MLB Player News

Gonzales allowed nine runs on 12 hits and two walks while striking out one over 3.2 innings Friday against the Cubs.

Gonzales had a disastrous outing, giving up two runs in the first inning, another in the third and six in the fourth prior to being lifted. The 27-year-old lefty simply didn't have his command Friday evening after starting spring training on a high note. Gonzales had cruised through his first two outings with just one run surrendered over seven innings prior to Friday's drubbing.

Cole allowed a hit and struck out three over three scoreless innings Friday against the Cardinals.

Cole still hasn't allowed a run in three starts this spring, and he's fanned six battings over six innings. The 28-year-old already appears ready for the 2019 regular season to begin. Cole posted a 2.88 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 276 strikeouts across 200.1 frames a year ago.

Stroman allowed one hit and struck out three through four scoreless innings Friday against Pittsburgh.

Stroman turned in the worst season of his career in 2018, posting a 5.54 ERA with a 77:36 K:BB over 102.1 frames. He's looked razor sharp over his last two spring starts, although it remains to be seen whether he'll be able to maintain this high level of play and carry it into the regular season.

Severino has been encouraged by how he feels in the days following a cortisone shot to his throwing shoulder, and he no longer feels pain when lifting his arm, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

Severino received the shot in his right shoulder Wednesday after MRI results showed right rotator cuff inflammation. He'll rest for the next two weeks and will then commence a throwing program to get him ready for the regular season. Although Severino remains unlikely to be ready for the season opener, this is still positive news for one of the Yankees' top arms.

Verlander will start the Astros' regular-season opener March 28 against the Rays, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

The announcement comes as no surprise, as Verlander finished second in the Cy Young race last season with a 2.52 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 290:37 K:BB over 214 innings. The 36-year-old will make his 11th career Opening Day start as he faces off against the man who topped him in the voting, 2018 AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell.

Kikuchi allowed two earned runs on five hits, a walk and a wild pitch over four innings in an 11-3 Cactus League win over the Reds on Thursday. He struck out two.

According to Greg Johns of MLB.com, Kikuchi endured a rough first inning, but he was able to work out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam by allowing just one run. Kikuchi also allowed a leadoff homer in the second to Derek Dietrich and took a line-drive shot off his thigh from the bat of Yasiel Puig during the outing, but he was able to finish his four frames without any notable impediment. Johns reports the Reds appeared to be honed in on Kikuchi's fastball and slider early, so the southpaw adjusted by leaning more on his breaking pitches the rest of the way with some effectiveness. "I was really happy with the way he threw tonight," manager Scott Servais said. "Every time out there's he's learning more, whether it's his relationship with the catcher or what the other teams are going to do against him. He's continuing to really progress nicely."

Glasnow allowed an earned run on a hit and a walk over 2.1 innings in an 11-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday. He struck out two.

Manager Kevin Cash termed Glasnow's performance the "highlight" of an otherwise ugly day for the Rays, and it represented a nice bounce-back for the towering right-hander after he managed to get just 18 of his 40 pitches into the strike zone versus the Phillies last Saturday. Glasnow continues to work on a new delivery this spring and is looking to iron out all the kinks prior to Opening Day in anticipation of serving as the Rays' No. 3 starter.

Heaney (elbow) is starting Friday's spring game against the White Sox, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Heaney's successful bullpen session earlier this week cleared his return to game action from left elbow inflammation. The elbow issue pushed back the 27-year-old's pitching schedule a few days, but barring any setbacks shouldn't impact his availability for Opening Day.

Verlander allowed five hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.1 innings Thursday against the Marlins.

This was by far the hardest Verlander has worked during his three spring appearances. There was traffic on the bases each inning, including his final inning when he left with the bases juiced. Clean or uneventful appearances are nice, but it's also important for pitchers face adversity. "Overall, it was a good day, I'm glad I went out for that last inning," Verlander told Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. "(Velocity) is where I would like to see it, got into a little bit of a jam so we got some adrenaline going so I was able to amp it up a little bit."

Rodon allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three over four scoreless innings Thursday against the Brewers.

Rodon survived the first inning, in which he allowed a walk, a double and a hard-hit fly out, then retired the final 10 batters he faced. The left-hander has battled health issues each of the last two seasons, but he enters 2019 in good shape and looks to deliver on the promise that made him the third-overall pick in 2014. He's the leading candidate to start Opening Day on March 28 against Kansas City.