MLB Player News

Manager Dave Roberts said Buehler is still in the mix to start for the Dodgers on Opening Day, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

The Dodgers have yet to decide who will take the ball on Opening Day in place of Clayton Kershaw (shoulder), but the young right-hander seems like a viable option if he's able to prove his health. Buehler, who is being slow played this spring after a sizable innings jump in 2018, is set to make his spring debut Tuesday against the Indians.

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed Kershaw (shoulder) will not start for the Dodgers on Opening Day, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

This comes as no surprise, as Kershaw has been behind other pitchers all spring while battling shoulder issues. Per Gurnick, the southpaw is slated to face live hitters Wednesday, though it's still unclear when he'll be cleared for game action, leaving his return date murky. The good news is Kershaw will be in Los Angeles during the team's season-opening series, suggesting he could be available to make an abbreviated start during the first week of the season, if all goes as planned. The Dodgers have yet to announce who will start in place of Kershaw on Opening Day.

Flaherty will start the second game of the season, March 29 against the Brewers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

This was expected with Carlos Martinez (shoulder) on the mend and Miles Mikolas tabbed to start Opening Day. Flaherty has been stellar this spring, compiling a 2.77 ERA and 19:3 K:BB through 13 innings. Flaherty is also lined up to get the ball for the Cardinals' home opener against the Padres on April 4.

DeGrom (illness) allowed one run on seven hits while striking out 12 across 6.1 innings of work in Monday's intrasquad game, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

DeGrom looked unbothered by the illness that forced him to push his start back by a day. The right-hander fired 96 pitches and issued no free passes. DeGrom is scheduled for one last abbreviated spring outing before getting the ball against the Nationals on Opening Day (March 28).

Lyles (side) threw a successful four-inning simulated game Monday, John Perrotto of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Lyles, who was removed from his previous Grapefruit League appearance due to a side cramp, fired 60 pitches in Monday's session and reported no issues afterwards. Assuming he checks out OK in the coming days, Lyles could rejoin the rotation later in the week. He's the leading candidate to open the season as the Pirates' fifth starter.

Teheran was officially named the Braves' Opening Day starter on Monday.

Teheran earns the honor for the sixth consecutive season, tying Hall of Famer Warren Spahn for the franchise record. Teheran, of course, is nowhere near that level, but he's still a decent pitcher. His 3.94 ERA last season easily outpaced his 4.83 FIP, but his ERA has come in considerably below his FIP for six straight seasons, so it would be wrong to credit the difference entirely to luck. Still, Teheran wouldn't be the ace for most contenders and only fills that role in Atlanta due to Mike Foltynewicz's elbow injury.

Teheran allowed one run on four hits over five innings while striking out six in Sunday's split-squad game against the Astros.

Facing a mixed-bag Houston lineup headlined by Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman, Teheran looked very sharp. The right-hander has an impeccable 16:1 K:BB through 12 spring innings, and while he's fallen into his sixth straight Opening Day start somewhat by default due to Mike Foltynewicz's elbow injury, Teheran has pitched well enough in camp to earn it.

Toussaint gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits over four innings while striking out five in Sunday's split-squad game against the Tigers.

The 22-year-old has a superficially rough 5.79 ERA through 14 innings this spring, but his 17:2 K:BB is a much better reflection of how he's been pitching. Toussaint appears to have a rotation spot with the Braves all but locked up to begin the season, but with Mike Foltynewicz (elbow) and Mike Soroka (shoulder) getting healthier, he might only have until the end of April or so to prove he deserves to keep it.

Soroka threw about 25 pitches in a batting practice session Sunday and felt no pain in his shoulder afterwards, Gabriel Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

"It felt good," Soroka said. "It felt like it's been long overdue. It was nice to be back out there and face some hitters and compete again. Even if there's a cage around it, it's a lot of fun to let it rip." There's still no firm timetable for the right-hander's return to game action, but if he avoids any further setbacks he could be a rotation candidate for the Braves by late April or early May.

Wood (back) will throw a side session Monday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Manager David Bell confirmed Wood isn't expected to be ready for Opening Day, though the skipper added that he doesn't think the southpaw will be sidelined for too long. Look for a more concrete timetable for Wood's return to emerge as he progresses further in his throwing program.