MLB Player News

Stroman should be in line to start for the Cubs on Opening Day after pitching in the World Baseball Classic, though Chicago manager David Ross hasn't set his rotation in stone, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

With Kyle Hendricks (shoulder) on the shelf, Stroman is the natural candidate to lead Chicago's rotation to begin the season. The righty will pitch for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic before returning to the Cubs. He registered a solid 3.50 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 2022, though he only struck out 119 batters across 138.2 innings. That's in line with his career norms, as Stroman has never been a huge source of strikeouts.

Kelly allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out two over 2.1 innings in Friday's spring start against the Mariners.

Kelly made his Cactus League debut and only start before heading off to the World Baseball Classic. He was scheduled to throw three innings or 45 pitches but was pulled after 34 pitches and 1.1 innings. This being spring training, he was allowed to come back in the third inning and retired Seattle's 2-3-4 hitters on 11 pitches. Kelly's coming off his best MLB season in 2022 as he limited walks and long balls, but at age 34, he could be due for age-related decline in 2023.

Painter is undergoing tests on his right elbow after alerting trainers to some soreness in the area Friday, Paul Casella of MLB.com reports.

Painter showed electric stuff during his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday but evidently came out of the appearance with some tenderness in his pitching elbow. The results of the testing are expected to be available Saturday. Painter won't turn 20 until next month, but the top prospect has an outside shot to break camp as a member of the Phillies' rotation. Even if tests don't reveal anything serious, it seems likely the right-hander will be shut down for a while as the organization proceeds cautiously with him.

Woodford has allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out six over five innings across two Grapefruit League appearances.

Katie Woo of The Athletic reports Woodford's velocity on his fastball is up a bit, and he's refined his slider and changeup. While it is early, these are positive developments for Woodford, who had a fairly mediocre 4.5 K/9 across 48.1 big-leagues innings last season. He also maintained a 2.23 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while working as a multi-inning reliever. The competition for a rotation spot is crowded, which means he'll likely have to settle for a bullpen role again, though that decision isn't expected to come until much closer to the start of the regular season.

Gallen threw a three-inning, 45-pitch simulated game Thursday, Michael Reynolds of MLB.com reports.

Gallen, the Diamondbacks' projected No. 1 starter, is expected to make his Cactus League debut next week. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said the right-hander could throw up to four innings when he makes his spring debut.

Nelson allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking one over 1.2 innings in Thursday's spring game against the Dodgers.

Nelson, who is in the mix for the final spot in the rotation, had a second consecutive rocky outing to begin the Cactus League, raising his spring ERA to 23.63 through 2.2 innings. It's wise for fantasy managers to recognize that pitchers are working on things during spring training, so results aren't primary. That's a point the right-hander made to Michael Reynolds of MLB.com when discussing the two-run, first-inning home run Freddie Freeman hit on a changeup, a pitch Nelson wouldn't normally throw to a hitter like Freeman. "Sometimes my plan doesn't line up with how to attack these hitters [in spring training]," Nelson said. "I probably shouldn't have thrown that changeup in the zone, but I'm just trying to fill up the zone with all my pitches right now." Arizona manager Torey Lovullo is confident Nelson will settle in with more reps and innings.

Syndergaard topped out at 93 mph with his fastball during Thursday's spring game, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Offseason reports suggested that Syndergaard might be on the path back to the high-90s with his heater, and there's still time for his velocity readings to improve before Opening Day, but the 30-year-old right-hander acknowledged he thought he'd be further ahead with it at this point. He averaged around 98 mph during his best years with the Mets and came in just shy of 94 mph last season between the Angels and Phillies.

Flaherty had his Grapefruit League debut pushed back to Sunday due to lower half discomfort, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Flaherty was originally scheduled to debut Saturday. If this remains a one-day delay, it should hardly be a blip, but the 27-year-old right-hander carries a ton of injury risk in general after logging only 154.2 total major-league innings for the Cardinals between 2020-22. He tossed just 36 frames for St. Louis last year.

Elder is scheduled to make his second Grapefruit League start Friday against the Astros, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Elder said he felt rushed while adjusting to the new pitch clock in his spring debut Sunday, when he was lit up for four earned runs over just 1.2 innings versus the Yankees. Fighting for the final spot in Atlanta's season-opening starting rotation, he'll look to show more comfort and command Friday afternoon against the reigning World Series champs. Ian Anderson is Elder's primary competition for that No. 5 starter role.

Wainwright said Thursday that he's been dealing with a muscle issue around his lower back, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Wainwright noted that he came down with back spasms just before he arrived at Cardinals camp in Florida last month and is still trying to get certain muscles to engage in that area. He also recently suffered a burn on the index finger of his right hand, and it opened up during another rough Grapefruit League start Thursday afternoon against the Astros. The 41-year-old had trouble even topping 85 mph with his fastball toward the end of that outing versus Houston. It's all somewhat concerning, but Wainwright remains committed to pitching for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.