MLB Player News

Wood (ankle) allowed two runs on one hit and two walks while striking out one batter in one inning Monday against the Rangers.

Most importantly, Wood was able to get through his Cactus League debut without a hitch after being limited early on in camp with an ankle injury. Barring any setbacks throughout the rest of spring training, the 27-year-old southpaw should slot into the middle of the Dodgers' rotation to open the season. Wood, who went 16-3 with a 2.72 ERA and 151:38 K:BB across 152.1 innings in 2017, is likely in line for some regression this season, though he should still prove to be a valuable asset regardless.

Musgrove (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Sunday without issues, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Musgrove suffered a minor shoulder injury (described as "shoulder discomfort") earlier in February. He was delayed to start camp but seems to be recovering fine, and he'll throw again Tuesday. Keep an eye on his progress once he's able to appear in Grapefruit League games, as that should help clarify his chances of being ready for the start of the season.

DeGrom (personal) returned to Mets camp Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

DeGrom was away from the team for five days so that he could be with his family for the birth of his daughter. Although deGrom returned to camp, he isn't scheduled to pitch in a Grapefruit League game in the near future, as he first needs to increase his level of activity following his brief absence.

Manager Gabe Kapler announced that Nola will be the Opening Day starting pitcher for the Phillies, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The news hardly comes as a surprise, but it's nonetheless good to see official confirmation from Kapler. Nola had a 3.54 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across 168 innings (27 starts) with 184 strikeouts in 2017. The 24-year-old's strikeout rate and quality 3.27 FIP leaves a solid indication for potential improvement as the Phillies' top starter this season.

Matz (elbow) is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Astros, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Since the start of spring training, Matz has gradually increased his level of activity and has recently been pitching live batting practice. After a subpar 2017 season that was hindered by injuries, Matz appears to be on track to open the season in the Mets' rotation. He'll aim to bounce back from last season's dismal showing, as he threw to the tune of a 6.08 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 13 games (66.2 innings).

Houser (chest) threw his first bullpen session of the spring Saturday, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Houser was limited to only a handful of brief outings in the lower minors last season while returning from Tommy John surgery, but looked set to enter spring training with no restrictions after a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. Unfortunately for the right-hander, his spring activity has been delayed by an appendectomy, which has left him a week and a half behind the team's other healthy pitchers. Now that he's back on the mound, Houser should progress to facing hitters in drills this week before making his Cactus League debut in early March. Though he was developed as a starter prior to undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery, Houser is expected to be groomed as a reliever going forward in order to accelerate his arrival to the big leagues. He's expected to open the 2018 campaign at Double-A Biloxi.

Wood (ankle) is scheduled to start Monday's Cactus League game against the Rangers, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.

Wood has been hobbled by an ankle injury during spring camp but was able to ramp up his activity recently and is set to make his Cactus League debut. Assuming a clean slate of health entering the season, Wood will look to follow up his incredibly strong 2017 campaign with similar results. He's likely in line for some statistical regression, but Wood should prove to be a useful asset in nearly all fantasy formats.

Lorenzen allowed one earned run over two innings in his spring training debut Saturday, with two hits and no walks allowed, striking out three. Lorenzen was pleased with his outing afterward, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports. "It felt great," Lorenzen said. "A lot of weak contact, tons of ground balls, ground-ball outs and strikeouts. That's what I'm looking for, especially at Great American Ball Park. I threw everything that I have to offer. Everything felt crisp, good."

Lorenzen is competing for one of the two open rotation spots with the Reds, and though he is considered a long shot for the role, this outing didn't hurt him. "The only thing that I'm going to go into my next bullpen is fastball command and just getting the timing down," Lorenzen said. "It's all timing and sequencing. It's going to get a lot more crisp."

Wainwright (elbow) will make his first spring training start Thursday against the Twins, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Thursday will mark Wainwright's first taste of live action after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow this offseason. The Cardinals will likely keep the 36-year-old's workload light during spring training, but barring any setbacks he'll be good to go for Opening Day.

Urias (shoulder) was put on the 60-day disabled list Friday, Andy McCullough of The Los Angeles Times reports.

This was strictly a procedural move for the Dodgers as Urias is expected to remain sidelined for the first-half of the 2018 season due to shoulder surgery he underwent in June. In a corresponding move, the club claimed J.T. Chargois off waivers.