MLB Player News

DeGrom (back) felt good after a side session Tuesday and is considered fully ready to go for Friday's Opening Day start against Atlanta, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

DeGrom has battled back soreness over the past week, causing him to cut an intrasquad appearance short last Tuesday after just one inning. An MRI revealed no significant issues, and he's continued to feel fine following multiple bullpen sessions as well as another simulated game, so there's little reason to doubt his health heading into Friday's contest. Since he threw just 60 pitches in his final simulated game Sunday, deGrom estimated that he would be capped at around 85 pitches in his first start of 2020, per Zach Braziller of the New York Post.

Burnes will start Saturday against the Cubs, Sophia Minnaert of Fox Sports Wisconsin reports.

Brett Anderson (blister) will open the year on the injured list, so Burnes takes his spot in the rotation -- he may have made the rotation regardless, but this expedited that announcement. Burnes had electric stuff last year but really struggled with his command and confidence, eventually seeing a sports psychologist in the offseason. Since reporting to camp in February, his stuff has been perhaps even better, touching the high-90s with his fastball while also showing off a devastating low-90s cutter/slider. He will face Yu Darvish in Chicago on Saturday and will then start at home against St. Louis the following weekend.

Strasburg allowed one run on six hits while striking out six over five innings in Monday's exhibition game against the Orioles.

The reigning World Series MVP tossed 81 pitches in his final trip to the mound before the regular season begins. Strasburg appears ready for his first start Saturday against the Yankees.

Kim will move to bullpen and likely begin the season as the Cardinals' primary closer, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Kim will head to the bullpen after Carlos Martinez earned the fifth spot in the Cardinals' starting rotation, which was announced Monday. With Giovanny Gallegos (undisclosed) currently on the 10-day IL, Kim will have the opportunity to establish himself as the premier late-game option for manager Mike Shildt. Ryan Helsley remains a candidate as well to pitch in late-game situations. Kim is set to make his major-league debut after pitching in the Korean Baseball Organization for the past three seasons, posting a 2.51 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 180 strikeouts across 190.1 innings in 2019.

Martinez will begin the season as the fifth starter in the Cardinals rotation, Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com reports.

Martinez and Miles Mikolas will round out the bottom of the St. Louis starting rotation to begin the 2020 campaign. Kwang-Hyun Kim will move to the bullpen and likely serve as the closer while Giovanny Gallegos (undisclosed) remains on the 10-day IL. Martinez earned high praise from manager Mike Shildt earlier during summer camp for earning every opportunity to be in the starting rotation. The 28-year-old is coming off his seventh season with the Cardinals, during which he notched 24 saves while posting a 3.17 ERA and 53:18 K:BB across 48.1 innings.

May will throw in a voluntary workout Wednesday and remains in line to form a piggyback pairing with Walker Buehler early in the season, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts conceded Sunday that the Buehler-May piggyback idea is "certainly a possibility," and both pitchers are slated to throw on Wednesday. That would put them in line to pair up in the team's fifth game of the season, July 28 at Houston. May had been battling for a spot in the starting rotation, but Ross Stripling was instead named the Dodgers' fifth starter Monday, Michael J. Duarte of NBC LA reports.

Quintana (thumb) has been playing catch from 90 feet recently and could be cleared for a bullpen session in the next seven to 10 days barring any setbacks, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Quintana has been out since having thumb surgery in early July. The lefty won't be ready for Opening Day, but it appears he could be back fairly soon if the bullpen session goes off without a hitch. In the meantime, Alec Mills is likely to fill Quintana's rotation spot.

Stripling will begin the season at the Dodgers' No. 5 starter, Michael J. Duarte of NBC LA reports.

Stripling had been battling Dustin May for the open rotation spot created when David Price opted out of the season, and manager Dave Roberts confirmed Monday that Stripling will be given first crack at holding down a starting role. The right-hander threw a simulated game Saturday and is lined up to pitch in the Dodgers' second game of the season against the Giants. Stripling has enjoyed success as a starter in the past and could be a strong option in both daily and season-long fantasy leagues.

Hendricks said he worked on his curveball while play was suspended due to the coronavirus, and he could use the pitch more in 2020, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Hendricks worked on his grip over the past few months, and the work has apparently paid off, as the righty noted that "it's the best my curveball's felt." In his final summer camp tune-up Sunday against the White Sox, he used the pitch 14 percent of the time, as compared to 9.5 percent of the time in 2019. Hendricks has primarily featured a sinker and changeup during his time in the majors, but increased confidence in his curveball could lead to an uptick in usage.

Paddack will start in the Padres' season opener against the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Paddack was expected to serve as the Opening Day starter, but manager Jayce Tingler made the decision official Monday. The right-hander made his final tune-up in an intrasquad matchup Sunday as he threw 87 pitches over six innings, allowing two runs and striking out eight. Given Paddack's steady increase in workload since camp resumed, he shouldn't have any pitch count limitations to begin the regular season. The 24-year-old posted a 3.33 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 140.2 innings with the Padres during his first major-league season in 2019.