Dodgers’ Kershaw set to miss opening day start
Clayton Kershaw won’t be starting for the Los Angeles Dodgers on opening day, ending his streak of pitching eight straight openers.
Manager Dave Roberts announced the decision on Monday.
Kershaw has dealt with left shoulder inflammation during spring training, and has yet to pitch in a game. The left-hander is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Wednesday, but there are no plans in place after that.
Roberts says 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.
The Dodgers open the season on March 28 at home against Arizona.
Rangers LHP Mendez has elbow sprain, likely out till June: The Texas Rangers’ fear that pitcher Yohander Mendez would miss the entire 2019 season was allayed on Monday when an MRI revealed the 24-year-old had a Grade 1 sprain of the left ulnar collateral ligament.
“It’s really good news. I think we dodged a bullet,” assistant general manager Shiraz Rehman said. “There’s some inflammation and some fluid in there, but no surgery at all. At his point, six weeks of no throw, and then we’ll build him back up.”
That timetable calls for an April 29 return to throwing, beginning on flat ground from a close distance. By the time Mendez is ready to pitch in a game, it is likely to be another six weeks, probably in mid-June.
Mendez left Sunday’s Cactus League game against the Diamondbacks after striking out the first batter he faced in the third inning.
Gio Gonzalez, Yankees agree to minor league deal: Gio Gonzalez and the New York Yankees agreed to a minor league contract Monday.
If added to the 40-man roster, the 33year-old lefty would get a $3 million salary while in the major leagues and the chance to earn performance bonuses.
Reds expect LH Alex Wood to open season on DL: The Cincinnati Reds expect left-hander Alex Wood to open the season on the disabled 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 Dodgers. He made one spring training start before his back tightened, and he had a setback when he resumed throwing last week.
Teheran to make 6th straight opening day start for Braves: Atlanta Braves right-hander Julio Teheran is set to make his sixth straight 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.