MLB Player News

Nola's scheduled start against the Blue Jays on Saturday has been postponed, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

The Phillies announced that a pair of staff members tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week, prompting the team to shut down its stadium and postpone this weekend's series against the Blue Jays. It's unclear when Nola will get the ball next.

Manager Dave Martinez said Strasburg is no longer feeling "the little nerve issue" in his hand anymore, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Martinez added that Strasburg just needs to build his arm back up before he can rejoin the rotation. The right-hander is steadily working his way back, as he incorporated all of his pitches in a flat-ground throwing session Thursday after firing only fastballs from 75-to-80 feet Wednesday. Strasburg's next step is likely mound work; how he responds should provide clarity on his return date. Erick Fedde is set to make another start in place of Strasburg on Thursday.

Musgrove (0-1) gave up three earned runs on four hits (including two homers) and three walks in 5.2 innings Wednesday. He struck out eight in a 3-0 loss to Milwaukee.

He's been tagged for four home runs in two starts after yielding 21 homers in 32 games last season. The righty has also walked three batters in both starts, something he did only three times in 2019. Still, he's pitched well but as the team's designated No. 1 starter, he's faced tough opposing starters in Jack Flaherty and Brandon Woodruff.

Woodruff (1-1) struck out 10 batters over 6.1 scoreless innings in Wednesday's victory over the Pirates. He allowed just one hit and walked only one batter in the contest.

Woodruff was absolutely dominant Wednesday, ceding only an infield single in the first inning and allowing just one batted ball to even reach the outfield. He served up a two-run homer to the Cubs' Ian Happ on Opening Day but has otherwise kept the opponent off the scoreboard over his first two starts of the season.

The Marlins aren't expected to promote top prospects like Sanchez to their 30-man roster in the wake of the team's COVID-19 outbreak, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

There will be a lot of holes to fill on the roster, but Miami is leaning towards adding players who already have some major-league experience rather than starting the service-time clocks on prospects like Sanchez or Jazz Chisholm. Sanchez will continue working out at the Marlins' alternate training site in Jupiter, Florida, but it seems as though his debut will have to wait until at least 2021.

DeGrom didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's loss to the Red Sox, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out four.

New season, same old story for deGrom, who exited the game with a 3-2 lead but had to watch as the Mets' bullpen squandered it. The right-hander threw 88 pitches (60 strikes) to pick up his first quality start of the year, and he'll try to find some way to get into the win column for a change in his next outing Monday in Atlanta.

Paddack didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's contest between the Giants and the Padres. He tossed five innings of two-run ball, giving up six hits while fanning six.

Paddack's night ended three outs away from what would've been a second straight quality start. He has been pitching well to start the season, allowing two runs while fanning 10 across 11 innings. His next scheduled start is slated for Aug. 3 at home against the Dodgers.

Cueto didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's contest between the Padres and the Giants. He gave up four runs on four hits and three walks while fanning four across 3.2 innings.

Cueto has not logged more than four innings in any of his first two starts of the season, and his days as a workhorse seem to be in the past. He has given up six earned runs on nine hits and four walks while fanning seven during those 7.2 innings, so he's not exactly turning heads when on the field, either. Cueto lines up for a brutal two-step next week, first pitching at Colorado then in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Gausman would start Thursday's game against the Padres, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

In his first outing of the season last week against the Dodgers, Gausman worked as the bulk reliever behind an opener (Tyler Anderson), but the arrangement appears to have been more of a one-off thing. Since Gausman was limited to four innings (58 pitches) in that appearance, he may face some light restrictions with his workload while he makes his first traditional start.

Soroka did not factor in the decision in Wednesday's matchup against the Rays, tossing 5.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out five.

Soroka wasn't quite as effective as in his Opening Day start, but he exited the game with a chance to win after tossing 82 pitches -- 49 for strikes -- in 5.1 frames. The right-hander breezed through four scoreless innings before allowing an unearned run in the fifth inning and putting the first two runners on base in the sixth, both of whom came around to score after Soroka's departure. Soroka's next scheduled start will come at home Monday against the Mets and possibly Jacob deGrom.