Jason Grilli strikes out two to earn first save as Braves closer
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:59 am ET) Prior to Monday’s season opener against the Marlins, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez announced Jason Grilli would be the team’s new closer in the wake of the Craig Kimbrel trade. Gonzalez wasted little time using Grilli in his new role.

The right-hander picked up his first save of the season in a 2-1 win Monday. He retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth inning, which included strikeouts of Giancarlo Stanton and Michael Morse.

Marlins’ Henderson Alvarez loses pitcher’s duel on Opening Day
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:57 am ET) Marlins starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez ended up with the loss in a tight pitcher’s duel with Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran on Opening Day. Alvarez (0-1) allowed just two runs in seven innings, but Teheran was just a little bit better in a 2-1 win for Atlanta.

Alvarez, who tried to help his cause with a double, gave up five singles and one double. He didn’t issue a walk and struck out two.

“We had some chances, had some opportunities,” Marlins manager Mike Redmond said, per MLB.com. “We just didn’t get that one big hit. But we ran into a couple of outs as well. But, that’s baseball. We’ll come back tomorrow and be ready to go.”

Alvarez is expected to make his next start Sunday against the Rays. Alvarez tossed a complete-game shutout against Tampa Bay in 2014.

Joc Pederson to get bulk of playing time in CF for Dodgers
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:39 am ET) Dodgers manager Don Mattingly stopped short Monday of calling rookie Joc Pederson the team’s starting center fielder, but he added, “You’re going to see Joc a lot in center field.”

“We really like the way Joc goes about his business,” Mattingly said, per MLB.com. 

Mattingly added Scott Van Slyke and Andre Ethier are likely going to start in center field the days Pederson is off, per the Los Angeles Times. 

Mattingly said he spoke with Ethier over the weekend about his reserve role. Ethier was hoping to be a starter — either with the Dodgers or another team.

“Any step can change his whole situation,” Mattingly said. “If one guy takes a bad step, turns an ankle, Andre’s playing every day.”

Chris Hatcher picks up first save for Dodgers in 2015
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:32 am ET) Reliever Chris Hatcher got the first chance to close out a game for the Dodgers in Monday’s season opener against the Padres, as closer Kenley Jansen begins the season on the disabled list due to a foot injury. Hatcher came through for Los Angeles, finishing off a 6-3 win for his first career save.

Hatcher got off to a rocky start, as he hit Jedd Gyorko with a pitch to start the inning. But Hatcher then got Yonder Alonso to ground into a double play and finished off the win with a strikeout of Alexi Amarista.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly continues to be vague about his plans for the ninth-inning with Jansen sidelined. Coming into the season, he said matchups would dictate who closes in Jansen’s absence.

“I wish I had that inclination,” Hatcher said, per the Los Angeles Times. “I thought I might go to the back end, but to the ninth inning?”

Mets’ Buddy Carlyle picks up first career save in Opening Day win
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:23 am ET) With Jenrry Mejia sidelined due to an elbow injury, Mets relievers Jerry Blevins and Buddy Carlyle pitched the ninth inning of Monday’s 3-1 win against the Nationals.

The left-hander Blevins kicked off the ninth inning against Bryce Harper, who bats left-handed. Harper lined out to right. 

Carlyle then replaced Blevins, and finished off the win by getting Ryan Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos to ground out. It was his first career save.

After Monday’s win, manager Terry Collins indicated Jeurys Familia would likely be the closer if Mejia goes on the disabled list. Bobby Parnell, who is expected to compete for the closer’s role once healthy, is on the disabled list to begin the season.

Rockies’ Kendrick praises catcher Hundley for Opening Day win
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:04 am ET) Kyle Kendrick had a spectacular Rockies debut Monday against the Brewers, tossing seven scoreless innings during a 10-0 rout. Kendrick allowed just seven singles and no walks, while striking out six.

The right-hander, who spent his previous eight seasons with the Phillies, gave a ton of credit to catcher Nick Hundley for his performance Monday.

“He takes a lot of pride in his game calling,” Kendrick said Hundley, per The Denver Post. “He took over the meeting this morning, talking about their hitters and their lineup. I just sat back and listened. I’ve faced these guys quite a bit, but he was right on the number calling his pitches. His game plan was great.”

Kendrick threw first-pitch fastballs to 19 of the 27 batters he faced. Also, four of his six strikeouts were looking.

“I threw a lot of changeups and sinkers, not many cutters today. It kept them off balance, moving the ball in and out,” Kendrick said. “That was all Nick. I had never pitched in that much in my career against these guys. I learned something today.”

Royals’ Hochevar will pitch for Triple-A team on rehab assignment
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:52 am ET) Royals pitcher Luke Hochevar (elbow) will pitch for Triple-A Omaha during his rehab assignment, according to The Kansas City Star. Hochevar, who is coming off Tommy John surgery in 2014, isn’t expected to come off the disabled list until sometime in May.

“I think that to be able to come up and to be ready at the big-league level, I think there’s a couple steps that I still need to take,” Hochevar said. “The majority of it has to do with recovery and how I’m responding to my outings.

“Even now, I’m pitching with two days in between. That’s got to get moved to one day in between. And then be able to respond, be able to repeat my stuff. And then that’s got to be able to be moved to back-to-back days, and be able to repeat my stuff.

“For instance, in spring, I went from three days to two days. It felt great. But with that adjustment, it took me doing that two times to have my stuff reciprocate. I felt fine. There’s no issues there. It’s just a matter of getting my arm back in shape and getting it used to bouncing back.”

Phillies SP Chad Billingsley to begin rehab assignment Friday
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:44 am ET) The Phillies announced starting pitcher Chad Billingsley (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The veteran right-handed pitcher, who has made just two starts since 2013 due to elbow issues, is expected to join the rotation once healthy.

Giants SP Matt Cain diagnosed with flexor tendon strain
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(9:34 am ET) The MRI on Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain‘s right forearm revealed a flexor tendon strain, according to CSNBayArea.com. However, no ligament damage was found.

Cain, who will likely be placed on the disabled list, will take a few days off from throwing.

“It sounds like it’s just a strain,” Cain said. “We’ll take it as it is and let it heal up. The trainers seem pretty positive.”

Cain, who was unable to finish the 2014 season after needing surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow, was scratched from his season debut Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. No replacement has yet to be named.

“It’s definitely frustrating, but it goes with the territory,” he said. “There are some bumps in the rehab process. This is one of them.”

Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb drives in three in loss
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(1:52 am ET) Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb went 1 for 1 from the plate with a double and three RBI in Arizona’s 5-4 loss to the Giants Monday. 

Lamb came on in the eighth inning as a pinch hitter for Chris Owings with the bases loaded and ripped the second pitch he saw to deep center field, bringing them all home.