It’s the Saturday after pitchers and catchers have reported, and there are plenty of MLB news and notes involving pitching today, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies having starting pitchers bow out of the World Baseball Classic. Also, the Atlanta Braves are still trying to get a pitcher healthy this spring.
Los Angeles Dodgers news: Clayton Kershaw drops out of Team USA rotation
According to a tweet from USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, the 34-year-old Kershaw will not be a part of the World Baseball Classic, putting a hole in Team USA’s expected rotation. Kershaw told reporters there were “a number of reasons” why he wouldn’t be pitching in the upcoming tournament, but didn’t get into specifics.
Kershaw has made 22 starts for the Dodgers in each of the last two seasons, missing time in both of campaigns due to a number of ailments that landed him on the injured list multiple times.
MLB news: Colorado Rockies starter German Marquez out of World Baseball Classic … for now
Team USA isn’t the only team losing a starting pitcher as the the 27-year-old Marquez will not be on the initial Team Venezuela roster because of a hamstring injury, per a tweet from MLB.com’s Thomas Harding.
Marquez is a key piece of Colorado’s rotation, which enters the season with plenty of questions about its depth. He has not thrown a bullpen session yet in spring training because of the hamstring issue. However, he not only expects to be healthy to start the season, but also believes he could be available if Team Venezuela advances to the next round of the WBC and his hamstring progresses as expected.
Atlanta Braves news: Mike Soroka once again dealing with injury
The long and winding road for Soroka with injuries in a Braves uniform is continuing, at least the start of spring training.
Mike Soroka is dealing with hamstring tightness, manager Brian Snitker said. He reported it when he arrived to camp. The Braves are holding him out as a precaution.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) February 17, 2023
The 25-year-old right-hander has made just 37 MLB starts since the beginning of the 2018 season, but FanGraphs has him listed as the fifth starter for the Braves entering the 2023 campaign. However, he must find a way to stay healthy if he is to contribute for a Braves team that would love to see what he could do on the mound for a full season.