MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that he expects Freeman (rib) to play in the upcoming Freeway Series against the Angels, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Freeman lobbied to play in the second game of the Tokyo Series, but the team decided it was best to take the cautious route, per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports. Freeman was said to be feeling "much better than [Tuesday]," when he had to be scratched from the lineup for the season opener. Roberts wouldn't commit to Freeman playing in the exhibition series against the Angels, but it sounds like the team is cautiously optimistic the first baseman will be able to return to action and log at least a few reps ahead of the March 27 domestic opener against the Tigers.

Freeman (rib) is not in the lineup for the second game of the Tokyo Series against the Cubs on Wednesday.

A late scratch from the starting nine for the season opener, Freeman estimated his chances of playing in the series finale at 75 percent when speaking to the media after Tuesday's game. However, he will be held out of the lineup yet again. Freeman said the discomfort is in the same spot where he tore rib cartilage during the postseason last fall, and while he said the soreness is less severe this time, it's possible he will require addition testing once the Dodgers return home to Los Angeles.

Smith went 1-for-2 with an RBI and three walks in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs in Tokyo, Japan.

Smith batted cleanup in the Dodgers' season opener due to both Mookie Betts (illness) and Freddie Freeman (rib) sitting out. The backstop came through with a single to score a run in the fifth frame and walked in three of his other four plate appearances. Smith has consistently demonstrated a good eye at the plate during his career, as he's registered a walk rate over nine percent and a strikeout rate below 20 percent each of the past three campaigns.

Romero is away from the Giants due to personal reasons, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Romero was a non-roster invitee to spring training, but he hasn't made an appearance since March 9. The 34-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched in the big leagues since the 2018 campaign, during which he posted a 12.60 ERA, 2.90 WHIP and 10 strikeouts across 10 innings with three different teams. Romero is competing for a spot in the bullpen, though he appears to be a long shot to make the Giants' Opening Day roster.

The Giants will likely turn to McCray if Jung Hoo Lee (back) begins the season on the injured list, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

The club is expected to work Lee back into the lineup before Opening Day, but McCray could step into center field if Lee misses time in the regular season. McCray is hitting .275 with one home run, four RBI and a team-best four steals in 22 Cactus League games. The 24-year-old has been focusing on making consistent contact this spring after striking out in 56 of his 130 plate appearances last season. "I can't say I expected him to be in the big leagues last year, and then he had a stretch where he was really good," manager Bob Melvin said earlier this spring. "Hitting homers, playing great defense, making good throws. And then the strikeouts kind of accumulated a little bit. He knows. That's what he's working on this spring."

The Dodgers transferred Kershaw (toe/knee) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kershaw was initially placed on the 15-day injured list prior to Game 1 of the Tokyo Series, which seemingly indicated that the veteran southpaw was ahead of schedule in his rehab from offseason surgeries on his left knee and left big toe. However, he has now moved to the 60-day IL, which opens up a roster spot for Matt Sauer and keeps Kershaw on his expected return timeline. The 36-year-old is now ineligible to return to Los Angeles until May 27, though he's hopeful to be fully healthy by then.

The Dodgers selected Sauer's contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Sauer didn't perform that well during Cactus League play, giving up seven earned runs in 7.2 innings, but the Dodgers brought him to Japan nonetheless and have now added him to their active roster ahead of the second Tokyo Series game. With a 7.71 ERA in 14 career MLB appearances, the 26-year-old is likely to be used only in low-leverage situations, and there's a chance he heads back to Triple-A once the Dodgers' stateside schedule begins. To create roster space for Sauer, Justin Wrobleski was optioned to Oklahoma City, and Clayton Kershaw (toe) was transferred to the 60-day IL.

The Dodgers optioned Wrobleski to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Wrobleski didn't pitch in the first game of the Tokyo Series but excelled during spring training, allowing just two earned runs while striking out nine batters over 9.1 innings. He'll now end up as the odd man out of the Dodgers' active roster to make room for Matt Sauer, who was selected from Oklahoma City in a corresponding move.

Amaya went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in Tuesday's 4-1 defeat to the Dodgers in Tokyo.

The Cubs could muster only three hits against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and four relievers, and Amaya provided all the offense on a second-inning double. The catcher managed to carry over a strong spring performance into his 2025 debut, and while veteran Carson Kelly will see some playing time, Amaya could seize a larger role behind the plate if he gets off to a hot start.

Brown (0-1) was the pitcher of record in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to the Dodgers in Tokyo, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out five over 2.2 innings.

Brown had an eventful 2025 debut, as he summoned from the bullpen to replace Shota Imanaga, who exited after tossing four scoreless, no-hit innings. Brown was able to miss some bats, but the right-hander also struggled with his control, which was a bit of an issue last season, when he walked 8.6 percent of the batters he faced. Brown could be a starting option for the Cubs at some point this season, though his usage in the opener suggests he'll serve as a long man out of the bullpen for the time being.