MLB Player News

Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Buehler is "a little behind the other guys, but once the season starts whatever he gives us will be sufficient," Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.

The 25-year-old threw a simulated inning Saturday and is scheduled for two-plus simulated frames this week, so it appears he won't be ready for a full workload to begin the season. Buehler has a little more than a week to continue ramping up for the opening series against the Giants, but he seems likely to start the season being limited to fewer than five innings per outing. According to David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports, Roberts also said Buehler's slow buildup in summer training isn't related to any kind of injury.

Martinez, who is still preparing as a starter ahead of the regular season, could nevertheless see his chances of returning to the closer role at some point increase with Jordan Hicks (elbow) opting out of playing in 2020, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The situation clearly remains up in the air, and it's possible manager Mike Shildt opts to utilize several pitchers in the ninth-inning role throughout the 60-game campaign. However, the Cardinals skipper is increasingly thin on candidates at present, as Giovanny Gallegos is still grounded in Mexico with no semblance of an arrival date and Hicks is no longer an option for the second half of the season in the wake of his decision. Ryan Helsley remains a candidate as well and appears to have the stuff to succeed in high-leverage scenarios, but Martinez carries the appeal of a proven track record in the role after converting 24 of 27 save opportunities in the second half of last season. A decision may not be made until much closer to Opening Day, as the next few days should also give Shildt a chance to further evaluate Kwang-Hyun Kim's fitness for the No. 5 starter job that Martinez is hoping to secure.

Soroka will be the Braves' starter for their Opening Day contest against the Mets on July 24.

Soroka was dominant for the Braves last season, recording a 2.68 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 29 starts, and he'll now serve as the team's youngest Opening Day starter in franchise history. The team said in late June that it will be cautious with its starters to begin the season, so the 22-year-old may not see the innings counts that he's been used to in the past. However, manager Brian Snitker's announcement Tuesday signals the confidence that the Braves have in Soroka heading into the season.

Musgrove struck out seven batters in five innings during Monday's summer camp intrasquad game, allowing a first-inning homer to Josh Bell, Adam Berry of MLB.com.com reports.

The team's likely Opening Day starter mixed his pitches to keep hitters off balance. "One thing that really stood out to me was his ability to use all his pitches," manager Derek Shelton noted. "His feel on his pitches tonight was about as close to being ready for the season, I think, as you can see out of a guy." Musgrove pitched well in his final eight starts of 2019, compiling a 3.74 ERA before going on the IL with an abdominal injury that led to offseason surgery.

Quintana (thumb) is on track to begin throwing later this week, Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Quintana underwent microscopic surgery on his left thumb in early July and this will be his first time throwing since then. He has been able to continue with a workout program in the meantime. The lefty seems likely to miss at least one turn through the rotation, which figures to open the door for Alec Mills to step in as a starter.

Manager Joe Girardi said Nola is definitely a possibility to start Opening Day, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Nola was a late arrival at the Phillies' camp because he had been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, but he has cleared the MLB's testing protocol. The right-hander pitched well during Monday's intrasquad game, while teammate Zack Wheeler remains uncertain if he'll rejoin the team from paternity. Nola went 12-7 in his fifth campaign in Philadelphia last season, posting a 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 229:80 K:BB across 34 starts.

Eflin (back) threw a bullpen session Monday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The session apparently went quite well, with pitching coach Bryan Price calling it "beautiful." Aesthetics aside, the Phillies will be very happy to have Eflin back on the mound after battling back spasms, especially as they're already expecting to be without one starter early in the season, as Zack Wheeler will be away on paternity leave with his wife due to give birth to the couple's first child around Opening Day. Whether or not Eflin is able to build up to a starter's workload for his first turn in the rotation remains to be seen.

Kershaw tossed five innings in an intrasquad game Sunday, allowing two runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out eight. He unofficially threw 91 pitches, per Alanna Rizzo of Spectrum SportsNet LA.

It wasn't the most efficient performance for the veteran southpaw, but Kershaw nonetheless held his own in the intrasquad matchup. Most importantly, the 91-pitch effort suggests that Kershaw is ready to take on a near-normal workload when he faces San Francisco on Opening Day.

Paddack completed six innings in an intrasquad game Sunday, unofficially throwing 71 pitches, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

There are no official stats for intrasquad games, but Acee notes that Paddack looked sharp in blazing through six innings despite a pair of errors committed behind him. While the Padres have yet to name their Opening Day starter, it is widely assumed that Paddack will receive the honor given his superb 2019 campaign and effectiveness in both spring training and summer camp.

Lopez will be away from the Marlins for a few days to attend to a personal matter, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Assuming his absence does last only a few days, Lopez would have time to return to camp and continue his preparations for Opening Day. The right-hander is expected to be part of the Marlins' rotation when the season begins.