MLB Player News

Taillon is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Brewers.

It seemed like Taillon would be the team's No. 2 starter behind Marcus Stroman to begin the year, but it will be Justin Steele starting Saturday, followed by Taillon on Sunday. Taillon should still be a rotation mainstay all season after agreeing to a four-year, $68 million contract with the Cubs back in December. The righty posted a 3.91 ERA across 177.1 innings with the Yankees last season.

Steele is listed as the starting pitcher for Saturday's contest against the Brewers.

It seemed like offseason acquisition Jameson Taillon would be the team's No. 2 pitcher behind Marcus Stroman to begin the year, but it will be Steele pitching the second game with Taillon set to debut Sunday. This allows the Cubs to go righty-lefty-righty with the top of their rotation. Steele had a strong 2022 with a 3.18 ERA and 126 strikeouts across 119 innings, which he'll look to build upon in 2023.

May didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks, allowing three hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings while striking out four.

The big right-hander generated plenty of weak contact among his 84 pitches (56 strikes) and was in line for the win before Alex Vesia served up a two-run homer to Kyle Lewis in the eighth inning. May's top priority in 2023 is just to stay on the mound after throwing only 74 innings over the last two years across all levels. If the 25-year-old can avoid the injured list he has the stuff to put together a breakout campaign. May's next turn in the rotation figures to be a road rematch with the Diamondbacks next week.

Kelly didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 win over the Dodgers, allowing three hits and four walks over 3.2 scoreless innings while striking out four.

The right-hander lasted only 74 pitches in his first start of the season, tossing 42 of them for strikes with 12 swinging strikes, but rookie Drey Jameson took the baton in relief of Kelly and supplied four strong innings of his own to record the win. Considering Kelly threw over 200 innings last year for the first time, managing his workload early in 2023 is justified. The 34-year-old should be ready for a higher pitch count in his next outing, which is likely to be a rematch with Los Angeles next week at Chase Field.

Freeland (1-0) tossed six shutout innings and earned a win over San Diego on Friday. He allowed three hits and a walk while striking out one.

Freeland leaned on his defense all night with just one punchout and two swinging strikes. The only batter that gave him much trouble was Ha-Seong Kim, who knocked two doubles. Freeland needed just 74 pitches (48 strikes) in the easy win. He's scheduled for a home tilt with the Nationals next week.

Luzardo (1-0) picked up the win Friday, giving up two hits and four walks over 5.2 scoreless innings in a 2-1 victory over the Mets. He struck out five.

The southpaw was effectively wild, throwing only 51 of 91 pitches for strikes but generating 15 swinging strikes and not allowing much hard contact. Luzardo posted strong numbers over 18 starts in 2022, and if he can stay healthier this season he could blossom into an ace for the Marlins. His next start is likely to come at home against the Twins next week.

Peterson (0-1) took the loss Friday as the Mets fell 2-1 to the Marlins, allowing one run on eight hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out five.

The southpaw tossed 51 of 84 pitches for strikes in his first outing of the season, but a second-inning solo shot by Jorge Soler put the Mets in an early hole they never climbed out of. Peterson could get a lengthy run in the rotation with both Justin Verlander (lat) and Jose Quintana (ribs) on the injured list, and he'll look for a little more run support in his next start, likely to come next week in Milwaukee.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Friday that Grove is expected to get up to three starts if all goes to plan, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Grove was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City after Ryan Pepiot was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain. If the right-hander does struggle Monday against the Rockies, it's possible the Dodgers could turn to some pitching depth, but it does appear that Grove is going to make multiple starts while Pepiot recovers.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Friday that Gonsolin (ankle) will throw a bullpen session before Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

If things go well during that bullpen session, Roberts is hopeful that the right-hander will face hitters at Camelback Ranch in Arizona on Wednesday. Gonsolin is on the injured list with a sprained ankle injury, and if things go well he could return to the Los Angeles rotation by the end of April.

Soroka (hamstring) is lined up to start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, Gabe Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Soroka is also expected to get some relief work at the Triple-A level as Atlanta maps out a plan to get and keep the 25-year-old righty healthy and effective here in 2023. He was bothered this spring by a right hamstring strain, the latest in a string of injuries that have kept him from appearing in a major-league game since August 2020.