MLB Player News

Kershaw (1-0) did not allow a baserunner while striking out 13 across seven scoreless innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Twins.

Kershaw made his long-awaited season debut, and he delivered a perfect game through seven innings. He racked up 20 swinging strikes across 80 total pitches, which helped him match his highest strikeout total since June 13 of the 2021 campaign. Though his pitch count was strictly limited and his velocity was down two mph on both his slider and curveball (per baseball savant), Kershaw delivered an excellent start to his 2022 campaign. He currently projects to return to the mound Monday against Atlanta.

Webb (1-0) pitched eight innings, striking out seven and allowing one run on four hits in a 2-1 win Wednesday over San Diego.

After allowing a one-out RBI triple to Jake Cronenworth in the first inning, Webb shut down the Padres the rest of the way, giving up just two singles. The eight innings pitched was the most of any starter in baseball so far this season. The 25-year-old has given up just one run in each of his two starts in 2022. His next start will likely come early next week against the Mets.

Ashby is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Ashby worked out of the bullpen in his first two appearances of the season, with his last outing coming Monday against the Orioles. He threw 68 pitches over 3.1 scoreless frames in that contest, so he shouldn't face significant workload limitations in his first start of 2022. The Brewers utilized a six-man rotation through most of 2021, and a strong performance from Ashby this weekend could help push manager Craig Counsell to do so again this year.

Gray (1-1) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing only one hit and three walks over five scoreless innings in a 3-1 victory over Atlanta. He struck out five.

After a rough start to the season against the Mets, Gray rebounded in impressive fashion. The right-hander fired 50 of 82 pitches for strikes, and Atlanta didn't get a runner past second base until Gray was out of the game. The 24-year-old will take a 4.00 ERA and 10:5 K:BB through nine innings into his next start, scheduled for Monday at home against the Diamondbacks.

Fried (leg) said after Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Nationals that he feels "fine" after exiting his start shortly after being struck by a comebacker in the sixth inning, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. He intends to make his next start, which tentatively lines up for Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

Fried said Nelson Cruz's line drive to the mound to begin the sixth inning struck him in his right hamstring, but other than experiencing some minor soreness or bruising, the southpaw didn't appear to be in any pain. After Cruz's groundout, Fried allowed back-to-back singles before being pulled from the contest after 78 pitches, six shy of his total from his Opening Day start last week. Fried finished the afternoon with three runs allowed (two earned) across 5.1 innings and was charged with his second loss of the season.

Hendricks (0-1) tossed 3.2 innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out four on his way to a loss versus the Pirates on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old struggled with his command in this one, throwing only 42 of his 78 pitches for strikes. After Willson Contreras gave him a one-run lead with a solo shot in the top of the first inning, Ben Gamel flipped the script in the bottom of the frame, blasting a two-out three-run homer off Hendricks. He later surrendered three more runs and wasn't able to make it through the fourth inning. The right-hander got off to a slow start in 2021, posting a 6.23 ERA through his first seven starts before going on a hot streak in the middle of the season. Hendricks will have a chance to right the ship in his next projected start at home versus the Rays on Monday.

Gore is expected to be called up from Triple-A El Paso to start Friday's game against Atlanta in San Diego, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The Padres won't formally add Gore to the 28-man active roster until Thursday or Friday, but he already left El Paso on Tuesday and joined the team's taxi squad in San Diego. With Blake Snell not progressing from his adductor strain as quickly as hoped, he'll head to the injured list and miss his next start Friday, paving the way for Gore to temporarily slot into the rotation. The 23-year-old lefty endured a turbulent 2021 campaign that included stops at four different minor-league affiliates, but he showed major improvement this spring, as he allowed just five baserunners while striking out 11 over nine Cactus League innings. Gore will likely be on a strict pitch count Friday, but a strong showing against the reigning World Series champions could allow him to stick with the Padres on a longer-term basis even if Snell is forced to miss only one start.

Fried was removed midway through the sixth inning of his start Wednesday against the Nationals, shortly after being struck in the right leg by a Nelson Cruz comebacker to the mound, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. He covered 5.1 frames in the outing and gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and no walks while striking out four.

Fried departed with Atlanta trailing 3-0, so he'll be on the hook for a loss or no-decision. Fortunately, he doesn't appear to be dealing with any sort of a major injury. He was able to face two batters after Cruz's groundout, and he didn't exhibit any sort of limp while walking off the field. Fantasy managers will still want to ensure Fried is feeling fine coming out of his next bullpen session, but he looks on track to make his third start of the season Monday or Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

Snell (groin) will be placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Snell was scratched from his scheduled start against the Diamondbacks on Sunday due to groin tightness. Although the southpaw said that the issue is "way more minor" than the groin injury that forced him to miss time late in the 2021 season, he'll still be forced to spend time on the 10-day IL. The move will likely be backdated by a few days, but it's not yet clear when Snell will be able to return to game action.

Reds manager David Bell said that Castillo (shoulder) checked out fine after throwing a bullpen session Tuesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Castillo is scheduled to throw live batting practice this weekend in Los Angeles at some point during the Reds' four-game series with the Dodgers. If all goes well, Castillo could be sent out on a brief minor-league rehab assignment thereafter. The right-hander looks on track to return from the injured list at some point in late April or early May.