

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu threw 45 pitches in a simulated game Wednesday and reported no problems "before, during or after" with his injured shoulder, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ryu will have the shoulder examined Thursday, and if no problems are found, he could be an option for Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Cardinals Monday. Out since Sept. 12, he posted a 3.38 ERA and 139:29 K:BB ratio in 152 innings.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny announced the team's rotation for NLDS against the Dodgers. Adam Wainwright will pitch in the series opener, and he will be followed by Lance Lynn, John Lackey and Shelby Miller.

Michael Wacha will be pitching out of the bullpen for St. Louis.

Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, who has been out since mid-September due to a shoulder injury, is slated to throw 45 pitches or three innings during a simulated game Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Cubs president Theo Epstein said Tuesday pitchers Justin Grimm and Neil Ramirez will remain in the bullpen next season, according to ESPN.

Grimm was 5-2 with a 3.78 ERA in 73 relief appearances this season, while Ramirez went 3-3 with a 1.44 ERA and three saves in 50 appearances.

New Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart said Monday starting pitchers Josh Collmenter and Wade Miley "are locks" for the rotation in 2015, according to FOX Sports Arizona. Stewart added the team will "have a nice competition for the other spots."

The Cardinals have made several changes to Sunday's starting lineup, including scratching scheduled starter Adam Wainwright, after the team clinched the division title as a result of a Pirates loss earlier in the day.

Wainwright will be saved to face Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 of the NL Divisional Series against the Dodgers.

Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole didn't factor into the decision Sunday, giving up one earned run on four hits in seven innings while striking out 12, but the Pirates fell 4-1 to the Reds to lose a chance at taking the NL Central title.

Cole did everything he needed to put the Pirates within a half-game of the Cardinals, but the bullpen betrayed the starter after he left the game with the score tied 1-1. The Pirates will face the Giants in the Wild Card game. Cole ends the regular season with a 3.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 138:40 K:BB ratio in 138 innings.

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto picked up his 20th win in Sunday's season finale, giving up one earned run on six hits in eight innings while striking out seven and walking none in his team's 4-1 victory over the Pirates.

Cueto (20-9) was also responsible for the game's key hit, as the Reds left him in to hit for himself in the bottom of the eighth with a man on base. He laced a single to center field to break a 1-1 tie before the Reds offense added a two-run blast later in the inning after the starter had been removed for a pinch runner. Cueto ends the season with a 2.25 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 242:65 K:BB ratio in 243 2/3 innings. If not for Clayton Kershaw, he'd be the clear choice for the NL Cy Young award.

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu threw off a mound on Friday and is expected to throw a full bullpen session on Sunday, according to MLB.com.

Manager Don Mattingly remains confident with every step of each hurdle in his recovery from a shoulder injury, which has kept him sidelined since Sept. 12. Ryu owns a 3.38 ERA and 139:29 K:BB ratio in 152 innings.