MLB Player News

Hamels is working on a slider this spring, the Dallas Morning News reports.

Hamels is attempting to emulate Clayton Kershaw's slider in an effort to get more strikeouts. It's worth trying for the 34-year-old lefty, as he saw his strikeout rate dip from 26.6 percent in 2016 to just 17.1 percent last year, causing his ERA to jump from 3.32 to 4.20. Hamels is no stranger to tinkering with his arsenal, having added a cutter and a knuckle curve at previous points during his career. There's no guarantee the pitch will work for Hamels, but it at least gives him a glimmer of hope for recouping some of the lost whiffs.

Nicasio has given up one run on three hits and one walk while striking out four in four innings thus far in spring training.

He has received at least two days off in between appearances, as the Mariners will be careful with his workload in advance of a season where they may lean heavily on the 31-year-old righty in high-leverage situations. Meanwhile, closer Edwin Diaz has given up two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out five in four innings of Cactus League play. Though Diaz ranks in the top half of closers for fantasy due to his high ceiling, his volatility and Nicasio's success as a reliever has made the latter a popular flyer at the end of drafts.

Asher was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Asher will relocate to minor-league camp despite posting a 3.00 ERA over three Grapefruit League appearances (six innings). He'll serve as organizational pitching depth for the Orioles in 2018 after splitting time between Triple-A and the big club last season and notching an ERA north of 4.50 at both stops.

Stroman (shoulder) has been ruled out for Opening Day, but he could still pitch during the Jays' season-opening four-game series with the Yankees, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

On a positive note, Stroman felt great after throwing a bullpen session Monday. The Jays didn't announce a replacement for Stroman in the season opener, and an updated timetable for his return should materialize after he begins pitching in game situations during the final two-plus weeks of spring training. If Stroman misses enough time to temporarily open up a rotation spot, Joe Biagini appears to be the frontrunner to pick up any available starts.

McCullers focused on his fastball and changeup Sunday, when he allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out five over 3.2 innings against the Mets, Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers was burned once with the fastball as Yoenis Cespedes took a 1-1 heater over the left field wall in the first inning, but other than that, the right-hander was good. "During the season I'm not going to throw a 1-1 challenge heater down the middle, but that's what spring's for," McCullers said. "I'm trying my new pitches out, trying my new grips out. I'm trying to see what has movement and where I'm locating pitches the best." Two of his five strikeouts were the result of his fastball. McCullers won't grow as a pitcher if he's leaning too much on his curveball, which is considered one of the best in the majors.

Ramirez allowed a home run while striking out six over 4.1 innings in Sunday's win over the Rangers.

While it contradicts his pitching line, Ramirez said that he will be looking to induce more contact this season as opposed to going for strikeouts in an effort to go deeper into games, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. The converted reliever will have to earn a rotation spot first, but fantasy owners in deep and AL-only formats who may have been targeting Ramirez may not find a decrease from his 6.4 K/9 mark last season appealing, even though he may be able to notch a few extra quality starts by improving his efficiency.

Blackburn gave up two earned runs on two hits and two walks over three innings while recording three strikeouts in a Saturday start against the Rangers, and he's having trouble separating from other contenders for one of two potential starting rotation spots, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports.

Blackburn has essentially alternated a pair of questionable outings with two impressive efforts over his four appearances, as he'd also allowed four earned runs over two innings versus the Cubs on Feb. 28. The Rangers sent six hitters to the plate against him in the first inning Saturday, with two of them eventually crossing the plate. While a Jake Smolinski error on a routine flyball didn't help matters, a two-run home run by Elvis Andrus was all on Blackburn, who acknowledged that his location was off on that pitch. He did settle down over his final two frames, and the 24-year-old still feels confident in his ability to even out his performances. "My body feels good and I felt good with the stuff I had today," he said. "I feel like my fastball command came a long way since my first outing of spring. I just continue to build off that."

Eovaldi's fastball was clocked as high as 99 mph in his three-inning stint during a 5-3 Grapefruit League win over the Phillies on Saturday, J. Scott Butherus of MLB.com reports.

Eovaldi gave up an earned run -- his first of spring -- on four hits during his time on the mound, while also recording three strikeouts. The veteran right-hander is attempting to become the 12th pitcher in MLB history to start a big-league regular-season game after two Tommy John surgeries, and he appears to be well on his way to not only doing so, but thriving as the projected No. 4 starter this coming season. The 28-year-old has looked stellar through four spring outings and didn't even allow a baserunner until his third exhibition start.

Martin was reassigned to minor-league camp by Oakland on Sunday, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Martin made just two spring training appearances before being sent down to minor-league camp Sunday. He tossed 1.2 innings and gave up five runs on two hits and four walks, resulting in a 27.00 ERA. The 28-year-old left-hander will likely start the season at Double-A Midland.

Giolito allowed a run on two hits and two walks while striking out eight over four-plus innings in Saturday's start against the Cubs.

Giolito mixed in all of his pitches and fanned the first four batters he faced, running his pitch count to 70 before departing. He's allowed just two runs over nine spring innings. Giolito will be at the front end of the White Sox's rotation when the season kicks off later this month.