MLB Player News

Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Sheehan (upper body) will start the 2024 season on the Dodgers' injured list, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Sheehan was set to compete with Gavin Stone for a spot in the Dodgers' Opening Day rotation. Sheehan's availability for the team's domestic opener is in jeopardy, and the duration of his IL stint has yet to be determined. He appeared in 13 games for the Dodgers last season and posted a 4.92 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 64:26 K:BB over 60.1 innings.

Manager Craig Counsell confirmed Saturday that Steele will start for the Cubs on Opening Day versus Texas, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Coming off the best season of his three-year career, Steele will be awarded his first Opening Day start. The 28-year-old southpaw finished last season with a 3.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP alongside a 176:36 K:BB across 173.1 innings, and he finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting. Steele has gotten off to a slow start in Cactus League play, allowing four runs in six innings, but he figures to put together another strong campaign in 2024 if he stays healthy.

The Angels optioned Plesac to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Plesac struggled last season with a 7.59 ERA through 21.1 MLB innings and a 6.08 ERA across 19 Triple-A appearances (18 starts), and he got off to a similarly slow start this spring by allowing four earned runs in 6.1 frames. Until Plesac is able to find success in the minors, it's unlikely he gets the call to join the Halos' rotation in 2024.

Gasser tossed three scoreless innings of relief in an exhibition game Friday. He allowed two hits and posted a 3:1 K:BB in the outing.

Gasser allowed two earned runs over two innings in his lone start of the spring, but he has sandwiched scoreless one-inning and now three-inning appearances around that and owns a 6:2 K:BB over six total frames. Gasser is one of Milwaukee's top prospects and is in the mix for a rotation spot with the big club, but with him not yet on the 40-man roster, the Brewers could assign him to the minors in order to retain other pitchers that are.

Gray (hamstring) has progressed to throwing from 120 feet and participating in agility drills, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Manager Oliver Marmol said there's a chance Gray could begin throwing bullpen sessions next week if Gray's recovery goes well over the weekend. The 34-year-old righty still isn't expected to start for the Cardinals on Opening Day, but it is appearing increasingly likely that Gray's early season absence will be a brief one.

Hendricks, who allowed three runs over 3.1 innings in a Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks on Friday, now has a 7.56 ERA this spring.

Hendricks has made three short appearances so far in camp and has allowed runs each time. It's a small sample size of only 8.1 total innings, so alarm bells don't need to go off yet. However, fantasy managers may want to see the veteran righty get going a bit before the regular season to feel better about his prospects early in the year. Hendricks at least looks healthier this spring compared to last, when he had his throwing routine bumped back due to his recovery from a capsular tear in 2022.

Gausman (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a side session Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The bullpen will mark Gausman's first time throwing off a mound since he first experienced fatigue in his right shoulder roughly a week ago. Despite the injury, Gausman still expects to be ready for Opening Day. A Cy Young finalist in the American League last season, Gausman won't be able to afford a setback if he is to start the season on time.

Falter is in competition for the final spot in the Pirates' rotation to begin the season, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Falter is among several candidates vying for the role. He's allowed 12 baserunners across six innings of work in Grapefruit League action, though his 6:1 K:BB suggests perhaps he's gotten unlucky. The Pirates would likely prefer that Luis Ortiz or Jared Jones force their way into the rotation, and both have had impressive spring performances to this point. That could push Falter into a long relief role, as he has no minor-league options remaining.

Varland threw three scoreless innings in Friday's Grapefruit League loss to Pittsburgh. He threw 34 pitches and another 11 in the bullpen as he prepares to be a starter, MLB.com reports. He's thrown seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and one walk this spring.

Varland is competing with Anthony DeSclafani for the fifth starter role. He could begin the season with the job, as DeSclafani is working his way back from a sore right elbow. If Varland loses out on a rotation spot, it will be interesting to see if the Twins move him to the bullpen or keep him as a starter at Triple-A. Varland excelled as a reliever last season with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings with a 17:1 K:BB while seeing his fastball touch triple digits.

Kelly struck out three over two scoreless, no-hit innings in Friday's start against the Cubs.

Kelly was making his first Cactus League appearance this spring. He's coming off a career-high 201.1 innings in 2023, including the postseason, so the Diamondbacks held him back for a bit to begin camp. The right-hander will get in at least another three spring outings, before he's expected to start the second game of the regular season, Mar. 29, at home against Colorado.