MLB Player News

DeGrom fired five scoreless innings in Friday's win over Atlanta but didn't factor into the decision. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out eight.

DeGrom's health was a question heading into Opening Day as he dealt with back tightness over the end of camp, but he was in fine form Friday. The back-to-back NL Cy Young Award winner threw 72 pitches but was unable to get much run support, a problem that's plagued him over the past few seasons. The 32-year-old's next start should come Wednesday against the Red Sox.

Kershaw (back) underwent an MRI on Friday that came back clean, Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

Kershaw was placed on the 10-day injured list with back stiffness Thursday after suffering the injury in the weight room Tuesday, but he appears to have avoided a major issue. The southpaw continues to receive treatment, but no timetable has been set for his return. Dustin May should serve in the starting rotation while Kershaw is sidelined.

Anderson will serve as the Giants' opener Friday against the Dodgers, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Jeff Samardzija was expected to get the start in Friday's contest, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Anderson will start with Samardzija serving as the primary pitcher. Anderson underwent knee surgery last June, but the delayed start to the season allowed him to fully recover for the 2020 campaign. The southpaw struggled with the Rockies prior to his injury in 2019, logging an 11.76 ERA and 2.13 WHIP over 20.2 innings across five starts.

Eflin (back) will start Tuesday against the Yankees, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Back spasms popped up for Eflin in mid-July and put his readiness for the start of the season at some risk, though he was never shut down from throwing and has evidently continued to progress well. He threw 60 pitches in his final preseason tune-up, so he's likely to wind up throwing no more than 75 or 80 in his season debut.

Irvin was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday and will be part of the Phillies' Opening Day roster.

Irvin started three games for the Phillies last year and was almost exclusively a starter in the minors, but he's likely to fill a bullpen role in Philadelphia this year. That role is unlikely to be a particularly significant one, as he struggled to a 5.83 ERA in his 41.2-inning debut in 2019.

Cueto did not factor into the decision during Thursday's Opening Day loss at Dodger Stadium, scattering one run on five hits and a walk while striking out three across four innings.

Cueto came out strong, retiring the side in the first inning. With two outs in the fourth, the right-hander gave up a double to Corey Seager and put the Dodgers on the board by allowing an RBI single to Enrique Hernandez. A single by Joc Pederson put runners at the corners but Cueto found his way out of the jam by forcing a groundout to Austin Barnes. After sitting out most of last year following Tommy John surgery, Cueto made four late season starts in September, during which he put together a 5.06 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 13:9 K:BB across 16 frames.

May took a no-decision during Thursday's Opening Day win over the Giants, allowing one run on seven hits while striking out four across 4.1 innings.

May was recalled to make the Opening Day start for the Dodgers on Thursday following Clayton Kershaw's move to the injured list (back). The 22-year-old, who became the first Dodgers rookie to start on Opening Day since Fernando Valenzuela (1981), held the Giants at bay until the third inning. After surrendering three consecutive singles to Tyler Heineman, Mike Yastrzemski and Wilmer Flores, May handed San Francisco the first lead of the game on a sacrifice fly to Pablo Sandoval. That would be the only damage of the night for the right-hander, who should maintain his spot in the rotation during Kershaw's absence. Across 14 games last season, May posted a 3.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 32:5 K:BB across 34.2 innings.

Gore is not part of the Padres' 30-man roster.

In spite of Gore's exceptional talent, his exclusion from the active roster is not a surprise given that he has yet to pitch above the Double-A level. Still, the Padres may not want their prized southpaw to spend the entire season at their alternate training site, so it remains very possible that Gore joins the big-league club sooner rather than later.

Rea was assigned to the Cubs' alternate training site in South Bend Thursday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Rea was in the mix to begin the year as the team's fifth starter with Jose Quintana (thumb) out, but with Alec Mills securing that role, Rea was kept off the Opening Day roster. The 30-year-old last appeared in the majors in 2016, when he logged 20 total games (19 starts) with the Marlins and Padres.

May was recalled from the Dodgers' alternate training site and will start Thursday's game against the Giants, Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA reports.

Thanks to an injury to Clayton Kershaw (back), May will become the first rookie since Fernando Valenzuela to start on Opening Day for the Dodgers. The young right-hander held his own in a 14-game stint with the big club last season, finishing with a 3.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 32:5 K:BB in 34.2 innings. May figures to remain in the rotation for as long as Kershaw remains sidelined.