MLB Player News

Gonsolin (ankle) is hopeful of rejoining the Dodgers' rotation in late April, according to MLB.com.

The right-hander threw a 20-25 pitch bullpen session Monday but is still "a ways away," manager Dave Roberts said afterward. Gonsolin does appear to be over his left ankle sprain at this point and it's now just about rebuilding his stamina. He'll surely need a rehab start or two before returning to the Dodgers in about a month.

Sears has made the Athletics' Opening Day roster, but whether he'll serve as a starter or reliever is yet to be clarified, Ben Ross of MLB.com reports.

Both Sears and Adam Oller (illness) will open the regular season with the big club after each garnered experience as starters and relievers during their rookie 2022 campaigns. If the decision on which of the two will open in the rotation were to be based solely on last season's numbers, Sears would be the clear-cut choice -- his 6-3 record and 3.86 ERA was exponentially better than Oller's respective 2-8 and 6.30 figures in those categories. However, Sears was shakier this spring, posting an 0-1 mark and 5.19 ERA in 17.1 Cactus League frames. The revelation on who'll get the starting call may not come for several days, as the first turn in the rotation that would go to either Sears or Oller isn't slated to come until Tuesday, April 4.

Suarez is lined up to start the Angels' fifth game of the season, which will take place April 4 in Seattle, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Suarez was essentially a lock for a starting role coming into spring training after posting a 3.96 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 22 games (20 starts last season). He has been fine in three Cactus League starts, allowing five runs (four earned) and posting a 6:3 K:BB over 8.2 innings. Suarez doesn't have the strikeout numbers or history of consistency to be an exciting option in fantasy, but he can give managers in deeper leagues decent ratios at a reasonable cost.

McKenzie underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed a right teres major muscle strain. He'll be shut down from throwing for two weeks and could remain sidelined for up to eight weeks.

The MRI didn't bring the favorable news the Guardians were hoping for with Opening Day only a few days away, but they'll undoubtedly elect to play it safe with one of the top arms in their rotation. A more precise target date for McKenzie's return as well as a plan for his rehab program could come into focus once he's re-evaluated in the second week of April.

Musgrove (toe) threw 65 pitches over four innings in a 'B' game Monday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Musgrove tossed a simulated game last Wednesday, but the batters he faced in that outing weren't allowed to swing. That wasn't the case in Monday's 'B' game, and the injured hurler even tested his toe by covering first base on an out. Though Musgrove will open the regular season on the injured list, he said Monday that the toe he fractured in a weight room accident "is the least of my concerns" and added that his focus now is on "executing pitches and getting the feel right." Musgrove is next expected to pitch in a minor-league contest Saturday, and all signs point to him being ready to come off the IL and return to the Padres as soon as he is eligible.

Cobb (knee) threw four innings in a minor-league contest in Scottsdale on Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Cobb told Pavlovic after the game that he felt "good" and that he'll be ready for the start of the season. While the right-hander does appear likely to be in the rotation from the start of the campaign, the Giants have not decided if Cobb will start the second game of the season or get pushed back. It's something to keep an eye on for those who roster Cobb in fantasy leagues, as he would face the Yankees if does start the second game or the White Sox if pushed down.

Groome was optioned to Triple-A El Paso by the Padres on Monday.

Groome showed some flashes of brilliance in Arizona during the Cactus League with a 1.29 ERA, but he also registered a 13:10 K:BB which showed that the command still has some work to be done. The 2016 first-round pick could be an option for San Diego before the end of the year.

Wright was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation by Atlanta on Monday.

It was reported Sunday that this move was coming and now it's official. Wright was given a cortisone injection back in January to combat soreness in his right shoulder and simply ran out of time in getting ramped up for the season. The expectation is that he will miss two turns before rejoining Atlanta's rotation, assuming all goes well on his rehab assignment. Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd will both be in the rotation while Wright is out.

McKenzie is awaiting results of an MRI performed on his right arm Monday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

McKenzie felt what he thought was normal soreness in his tricep/shoulder area while warming up prior to Sunday's Cactus League start against the Reds. He then alerted the coaching staff when the feeling returned after the first inning, prompting his removal from the game. You'd have to think a stint on the injured list is likely even if the tests come back relatively clean.

Kershaw tossed six scoreless innings in an exhibition contest against the Angels on Sunday, allowing three hits and no walks while striking out seven batters.

Kershaw breezed through six frames on just 74 pitches, and he stretched out even further by following the outing with a simulated inning in the bullpen, per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports. The veteran southpaw got Mike Trout to go down three times on swinging strikes and fanned Shohei Ohtani on another swing-and-miss. Kershaw finished the exhibition slate with a 3.44 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 16:2 K:BB over 18.1 innings. He's scheduled to make his first start of the regular-season April 1 at home against Arizona.