MLB Player News

Marquez will start Wednesday's game in Oakland on normal rest, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The Rockies will skip the fifth spot in the rotation to allow Marquez to pitch on normal rest. The key takeaway is that fantasy managers can deploy Marquez next week without fear of him pitching at Coors Field.

Lauer (COVID-19) was activated from the injured list and is available out of the bullpen Sunday against the Cubs, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Getting the coronavirus cost Lauer a shot at opening the year in the rotation. The team's fifth stater, Freddy Peralta, is starting Sunday, so it would be logical for Lauer to follow him out of the bullpen if the situation calls for a left-handed pitcher who can log multiple innings.

Urena, who was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday, tested positive for COVID-19, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

Heyman reports that Urena feels fine, so it will just be a matter of him testing negative in two consecutive tests before he rejoins the Marlins. Robert Dugger will start in his place Sunday.

Urena was a late scratch from Sunday's scheduled start against the Phillies, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.

There is no reason being given for why Urena was scratched and no roster moves, so he is presumably day-to-day. Robert Dugger will get the start instead. Manager Don Mattingly is not doing a pre-game interview, so we may have to wait until after Sunday's game to learn the reason for Urena's absence.

Strasburg admitted Saturday that he's been pitching through numbness in his hand for weeks, Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reports.

While that sounds worrying, the issue didn't prevent him from looking fairly dominant over five innings in his lone exhibition appearance against the Orioles before the season began. Strasburg received a cortisone injection Friday to help alleviate the problem and said feeling was already beginning to return to his thumb and fingers, but as yet the team has no official timetable for his return to the mound. "I've got to think big picture here," Strasburg said. "It's my career, and I know that in the long run, it's important to try to make as many starts as you can. By putting yourself in a compromising position now, I don't really know if it's necessarily the best way moving forward." The Nats have a history of being very cautious with the right-hander's health, but this latest injury doesn't seem to be one that will keep him on the shelf for too long.

Ray (0-1) allowed three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out seven over 3.2 innings in a loss to the Padres on Saturday.

There was some buzz surrounding Ray given his slimmed-down physique and revamped delivery. Unfortunately, the new delivery and shorter arm action that he showcased in summer camp did not lead to good results in his regular-season debut. In fact, it was more of what we've come to expect from Ray: walks and inefficiency. He needed 97 pitches to record 11 outs. The lefty lines up to face the Dodgers at home next week.

Gray allowed one run on three hits and three walks while fanning three across 4.2 innings in a no-decision against the Rangers on Saturday.

Gray didn't impress in his season debut and couldn't even complete five innings, as he departed the contest shortly after allowing a run on an RBI single from Shin-Soo Choo. Gray's next start is scheduled for Friday at home against the Padres.

Castillo allowed one run on six hits and one walk while striking out 11 over six innings in a no-decision against the Tigers on Saturday.

Castillo was brilliant -- he induced a whopping 24 swinging strikes on 91 pitches -- but had to sit back and watch as the Reds' bullpen gave up five runs to blow the lead. Pitching half his games in Great American Ball Park is a hindrance, but Castillo's fastball-changeup combo is one of the best in the game and it would be a surprise if he's not among the NL strikeout leaders when its all said and done. He lines up for a home start against the Cubs next week.

Wheeler earned the win versus Miami on Saturday, hurling seven innings and giving up one run on five hits and two walks while striking out four.

Toeing the mound less than a week after his wife gave birth to the couple's first child, Wheeler was in complete control throughout his seven innings, scattering five singles and a pair of walks while throwing 57 of 87 pitches for strikes. His only real trouble came in the fifth inning, when the Marlins put three consecutive runners on base with a pair of singles and a walk, but Wheeler emerged from the threat allowing only one run by inducing an inning-ending double play. After some initial uncertainty about playing out the season, the 30-year-old now appears determined to take the ball for Philadelphia every five turns. His next start is scheduled for Thursday on the road against the loaded Yankees offense.

Matz allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out seven in six innings in a no-decision Saturday versus the Braves.

Matz was excellent, with the only blemish on his line the result of a second-inning Adam Duvall solo home run. Matz had 15 quality starts in 30 starts last season and he's already added his first this year. The 29-year-old southpaw lines up to face the Red Sox at home Thursday.