MLB Player News

Walker said Tuesday that his goal is to reach 180 innings this season, Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

That would be a career-high workload for the 30-year-old right-hander, who finished at 157.1 innings with the Mets in 2022. The velocity readings have been down on Walker's entire arsenal this spring, but maybe that's by design as he aims to be more efficient. He signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Phillies back in December and has been working with pitching coach Caleb Cotham on a plan to induce softer contact.

Lauer posted a 11.57 ERA, 2.49 WHIP and 9:7 K:BB in 11.2 innings over four appearances this spring.

Lauer had a rough go of it this spring, but he was hit hard in the exhibition season in both 2021 and 2022 and righted the ship when the regular season got underway, so there may not be as much cause for concern as it appears.

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.

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.

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.

Oviedo is expected to open the season as the Pirates' No. 5 starter with JT Brubaker (forearm) set to go on the 15-day injured list, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Pittsburgh has yet to provide a timeline for Brubaker to return from what's described as right forearm discomfort, but Oviedo should be poised to make at least two turns through the rotation to begin the campaign. Though he had already been in good position to make the Opening Day roster as a reliever before Brubaker picked up the injury, Oviedo should be equipped to handle something close to a starter's workload in his first outing of the regular season after he covered four innings (55 pitches) in his most recent Grapefruit League appearance Thursday. He'll start the Pirates' spring finale Tuesday versus the Twins and will have another opportunity to build up his pitch count.

The Mets optioned Megill to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Megill and David Peterson had been vying for the right to fill in for Jose Quintana (rib) in the Mets' Opening Day rotation, with Peterson winning out with a much better showing this spring. Megill struggled lately during Grapefruit League play, finishing with a 12:13 K:BB over 17 innings. He'll start Syracuse's season opener Friday and wait for an opening with the big club.