MLB Player News

Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke is starting Thursday against the Angels, which would line him up to make his first start of the regular season Tuesday against the Padres, per MLB.com.

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto plans to toss five innings Tuesday, according to MLB.com.

Cueto was scratched from his last spring start with a sore scapula. He'll make a minor-league start Tuesday, and plans to throw five innings, or 80 pitches. The team isn't too concerned about Cueto's injury. He posted a 2.82 ERA in 60 2/3 innings last year.

FOX Sports Arizona corrected an earlier report Monday stating Diamondbacks starting pitcher Patrick Corbin was having season-ending Tommy John surgery. No decision has been made yet on the next step for Corbin, who is only consulting with Dr. James Andrews on Monday.

The Pirates announced their rotation plans for the start of the season, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Assuming he will be ready to pitch, Francisco Liriano will remain the starter for opening day. He will be followed by Charlie Morton, Wandy Rodriguez and Gerrit Cole. Liriano will then make another start before Edinson Volquez gets his first start of the season.

Reds manager Bryan Price gave a positive outlook Monday on the status of starting pitcher Johnny Cueto, who was scratched from his last spring start Thursday due to an irritation in his scapula, per the Cincinnati Enquirer.

"I don't think we have any real concerns with Johnny right now," Price said.

Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels (shoulder) said he is feeling great and is aiming for a mid-to-late-April return, per Yahoo! Sports. Hamels needs to work on building up arm strength.

Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha has been tabbed to start the second game of the season, which is putting him in line to start the Cardinals' home opener, per MLB.com.

Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel, who coughed up four runs his last start, bounced back with a better outing on Sunday against the A's.

Hammel struggled in the first inning, allowing a triple to Jed Lowrie with two outs in the opening frame before yielding a run-scoring single to Josh Reddick. He then allowed another run-scoring single to Alberto Callaspo in the first before settling down.

Hammel wasn't pleased with his early troubles.

"I'm not too happy with it," Hammel said, per MLB.com. "Sometimes you're not going to have your best stuff and you have to find a way. We did that today. It definitely wasn't pretty."

Hammel surrendered two runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out two over 4 2/3 innings pitched in a 10-6 win. He's posted a 4.26 ERA and 8:8 K:BB ratio in 12 2/3 innings this spring.

Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole ran into some issues on Sunday against the Orioles in Grapefruit League action.

Cole served up a leadoff home run to Nick Markakis in the opening frame. He also served up homers to Chris Davis and Ryan Flaherty. He was charged with six runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out five over 6 2/3 innings. Cole saw his ERA rise from 3.60 to 6.17 through four starts this spring.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny announced Sunday pitcher Joe Kelly has beaten out Carlos Martinez for the final spot in the team's rotation, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Martinez will now be moved to a setup role in front of closer Trevor Rosenthal.