Baseball starts TOMORROW.
MLB roster moves: Kershaw, Fister, Hamels begin 2014 on the disabled list
Teams are busy making their final personnel adjustments before Opening Day.
Harry How
Yeah. Technically, it started several days ago in Australia, but Monday is Opening Day for the other 28 teams, so it feels a little more official.
Unfortunately, the beginning of the season has come a little too soon for several players around the game. Some of the league’s biggest names will begin the year on the disabled list, most of them placed there retroactively in order for their teams to keep an extra player around for a few days -- or a few weeks.
Clayton Kershaw already made his first start of the season, but he'll sit out at least two starts with some back discomfort, according to MLB.com's Scott Miller.
The Dodgers aren't panicking. They have four off-days scheduled over the first 13 days of the season, and it doesn't appear as though they'll need a fifth starter until April 19th. L.A has the rotation depth to bring the reigning Cy Young winner along as conservatively as it sees fit.
Josh Beckett has earned the team's fifth spot in the rotation over Paul Maholm, but Maholm could see a start or two if Kershaw needs more time to recover from an "inflamed teres major muscle, which stabilizes the upper arm near the upper back."
Hyun-Jin Ryu will start the team's home opener in Kershaw's place.
Phillies begin 2014 with six players on the disabled list
Cole Hamels will be joined by Miguel Gonzalez, Mike Adams, Freddy Galvis, Ethan Martin, and Darin Ruf on Philadelphia's disabled list, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
Adams was shelved retroactive to March 26th. The other five players were placed on the DL retroactive to March 21st. Hamels is expected back in late April or early May. Adams and Galvis should return in the middle of the April. Ruf could miss four-to-six weeks with an oblique strain. Gonzalez, once projected as an impact signing out of Cuba, could land on the 60-day DL with shoulder tendonitis.
Nationals place Doug Fister on 15-day disabled list
The Nationals biggest addition this offseason was clearly Doug Fister. Unfortunately, he’ll begin the year on the DL with a strained lat muscle, as CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder reports.
The 30-year-old right hander dealt with some alarming elbow inflammation early in spring training, but he appeared to be set to start the year without issue. However, after suffering the lat injury earlier this week, he'll be spelled by Tanner Roark and Taylor Jordan in the early going.
Reds open with eight on the shelf
Aroldis Chapman, Mat Latos, and Devin Mesoraco are the most notable names that will begin 2014 on the disabled list for the Reds, as the Merced Sun-Star's Joe Kay reports. Chapman is still recovering from the injuries he sustained after being hit in the head by a line drive against the Royals, Latos had minor knee surgery and is expected back in April, and Mesoraco is dealing with an oblique strain.
Jonathan Broxton, Skip Schumaker, Jack Hannahan, and Sean Marshall will also start the year on the DL.
Bourn, Giambi placed on DL by Cleveland
Cleveland placed outfielder Michael Bourn and designated hitter Jason Giambi on the disabled list retroactive to March 21st, according to MLB.com's Andrew Simon. Bourn tweaked his hamstring on March 16th. The injury is officially listed a strain. Giambi has a fractured rib.
Both players will be eligible to return on Saturday.
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