Kershaw won’t be ready for opener
Clayton Kershaw won’t be starting for the Dodgers on Opening Day, ending his streak of pitching eight consecutive openers.
Manager Dave Roberts announced the decision Monday.
Kershaw has dealt with inflammation in his left shoulder during spring training 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 Tuesday, when he’s set to throw three innings.
Gio Gonzalez to Yankees
The Yankees agreed to a oneyear minor-league contract with pitcher Gio Gonzalez. If added to the 40-man roster, the lefty, 33, would get a $3 million base salary with incentives.
The Yankees had been seeking more pitching after a shoulder injury to ace Luis Severino, who 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.
Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka heads the Yankees’ rotation that includes lefties James Paxton and J.A. Happ.
Gonzalez was 10-11 with a 4.21 ERA last year for the Nationals and Brewers, who acquired him on Aug. 31.
Suzuki will start in Tokyo
Mariners manager Scott Servais said he was expecting to start Ichiro Suzuki in right field in the season opener against the Athletics at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday in Tokyo. At 45 years, 149 days, Suzuki becomes the second-oldest position player to start Opening Day behind the Braves’ Julio Franco (45, 227) in 2004. Three modernera pitchers have also been older on Opening Day: Charlie Hough, Phil Niekro and Tommy John.
This and that
The Braves announced that righty Julio Teheran will make his sixth consecutive Opening Day start. The run ties Hall of Famer Warren Spahn (1957-62) for the longest in franchise history.
♦ Rangers pitcher Yohander Mendez has a Grade 1 sprain of the left ulnar collateral ligament. It will not require surgery, but the lefty likely will be out until mid-June.
♦ The 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.
♦ The Red Sox announced that second baseman Dustin Pedroia (left knee) will open the season on the 10-day injured list.
♦ The Blue Jays announced that they will give all their minorleaguers a 50 percent raise.