MLB Player News

Wood is dealing with back stiffness, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Wood made his lone appearance of spring training Feb. 25 and allowed three runs on two hits and a walk over one inning. The 28-year-old didn't say anything was awry following his spring debut, so it's not fully clear when the back issue actually cropped up. Regardless, manager David Bell indicated Wood is set to pitch again shortly after Tuesday's off day.

Wainwright will start Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

The veteran right-hander already got his spring off to a good start with a pair of scoreless frames last Tuesday. Wainwright will look to continue making his case for a spot in the starting rotation after an eight-start 2018 campaign that was cut short by elbow problems.

Corbin gave up one unearned run on two hits with no walks and one strikeout across three innings during Saturday's spring win over the Twins.

The run is the first allowed by Corbin this spring, and he's yet to allow an earned run over five innings. The 29-year-old signed a massive six-year, $140 million contract with the Nationals in December and will play a vital role in the starting rotation behind Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.

Hamels will throw a simulated game Monday instead of making a Cactus League start, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Hamels was in line to face the Reds on Monday, but the Cubs will opt to skip his turn in the rotation and have him throw the simulated game instead. The 35-year-old pitched two scoreless innings in his spring debut Wednesday and is coming off a strong finish to 2018 in Chicago, so it appears the team is simply letting the veteran ramp up slowly in the early going this season.

Gonzalez was claimed off waivers by the Giants on Saturday, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Gonzalez made one start and seven relief appearances for the Marlins but failed to impress, recording a 5.73 ERA in 22 innings. He avoided walks fairly well, walking just 7.8 percent of opposing hitters, but he only managed an 18.5 percent strikeout rate. He could see some innings in San Francisco this season but is unlikely to play a significant role.

Fried left Saturday's game against the Tigers with a cut on his left pinky.

The Braves' rotation continues to get hammered by injuries, with Fried joining teammates Mike Foltynewicz (elbow), Kevin Gausman (shoulder), Luiz Gohara (shoulder) and Mike Soroka (shoulder) on the list of banged-up young arms. Fried's cut will presumably heal well before Opening Day, but a precise timeline is not yet clear.

Teheran reviewed video during the offseason and believes he's spotted some mechanical flaws in his delivery that have been building up since his rookie season, Jeff Schultz of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander also added eight pounds of muscle to his legs and arms, but Teheran believes a better release point and arm angle are the keys to a rebound after his average fastball velocity clocked in below 90 mph last season for the first time in his career. Heading into what is likely the final year of his current deal -- the Braves hold a $12 million option for 2020, but it comes with a cheap $1 million buyout -- the 28-year-old has every incentive to try and regain the form that saw him post a 3.21 ERA and 1.05 WHIP as recently as 2016.

DeGrom was touching 99 mph with his fastball in Friday's Grapefruit League start against the Tigers, David Lennon of Newsday.com reports.

While the right-hander thought the stadium radar gun might have been running a little hot, he didn't seem worried about overexerting himself this early in training camp. "It's probably high," deGrom said, trying to suppress a smile. "But I feel good. I think mechanically, everything is kind of in line. I'm not really fighting myself and I actually feel smoother than I even did last year. I felt like it was coming out with less effort." The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner wrapped up his second spring start allowing only one hit over three scoreless innings while striking out four, and even that hit was iffy -- it could easily have been ruled an error by left fielder Tim Tebow. It will be hard for deGrom to replicate last season's 1.70 ERA and 0.91 WHIP, but even with less luck he still seems poised for another elite fantasy campaign.

Strasburg tossed two scoreless innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Making his first start of the spring, Strasburg topped out at just 94 mph with his fastball, but he has plenty of time to work it up before Opening Day. The right-hander is coming off a disappointing campaign -- his 22 starts were his lowest since 2011 and his 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP were his highest -- but he still topped 10.0 K/9 for the fifth straight season, and Strasburg remains capable of great things when he's healthy and his mechanics are in sync.

Nix has been working on his slider, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Along with his improved slider, Nix believes improved health -- he underwent sports hernia surgery in the offseason -- will lead to a more consistent sophomore season. The right-hander relied primarily on a fastball, curveball and changeup in his rookie season, going 2-5 with a 7.02 ERA and 21:13 K:BB across nine starts (42.1 innings). Nix, who is competing for a rotation spot in camp, has allowed one run with a 3:3 K:BB through two spring appearances (4.2 innings).