MLB Player News

Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez will get the start on Thursday against the Marlins, according to MLB.com.

Martinez is expected to throw around 40 pitches during the start. The club is hoping Martinez goes two innings. Martinez prepared for the start by throwing two simulated innings against the Cardinals on Monday. Martinez, who is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, said he just needs to go out and perform. 

"I need to go out and perform," he said. "I'm going to keep focused and have the same mentality to do my best even though it's the first [start]. Every time I take the mound, I'm going to feel like it's the last one."

Martinez, 23, posted a 4.03 ERA over 89 1/3 innings last year. 

Cubs manager Joe Maddon indicated Monday starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks is pretty much a lock for the team's rotation, leaving just the fifth spot in the rotation open, according to CSNChicago.com.

Hendricks was outstanding as a rookie in 2014, going 7-2 with a 2.46 ERA in 13 starts. He struck out 47 batters and issued 15 walks in 80 1/3 innings. He also allowed just 72 hits and four home runs.

Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu (back) and reliever Joel Peralta (shoulder) said they felt fine after throwing bullpen sessions Monday, per the Los Angeles Times. Both players threw in the rain Monday.

"I thought the weather might be a problem, but after I got loose I was fine," Peralta said, per MLB.com. "I threw harder than I thought I would. My arm strength is not there yet; I need a couple games to get that back."

In a move that is of little surprise, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly announced Monday he is planning to start ace Clayton Kershaw on opening day (April 6) against the Padres.

Kershaw is on track to start his fifth straight opening day, which would mean Don Sutton would be the only other pitcher in franchise history with more consecutive opening day starts. Sutton started seven straight times from 1972-78.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright was back on the mound Monday to throw his first bullpen session since being sidelined last week due to an abdominal strain, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Wainwright threw 30-40 pitches and mixed in his curveball.

"His arm feels good," manager Mike Matheny said, per MLB.com. "It's in a great slot. Everything is coming out nice. We just have to stay on top of it."

Monday marked the first time Wainwright was on the mound since the first official day for pitchers and catchers 10 days ago.

Matheny said Wainwright will have to face hitters in batting practice before being able to pitch in a game.

"My arm feels great," Wainwright said, per MLB.com. "My body is in the perfect position to throw the ball. It's getting better each time. … I was very happy with where my pitches were. I kept the ball down for the most part; that's what I was working on today, staying knees and below. I worked sides. I worked pitches. The changeup has come a long way. I'm going to throw more than one a game this year."

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright is meeting with trainers Monday to get the go ahead to continue in his rehab from an abdominal strain, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The team's ace is scheduled to throw a bullpen Monday.

Rockies pitcher Christian Bergman chose not to feel slighted when the team added several rotation options this offseason, MLB.com reports.

"It motivates me in a sense, but when I achieve the goals that I want to achieve, that could go away," Bergman said Saturday. "Then you have to find new motivation. I like to motivate myself with more internal things than what other people say, because that changes -- day to day, even."

Bergman made three starts and four relief appearances during the Arizona Fall League, going 2-0 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 18 2/3 innings, and chose to work on elements of his game against the quality competition.

"I worked on particularly my cutter and curveball, some basic stuff -- particularly getting back on top of the ball, getting everything going downhill," Bergman said.

Bergman, who missed two months last season due to a broken hand, went 3-5 with a 5.93 ERA and 31:10 K:BB ratio in 54 2/3 innings over 10 starts in 2014.

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright told ESPN that he feels "dramatically better" in his recovery from an abdominal strain. 

Wainwright said he wasn't concerned that the injury would put him at risk of missing opening day, and he's ready to get back onto the field. 

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu is set to get back on the mound Monday to throw, manager Don Mattingly said Saturday.

Ryu is dealing with a back injury, but has been throwing the last couple of days without pain. He went 14-7 in 2014 with a 3.38 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 152 innings pitched.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw will make his spring training debut Thursday against the White Sox, manager Don Mattingly said Saturday.

Kershaw went 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA in 2014 with 239 strikeouts in 198 1/3 innings pitched, leading the National League MVP and Cy Young awards.