MLB Player News

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson told MLB.com that pitcher Wade Miley, who is working his way back from a bout of dead arm, is expected to pitch Saturday against the Reds. If he comes out healthy, then he'll start the fourth game of the season April 5 at Milwaukee.

The Dodgers announced that left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu will make his MLB debut April 2 against the Giants, according to the Los Angeles Times. Ryu has a 3.86 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in six Cactus League appearances.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright threw six solid innings during his final Grapefruit League start, an 11-4 win over the Mets Tuesday. Wainwright allowed two runs and seven hits -- only two for extra bases -- and struck out three. He walked one and finished the spring with a stellar 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over six starts. The right-hander is St. Louis' opening-day starter.

For those hoping the Mets having injuries to so many rotation candidates will mean a sooner debut for Zack Wheeler, New York has debunked that rumor, reports the New York Daily News. 

The Mets are saying that Wheeler's ultimate promotion will have nothing to do with an injury above him. The team does not believe he's ready yet as a 23-year-old. 

Marlins starter Henderson Alvarez made his final spring start Tuesday in a Grapefruit League outing against the Nationals. He allowed four runs -- one earned -- over five innings. 

Alvarez surrendered five hits, struck out seven and walked two. His spring ERA is 3.55with 11 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings. 

Alvarez is slated to open the season as the No. 4 starter for the Marlins after going 9-14 with a 4.85 ERA last year in 31 starts as a 22-year-old for Toronto. It is positive to see him striking batters out this spring considering he had just 79 Ks over 187 1/3 innings last year. 

The Marlins announced their rotation plans Tuesday for the start of the season. The team's rotation will be Ricky Nolasco, Nate Eovaldi, Wade LeBlanc, Henderson Alvarez and Kevin Slowey. We know -- you can hardly temper your excitement. 

As we wait for the day Marlins super prospect Jose Fernandez is promoted to the majors, as of now the pickings are slim for Fantasy owners. Nolasco is really the only mixed-league viable starter on Draft Day. I see sleeper potential in pitchers like Eovaldi and LeBlanc, but it's still best to view everyone outside of Nolasco as NL-only Fantasy options at the outset of the season. I can see certain scenarios where some of these arms might come into play in mixed-league drafts, but they have to be pretty deep formats.

Marlins starter Kevin Slowey has been named the No. 5 starter to begin the season, reports MLB.com Tuesday. Miami optioned Jacob Turner to Triple-A due to poor performance to open the rotation spot. 

Slowey pitched 13 2/3 innings this spring and gave up four earned runs for a 2.63 ERA with 13 Ks and an impressive 0.95 WHIP. He did not pitch in the majors last year after going 0-8 with a 6.67 ERA for the Twins back in 2011. 

The Marlins rotation to open the season will be Ricky Nolasco, Nate Eovaldi, Wade LeBlanc, Henderson Alvarez and Slowey. 

Even before his first pitch of the regular season, Cardinals prospect Michael Wacha has already earned a promotion. Boosted by his solid spring performance with the parent club, Wacha is expected to start the season with Triple-A Memphis, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The young right-hander, who was the 19th overall selection in last year's MLB draft, finished the 2012 campaign in the bullpen for Double-A Springfield. In five Grapefruit League appearances this spring, Wacha permitted just one unearned run and one walk while racking up 15 strikeouts over 11 2/3 innings.

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke told MLB.com that his elbow felt fine after throwing three innings against the Royals in Monday's Cactus League outing.

"I felt strong, but obviously not if I'm walking three in a row. That's not normal if I'm feeling good," Greinke said. "I thought I felt good, but the results didn't imply that."

The 29-year-old added he should be ready for the start of the regular season.

"I should be. I think so," he said. "I'll definitely be there, if I can build up endurance. I need some improvement."

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke made his first Cactus League start since March 1 Monday night after dealing with a sore elbow. The right-hander allowed five runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts over three innings against the Royals.

Greinke, who has a 7.88 ERA in three spring starts, hopes to be ready to make his regular-season debut April 5 against the Pirates.