MLB Player News

Syndergaard allowed one run on a hit and a walk while striking out four over three innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

He had his adrenaline a little more under control in his second spring outing, topping out at 100 mph with his fastball rather than living there. Still, Thor's hammer curveball was on full display, and his stuff appeared to be in midseason form, even if his stamina isn't. A healthy Syndergaard is a legitimate Cy Young contender, but after managing only seven starts for the Mets last year, the 25-year-old has something to prove on that front before he can be considered a true fantasy ace.

Strasburg gave up a run on three hits while striking out two in two innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

Making his spring debut, Strasburg was sitting comfortably in the high 90s with his fastball, topping out at 98 mph. The 29-year-old is coming off his second career 200-strikeout campaign, and while it's tough to expect 30 starts or 200 innings from him given his long injury history, Strasburg's per-start production in 2018 should still be elite.

Martinez (personal) returned to camp Saturday after skipping his scheduled Friday start and leaving the team facility early, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

The Cardinals ace threw a three-inning simulated game Friday against minor leaguers on the back fields of the team's Roger Dean complex before heading to his home near the team's Jupiter facility. Although the reasons for the missed start and early departure haven't been revealed, the team did confirm Martinez isn't suffering from any type of injury. The fact that he was back in camp Saturday is certainly encouraging as well and leaves him poised to take his next turn in the spring rotation early next week.

Flaherty has an outside shot at cracking the Opening Day rotation but is likely to open at Triple-A Memphis, the Cardinals' official site reports.

Flaherty posted a 6.33 ERA in 21.1 innings in the majors last season, though it came with a more palatable 4.41 xFIP. In 148.2 innings split between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, Flaherty recorded an impressive 2.18 ERA. He's still just 22, so the Cardinals will likely keep him in the minors to work on his secondary pitches.

Rea is battling shoulder soreness and will be backed off his throwing program, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Rea underwent Tommy John surgery in November 2016 and missed the entire 2017 season. He was considered healthy heading into this spring, but appears to have hit a snag in his rehab. He had an outside shot at winning the Padres' fifth starter job, but that seems unlikely unless he returns to action soon.

Kershaw fired a pair of scoreless innings Friday, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two in a spring training win over the White Sox.

The fantasy ace upped his workload to two innings after completing just one scoreless frame in his first Cactus League outing. Kershaw turned in his "worst" season since 2012 with a 2.31 ERA over 175 innings last year. There is little doubt that he is the best pitcher in baseball during the regular season, but the key for the Dodgers' star in 2018 will be staying healthy after averaging just 24 starts over the past two years.

Glasnow allowed two earned runs in three innings Friday, walking none while striking out six, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Manager Clint Hurdle was encouraged by Glasnow's outing. "His overall pace and rhythm was better," Hurdle said. "The fact that he didn't walk anybody, struck out six, repeated his delivery. A couple mistakes with changeup and a curveball up, but outside of that I though he pitched a pretty good game." The righty teased fantasy owners with a strong spring training start last year before compiling a 7.69 ERA and 2.02 WHIP in 62 innings. Glasnow will likely start 2018 in Pittsburgh's bullpen with a chance to join the rotation during the season. He makes for an interesting end-game pickup, considering the 24-year-old sports a career 11.9 K/9 in minor-league action.

DeGrom (back) may not be ready to pitch Opening Day depending on his level of activity over spring training, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.

The Mets want deGrom to make five starts over the duration of the Grapefruit League. However, at this point in time it looks as if he may fall short of the desired mark and only be able to start four games. The next step for deGrom will be pitching a live batting practice session Sunday, so more information regarding his eventual Grapefruit League debut should be available soon.

Soroka threw two perfect innings of relief while striking out two in Thursday's split-squad game against the Tigers.

Coming on after starter Sean Newcomb, Soroka breezed through a Detroit roster full of big-league bats, with future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera being one of his strikeout victims. The 20-year-old may not have the raw upside of some of the other top Braves pitching prospects, but Soroka's polish and poise are exceptional and as yet he's had no difficulty at any minor-league level. He's not yet on the 40-man roster, but if he handled Triple-A hitters the way he did Double-A hitters as a teenager last year, he could force his way into the rotation picture in Atlanta before the year is done.

Martinez has been scratched from Friday's game against the Red Sox due to personal reasons, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Martinez will throw a simulated game to get his work in and then will leave the facility. It's unknown how long his absence will be, though absences due to personal reasons tend to be short, which would leave him plenty of time to be ready to go by Opening Day.