MLB Player News

Rodriguez has been a more confident pitcher this spring, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports. "It feels really good, and my confidence is really good," Rodriguez said after allowing two runs in three innings Tuesday. "My pitches are going right where I want them, and my position to throw the ball is really good. My mechanics are really good."

Even before Rodriguez suffered a dislocated kneecap last year, he was tentative on the mound, cognizant of his habit of tipping pitches. Then, after the injury cropped up, he modified his mechanics to limit the amount of stress on his landing leg. That version of Rodriguez is nowhere to be found this spring. With David Price (elbow) uncertain for Opening Day, the left-handed Rodriguez has a strong chance to break camp with Boston for the first time in his career.

Kopech threw 45 pitches during a simulated game Tuesday, working on fastball command and changeups, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Kopech's new to big-league camp this year and facing major-league hitters for the first time has its challenges. After the 20-year-old right-hander gave up four runs over one inning in his only spring appearance, Kopech was targeted for some personal instruction by pitching coach Don Cooper, hence Tuesday's closely monitored simulated game.

Verlander went three innings in Tuesday's spring training loss to the Phillies, allowing four hits and one earned run. He struck out two.

After giving up three earned runs over two innings in his last start Thursday, this was a better outing for Verlander. The veteran has said he's more concerned with working on his pitches than the results, so fantasy owners shouldn't read too much into his spring training starts regardless of the outcome. He'll be ready to go for the regular season.

Meyer was tagged for three runs on two hits while walking four and striking out none, only recording two outs in a loss to the Cubs on Monday.

This was a big step backwards for Meyer after he had a clean outing in his spring debut last Wednesday. The former first-round pick was scheduled to throw three innings against the Cubs, but he couldn't locate his pitches and failed to get out of his first frame. Meyer is currently competing for the Angels final rotation spot, but Monday's outing is a rough reminder that he is a long shot to win the job over proven, more-experienced options such as Jesse Chavez or Bud Norris.

Smyly (1-0) notched three strikeouts over three scoreless innings in Monday's 9-0 Cactus League loss to the Rangers while surrendering just a hit and a walk.

Donning a Mariners uniform has agreed with Smyly so far, as he's now surrendered just Monday's hit and a pair of walks overall in his five innings on the mound. The Rangers rolled out a lineup that included Delino DeShields, Jr., Adrian Beltre and Joey Gallo on Monday, so Smyly's strong effort wasn't exactly a layup. Having excelled over his first two outings, the 27-year-old southpaw now heads to Miami on Thursday to join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic in his capacity as designated pitcher, where he'll make one start at the most before returning to Mariners camp. In the interim, he leaves manager Scott Servais with a very positive early impression. "Drew was really, really sharp today. It was great to see. He got all of his pitches working, threw some good changeups. He had a really good curveball today. He had a lot of strikeouts with that pitch. He's been sharp both times out there."

Keuchel (shoulder) threw 39 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Keuchel indicated that his shoulder checked out well during the session, and assuming that he experiences no soreness out of the ordinary following the outing, he could be cleared to take the hill in Grapefruit League play for the first time this spring. If Keuchel can provide evidence in the spring that the shoulder isn't an issue, he could be a solid bargain in drafts after a disappointing 2016 following his Cy Young-winning campaign of 2015.

Bundy pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out three Monday against Detroit.

Bundy was dominant Monday in his second outing of the spring. At one point, he followed up back-to-back 94-mph fastballs by dropping a nasty breaking ball on Nicholas Castellanos for a called third strike in his first of three consecutive strikeouts. Bundy will begin the year near the top of the team's rotation and his value is trending up as draft season begins.

Kluber was rocked over 2.1 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four batters in Monday's exhibition game against the Brewers.

The Indians ace was scheduled to go three innings in his spring debut, but Kluber was pulled after dealing 60 pitches, before hitting the intended finish line. Pitching coach Mickey Callaway said, "He [Kluber] was a little rusty with the two-seamer. He didn't know where to start it. He was leaving pitches up at times, but his breaking ball was really good. There was lot of swing and miss at it and that's what we're looking for at this time of year." Kluber will be used judiciously throughout the Cactus League schedule as the team wants to limit his innings, but owners can expect a much more polished outing the next time he takes the hill.

Sale allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out two over two innings in Monday's game against Houston, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

Sale made his spring debut and said he was pleased with his performance, which included a 97 mph fastball, but also required 37 pitches, cutting his planned three-inning outing short. "The ball felt great coming out of my hand," Sale said. "I was able to throw all my pitches for strikes. That was a step in the right direction." The only hard-hit ball he allowed was a first-inning double to Marwin Gonzalez. His next outing is scheduled for Saturday against the Twins, with a pitch count of 55-to-60.

Cobb gave up one earned run on three hits over three innings in Sunday's 5-3 Grapefruit League win over the Blue Jays.

Cobb is providing plenty of reason for optimism thus far, as he's now given up just one earned run over five innings across two appearances. The 29-year-old right-hander faced off against what was essentially the Blue Jays' regular lineup and surrendered his only run on a sacrifice fly by Steve Pearce in the second. Although the final line looked impressive, Cobb, ever the perfectionist, is still working on calibrating the finer points of his mechanics. "It's a complete feel/mindset type of thing,'' he said. "Micro-fractions of inches here or there change everything down at home plate. ... Obviously it's taken a little longer than I wish.''