MLB Player News

Kim (back), who threw a simulated game Monday but has yet to be confirmed for one more Grapefruit League start, is being built back up with a starter's workload, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander appears to be making some progress from the back tightness that has besieged him since earlier in March, but there's yet to be a final determination on whether he'll have a chance for a tune-up against opposing batters prior to Opening Day. However, Silver's report confirms Kim is still envisioned for his originally projected No. 2 starter role when he does return, even if he has to temporarily shuffle to a spot in the latter portion of the rotation early to afford him more recovery time.

Miley threw 65 pitches and four simulated innings in a live batting practice session Tuesday to stay on schedule for his turn in the rotation, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Miley is locked into a rotation slot to begin the season, at least as long as he stays healthy -- he had a scare with a hamstring cramp earlier in March and missed time with multiple injuries last season. The Reds don't plan on going with a four-man rotation in April even though they have four off days early on, so Miley should take his regular turns once the season gets going.

Gallen was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right forearm Tuesday.

The 25-year-old was scratched from Monday's scheduled start with lateral soreness in his right forearm, and a hairline fracture was revealed upon further examination. It's unclear how long Gallen is expected to be sidelined, though he'll apparently be able to continue playing catch at "a low stress level" from the start of his recovery. The right-hander should be considered out indefinitely until a more concrete return timeline is provided by the team, though it's safe to assume he'll be unavailable for the start of the season with Opening Day little more than one week away.

Williams is expected to begin the season as the Cubs' No. 4 pitcher, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Kyle Hendricks was officially named the Opening Day starter Tuesday, and he's expected to be followed by Jake Arrieta and Zach Davies. Manager David Ross didn't confirm the order after Hendricks, but it makes sense based on how the pitchers have lined up this spring. Williams struggled last year with the Pirates, posting a 6.18 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 55.1 innings, but he's turned in better results not too long ago (3.11 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 170.2 innings in 2018), so the Cubs are hoping he can recapture that form.

Davies is expected to begin the season as the Cubs' No. 3 pitcher, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Kyle Hendricks was officially named the Opening Day starter Tuesday, and Jake Arrieta has slotted in second all spring, so Davies figures to be third out the gate against the Pirates on April 4. The righty was solid for the Padres last year, registering a 2.73 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 63 strikeouts across 69.1 innings. Like Hendricks, Davies doesn't overpower hitters, but he can still be an effective fantasy pitcher due to good ratios and win potential.

Flaherty allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, three walks and a wild pitch across 5.1 innings in a Grapefruit League loss to the Marlins on Monday. He struck out five.

Despite the uneven final line, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports Flaherty came away from the outing satisfied, as the majority of his trouble was limited to a four-run fifth inning. Flaherty's fastball topped out at 95.5 mph, and he was able to go beyond his projected pitch count, leaving him confident in his readiness for Opening Day. "It feels like the season's here," Flaherty said. "It feels like the spring has gone real quick. I mean, I think we're out of here in a week, which is crazy to think about. But yeah, ready to go."

Suarez (quadriceps) was optioned to minor-league camp Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Suarez hasn't thrown a pitch in Grapefruit League action this spring, as he was delayed first by visa issues and then by a quadriceps injury. He could return to the active roster at some point this season, though his career 4.66 ERA in 67.2 innings at the highest level suggests he's best suited for a lower-leverage role.

Gallen is getting a second opinion on his sore right forearm, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

It's not clear what the first opinion on Gallen's injury was, but the fact that he's heading for another may not be a good sign. Forearm injuries can be quite problematic for pitchers, but there's no indication yet that he'll need Tommy John surgery.

Freeland left Tuesday's game against Oakland with a left shoulder strain, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

The severity of the strain is not yet clear, but Freeland appeared to be in some pain after throwing a pitch. Even a minor shoulder issue would likely open up a few spot starts to begin the season, though it's quite possible he's shut down for an extended period.

Freeland left Tuesday's game against the Athletics in obvious pain after throwing a pitch, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Freeland grabbed his arm after throwing a pitch in the dirt. It's not yet clear what sort of injury he suffered, but his initial reaction made it seem as though it isn't a mild one. More information should be available following further tests.