MLB Player News

DeGrom picked up a win in his season debut Saturday against the Cardinals, striking out seven and allowing one earned run on four hits and a walk over 5.2 innings.

It was a strong debut for deGrom, which should ease any worries that the back stiffness he battled during spring training would carry over into the season. The 29-year-old posted a career-high strikeout rate last season, striking out 28.9 percent of the batters he faced. He carried that over into his first start this year, recording a strikeout rate of 31.8 percent. Owners in quality starts leagues will be disappointed that deGrom was pulled with one out remaining in the sixth inning, though he had thrown 101 pitches already, so the decision was a reasonable one by manager Mickey Callaway. That slight lack of efficiency was the only blot on an otherwise strong debut from one of the better pitchers in the league.

Despaigne has been confirmed as the starter for Saturday's game against the Cubs, Carrie Muskat of MLB.com reports.

Despite making an appearance well after midnight in Friday's 17-inning win over the Cubs, Despaigne will remain on schedule and toe the rubber Saturday. That said, the soon-to-be 31-year-old may not be able to go very deep into the game given his recent workload.

The Pirates' game against the Tigers on Saturday was postponed due to weather and will be made up during a doubleheader Sunday, pushing Williams' regular-season debut back a day, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Williams will make his first start of the 2018 season during Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader, while Chad Kuhl takes the mound for Game 2. During 31 appearances -- 25 starts -- for the Pirates last season, Williams logged a 4.07 ERA and 1.31 WHIP over 150.1 innings.

Despaigne hasn't been ruled out as the Marlins' starting pitcher Saturday after being needed in relief to finish Friday's game, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

Manager Don Mattingly wondered aloud after Friday's grueling 17-inning affair whether Despaigne could get two wins in one calendar day, as his 11-pitch appearance came well after midnight. The front office still has plenty of time to shuffle the pitching staff around and bring up fresh arms from the minors before Saturday's 7:07 PM first pitch, but if Despaigne does remain in his scheduled start, it could make juggling the roster a lot easier. Of course, it could also just put further strain on the bullpen if the right-hander is forced to make an early exit due to the unusual workload.

Lucchesi gave up three runs on seven hits while striking out one over 4.2 innings Friday against the Brewers. He did not factor into the decision.

The rookie got into early trouble in this one, giving up a pair of runs in the first inning on two hard-hit doubles. He settled down over the next few frames before needing the bullpen's help to escape a jam in the fifth. A surprise addition to the 25-man roster this spring, Lucchesi will get a chance to prove that he belongs in the majors after posting a 1.79 ERA over 60.1 innings with Double-A El Paso last season. The southpaw posted a 7.9 K/9 at his highest level in the minors, so he should be able to outproduce the one strikeout from Friday. Lucchesi has a pair of brutal matchups on tap, on the road against the Astros next Friday followed by the Rockies in Coors, so fantasy owners may want to take a wait-and-see approach after an indecisive first outing.

Senzatela (0-1) allowed two runs on three hits over 2.2 innings to take the loss against Arizona on Friday.

Senzatela entered in the bottom of the third inning after starter Tyler Anderson surrendered seven runs through just 2.1 frames. Pitching out of the bullpen limits Senzatela's fantasy appeal, but if he returns to the rotation, he could resurface as a matchup-based option. However, it's important to remember that the 23-year-old righty plays half his games at hitter-friendly Coors Field.

Cueto pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed just one hit while striking out four batters during Friday's 1-0 win. He didn't factor into the decision.

This was an impressive start to the season, and especially since it follows a disappointing 2017 campaign. Cueto was limited to 25 starts last year because of blisters on his pitching hand and a flexor strain, and his 4.52 ERA was his worst mark since his rookie season in 2008. The 32-year-old veteran is unlikely to cruise through opposing lineups as easily as he did Friday, but a notable rebound is definitely in the range of outcomes. He lines up to face the Dodgers again in his next start.

Despaigne (1-0) threw a scoreless 17th inning Friday to pick up the win in a 2-1 victory over the Cubs.

Originally slated to start Saturday's game, Despaigne instead was forced into action to close out Friday's marathon contest. Expect the Marlins to shuffle around their rotation for the rest of the weekend as a result, bumping the veteran right-hander's first start of the season to Monday or even later in the week.

Wood fired eight scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out five Friday, but he did not receive a decision in a 1-0 loss to the Giants.

Wood was near perfect in this one, not allowing a baserunner until giving up the only hit of his night in the fifth inning. Unfortunately for his fantasy owners, the southpaw was pulled from a 0-0 game after tossing just 90 pitches (65 strikes) in favor of Kenley Jansen in the ninth, leaving the starter without a decision. Other than the absence of a win, this was about as good of a first outing one could ask for. Wood will try to keep his ERA spotless in a much tougher matchup on the road against the Diamondbacks next Wednesday.

Hendricks gave up one run on four hits and three walks over six innings while striking out five in Friday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Marlins.

The right-hander looked good in his first outing of the season, throwing 55 of 88 pitches for strikes, but Hendricks had no chance at a win in a game that wasn't decided until the 17th inning. He'll next take the mound Thursday in Milwaukee.