Major league baseball notes
DODGERS Kershaw to miss opener
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Clayton Kershaw won’t be starting for the Los Angeles Dodgers on opening day, ending his streak of pitching eight consecutive openers.
Manager Dave Roberts announced the decision Monday.
Kershaw has dealt with left shoulder inflammation during spring training, Kershaw and has yet to pitch in a game. The left-hander is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday, but there are no plans in place after that.
Roberts said it’s unlikely Kershaw would open the season on the active roster.
The Dodgers are considering Walker Buehler and Rich Hill as opening day starters. However, Buehler has had a sore shoulder and he won’t make his first spring appearance until today, when he’s set to throw three innings.
The Dodgers open the season March 28 at home against Arizona.
REDS Wood likely sidelined
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Cincinnati Reds expect left-hander Alex Wood to open the season on the injured list as he recovers from a sore back that has limited him during spring training.
Wood was part of the trade that brought outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to Cincinnati from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made one spring training start before his back tightened, and he had a setback when he resumed throwing last week.
Manager David Bell said Monday that it’s likely Wood will miss the first couple weeks of the season as he tries to catch up.
The Reds open the season March 28 at Great American Ball Park against the Pirates.
Right-hander Tyler Mahle, who was one of five rookies on last year’s opening day roster, is the likely replacement in the Reds rotation.
Mahle made 23 starts for Cincinnati last season before being sent to Class AAA in August.
He returned after the minor league season ended, making one appearance on Sept. 4 before being shut down with shoulder fatigue. He finished with a 7-9 record and a 4.98 ERA.
YANKEES Gonzalez signs
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The New York Yankees reached into the remainder of the free-agent market to bolster their ailing rotation, agreeing Monday to a minor league contract with Gio Gonzalez.
If added to the 40-man roster, the 33-year-old left-hander would get a $3 million salary while in the major leagues and the chance to earn performance bonuses. He was a far cheaper alternative to higher-priced options such as Dallas Keuchel (Arkansas Razorbacks).
New York ace Luis Severino is sidelined by right shoulder inflammation and will not be available until May at the earliest.
In addition, CC Sabathia is likely to miss the first week or two as he recovers from an offseason that included knee surgery and the insertion of a stent after a blockage was found in an artery from his heart. Sabathia also must serve a five-game suspension for hitting Tampa Bay’s Jesus Sucre with a pitch in his last regular-season start of 2018.
Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka heads a rotation that includes lefties James Paxton and J.A. Happ. Jonathan Loaisiga, Luis Cessa and Domingo German are competing for two open rotation spots.
Gonzalez is a two-time All-Star and was 21-12 in 2012, his first season with the Nationals. He is 127-97 with a 3.69 ERA in 11 major league seasons.
Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman said Gonzalez can opt out of his deal if he’s not added to the major league roster by April 20.
Gonzalez was 10-11 with a 4.21 ERA last season for Washington and Milwaukee, which acquired him on Aug. 31. He was 3-0 in five starts for the Brewers and started Games 1 and 4 of the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
BRAVES Teheran to start opener
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Atlanta Braves right-hander Julio Teheran is set to make his sixth consecutive start on opening day.
The Braves said Monday that Teheran will face the Phillies on March 28 in Philadelphia.
Teheran’s run ties Hall of Famer Warren Spahn (1957-62) for the longest in Braves’ franchise history during the modern era. Teheran is 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA on opening day.
Earlier this spring, it had been thought Mike Foltynewicz might start on opening day for the Braves. But he’s likely to be out until at least mid-April with a sore right elbow.
New Phillies slugger Bryce Harper is expected to make his debut in the opener. He’s had a lot of career success against Teheran, going 18 for 40 (.450) with 8 home runs and 19 RBI.
Teheran went 9-9 last season with a 3.94 ERA in 31 starts.