MLB Player News

Kershaw is scheduled to throw three innings in a camp game Sunday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports,

It will be his first live action of the spring. Kershaw pulled out of the World Baseball Classic because he was unable to obtain insurance for his contract with the Dodgers, but there is no current injury concern.

Verlander gave up a run on two hits and struck out three in three innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

Making his first appearance of the spring, Verlander fired 28 of 35 pitches for strikes and already looks just about ready for Opening Day. The 40-year-old won his third AL Cy Young Award last season with the Astros, and after signing a two-year, $87 million deal with the Mets this winter, the seemingly ageless ace might just take a run at the NL award in 2023.

Cavalli gave up a run on two hits and a walk over two innings while striking out five in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Entering the game in the third inning, Cavalli served up a solo shot to Jordan Walker but was otherwise dominant against a St. Louis lineup that was missing big bats like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. The 24-year-old right-hander was limited to 101.1 innings last year while dealing with shoulder issues, but Cavalli is healthy to begin camp and has a 6:1 K:BB through his first three spring frames. The Nationals are counting on their top pitching prospect to seize a rotation spot in 2023, a decision he will make a lot easier if he keeps racking up strikeouts.

Gray gave up three hits and struck out one over two scoreless innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Facing a young St. Louis lineup that gave prominent spots in the batting order to the likes of Nolan Gorman and top prospect Jordan Walker, Gray breezed through the first two frames after needing only three pitches to strike out Brendan Donovan to lead off the game. The right-hander hasn't given up a run through his first three spring innings and is locked into a rotation spot for the Nationals, but Gray will need to find a solution to his long-ball woes -- he's served up 57 homers in 219.1 big-league innings so far in his career -- if he's going to become a reliable fantasy asset.

Flaherty (illness/calf) will not pitch Sunday against the Mets, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Flaherty has been battling flu-like symptoms and some muscle irritation in his left calf, so the Cardinals will again delay his Grapefruit League debut -- now to Monday. The hope is that these are minor issues, but the 27-year-old right-hander might soon fall behind. He logged only 36 innings (eight starts, one relief appearance) at the MLB level in 2022 because of shoulder trouble.

Gallen is on track to make his spring debut Tuesday against the Athletics, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Gallen, the Diamondbacks' projected No. 1 starter, has already thrown three innings in a simulated game and could throw up to four when he eventually pitches in a Cactus League contest.

Kelly is experimenting with a slider this spring, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Kelly used the new pitch six times. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo believes Kelly's existing repertoire works but thinks the slider could be another option to get early-count outs or swing-and-miss strikes against right-handed hitters. "I think good pitchers and good players are always making adjustments. It was definitely something he brought into camp. He embraced it. We're going to watch him continue to work on it," the manager said. Kelly's existing arsenal consists of four-seam and two-seam fastballs, a curveball, a changeup and a cutter.

Pfaadt allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four over three scoreless innings in Saturday's spring start against the Padres.

Pfaadt has thrown zeros through two Cactus League starts, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings. The right-hander's fastball averaged 94.6 mph and topped out at 96.8, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Carson Kelly, who caught both of Pfaadt's starts, referred to the hurler's four-pitch mix as "unique" and was impressed at how the 24-year-old attacks major-league batters. Pfaadt, the club's top-ranked pitching prospect, has an uphill battle to become Arizona's fifth starter, so it's likely he returns to Triple-A Reno, where he tossed 61.1 innings over 10 starts in 2022.

Taillon tossed three scoreless innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Angels. He allowed one hit and struck out four.

This was an improvement from Taillon's spring debut, when he allowed two runs on three hits across 1.2 innings of work. The Cactus League stats aren't particularly important for the righty, as he should be locked in as the Cubs' No. 2 starter after signing a four-year, $68 million contract in the offseason. Taillon will just want to get himself ready for the regular season, where he'll look to follow up the strong 3.91 ERA and 1.13 WHIP he posted across 177.1 innings with the Yankees in 2022.

Steele (arm) tossed two scoreless innings in Friday's Cactus League game against the Angels. He allowed no hits or walks and did not record a strikeout.

Steele was scratched from an earlier spring start due to arm fatigue, but he looked good in his Cactus League debut. While the lefty didn't have any strikeouts, he recorded 126 of them across 119 innings last season, so he should start to pick up more strikeouts as he gets rolling. Steele will be looking to build on his 2022 breakout as Chicago's No. 3 starter this year behind Marcus Stroman and Jameson Taillon.