MLB Player News

Kershaw will start Game 2 of the NL Division Series against the Padres on Wednesday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Kershaw's postseason debut will be pushed back a game in favor of Julio Urias, who will serve as the Dodgers' Game 1 starter Tuesday. The 34-year-old southpaw finished the regular season with a 2.28 ERA and 0.94 WHIP -- his lowest marks since 2016 (min. 100 innings). Kershaw's last appearance against the Padres came on July 3, when he shut out San Diego through seven innings and struck out eight batters.

Urias was confirmed to be the starter for Game 1 of the Dodgers' NL Division Series against the Padres on Tuesday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

After recording a career-best 2.16 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 2022, Urias will officially serve as the Dodgers' ace to open up the postseason. Urias has faced the Padres three times since the start of September, allowing three earned runs and striking out 12 batters over 19 innings in those games.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Monday that Hendricks hasn't started a throwing program, but the right-hander is feeling good as he recovers from a capsular tear in his shoulder, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

According to Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic, Hendricks has been in "constant communication" with the Cubs since being shut down in August after he was diagnosed with the injury. The 32-year-old is expected to train at the Cubs' complex in Arizona throughout the offseason and will continue to perform strengthening exercises until he's cleared to start throwing again. Even though the Cubs have a number of young starters who appear ready for extended looks at the big-league level in 2023, a healthy Hendricks will be penciled in for a rotation spot, even after a down season in which he posted a 4.80 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 84.1 innings before the injury surfaced.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Strider (oblique) looked good during a bullpen session Sunday, but the team is still in the process of determining the rookie right-hander's role for its National League Division Series with he Phillies, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports.

At the very least, Strider won't be available to start Games 1 and 2, as Atlanta plans on having Max Fried and Kyle Wright take the hill Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Charlie Morton will likely have the inside track in another spot in Atlanta's four-man rotation, but Strider could be in consideration to start Game 3 on Friday or Game 4 on Saturday if the team is comfortable with him from a health and workload standpoint. Even if Strider isn't quite built up enough to start after closing the regular season on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain, he should have a role out of the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever. After a brilliant first full season in the big leagues in which he went 11-5 with a 2.67 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and a whopping 202 strikeouts over 131.2 innings, the 23-year-old was rewarded Monday with a six-year, $75 million contract extension.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker confirmed that Fried (illness) will start Game 1 of the team's National League Division Series with the Phillies on Tuesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Fried exited his final start of the regular season Sept. 30 with an illness, but he likely would have been available to start last Wednesday if Atlanta needed him to take the hill for a potential division-clinching game. Atlanta ended up claiming the NL East crown last Tuesday, so the team opted to bypass him in the rotation in order to have him in optimal health for the start of the postseason. Fried shouldn't face any restrictions when he takes the hill Tuesday for his 10th career start in the playoffs.

Atlanta announced Monday that Strider (oblique) signed a six-year, $75 million contract extension that runs through the 2028 season. The contract includes a $22 million team option or a $5 million buyout for 2029.

Strider becomes the latest in a growing list of young, foundational pieces to come to terms with Atlanta on a long-term deal to buy out his arbitration years. Before a left oblique strain caused the 23-year-old to finish the regular season on the 15-day injured list, the rookie right-hander had arguably been Atlanta's top pitcher in 2022. After dazzling in relief to begin the season, Strider transitioned into the rotation in late May and finished with a 2.67 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 202:45 K:BB across 131.2 innings. Atlanta hopes to have Strider available for its upcoming National League Division Series with the Phillies that begins Tuesday, but he has yet to be formally activated.

Clevinger (illness) will start Game 1 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Tuesday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Clevinger landed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday but was able to travel with the team for the NL Wild Card Series after testing negative for the virus. The right-hander was kept off the team's wild-card roster but will take the mound to begin the NLDS on Tuesday. Over his final six starts of the regular season, Clevinger posted a 6.52 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 29 innings.

Atlanta is optimistic about Strider's (oblique) chances of being ready for the NLDS against Philadelphia, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Strider has been on the 15-day injured list since suffering a left oblique strain in late September, but he's been ramping up his throwing of late. Per O'Brien, the team will watch him throw more over the next 48 hours before making a final decision on his NLDS roster status.

Walker was added to the Mets' wild-card roster Saturday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

Walker wasn't initially included on the series roster but will join it as Joely Rodriguez exits with a shoulder injury. Walker isn't expected to start either of the two remaining possible games, but he could be used in relief.

DeGrom (finger) will start Saturday's Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

This was always expected, though manager Buck Showalter briefly entertained the idea of saving deGrom for the NLDS. Any thought of that went out the window when Max Scherzer was rocked for seven runs -- including four homers -- in Friday's Game 1 loss. DeGrom left his final start of the regular season with a blister on his hand, but Showalter said Thursday that "we don't foresee it to be an issue."