MLB Player News

Tigers pitching coach Jeff Jones told reporters that starter Justin Verlander felt markedly better on Thursday, according to the Detroit News.

Verlander, who is in danger of starting the season on the disabled list with right triceps cramp, has been limited to playing catch and is not scheduled to undergo any further tests on his triceps. He threw at 60 percent strength from 60 feet on Wednesday.

Mariners pitcher James Paxton allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits and one walk in 3 1/3 innings while striking out three in his team's 12-4 loss to the White Sox Wednesday.

"Not the results I was looking for, but my body felt really good," Paxton said after the outing, per MLB.com. "The ball was running quite a bit today and I was having trouble locating."

Paxton tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his spring debut but has struggled over his last two starts, and he finishes Cactus League action with a 7.84 ERA and 6:5 K:BB ratio in 10 1/3 innings. The Mariners have yet to set the rotation, but Paxton's next start will come during the regular season.

Indians manager Terry Francona has set the rotation for the first week of the season, with Zach McAllister slated to serve as the No. 4 starter and pitch the team's home opener next Friday against the Tigers, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Corey Kluber draws the Opening Day assignment Monday against the Astros after winning the AL Cy Young award in 2014. He'll be followed by Carlos Carrasco Tuesday and Trevor Bauer Wednesday. McAllister will then face the Tigers Friday, with T.J. House taking the mound Saturday and Kluber pitching Sunday.

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber surrendered three earned runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings while striking out five and walking none in his team's 5-2 loss to the Giants.

Kluber was able to hold the Giants scoreless through three innings before he allowed one run in the fourth and two in the fifth. He closes the spring with a 3.86 ERA and 25:5 K:BB ratio in 23 1/3 innings. Kluber will square off with the Astros Monday on Opening Day.

"It's exciting for me personally that next time out there will be when it counts," Kluber said. "I'm happy with where I'm at both physically and mentally. I'm ready to go. I'm looking forward to it."

Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel struck out five in his final outing of the spring on Wednesday against the Tigers. The left-hander permitted one run on seven hits and one walk over 5 2/3 innings of work in a 3-2 victory.

"There were a few things I was pretty pleased with," Keuchel said, per the Houston Chronicle. "I wasn't really too happy with the command first of all. Fastball command was kind of spotty, but I really found the slider as an out pitch.

"That's the one thing that I had been lacking all of spring training. That was nice to see the last start."

Keuchel finished the spring with a 1.80 ERA over 15 innings. He's slated to start on Opening Day against Cleveland.

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale threw six innings Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits with 13 strikeouts on 90 pitches against Class-A hitters.

"I felt really good. It was nice to get back on the mound and do what I am supposed to do, honestly," Sale told reporters after the outing, per MLB.com. "Stinks being on rehab the whole time so it was nice to be a pitcher again and be in a game situation. My breaking ball was kind of [lousy] today. I left it up a lot arm side, probably because I was rushing a little bit. But other than that, everything felt fine."

Sale is recovering from a foot injury suffered in late February and has thrown simulated games as a part of his rehab. He appears on track to make his regular-season debut April 12 and will make another start Monday in an attempt to throw about 100 pitches without issue.

Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson had his bullpen session pushed back to Thursday, and remains scheduled to start the team's spring finale on Saturday, according to the Star Tribune. Gibson was scratched Monday due to flu-like symptoms. He owns a 2.75 ERA over 19 2/3 innings of work this spring.

Prior to Wednesday's spring games, the White Sox reassigned right-hander Jesse Crain and left-hander Carlos Rodon to minor-league camp, per the team's official website.

Rodon, Chicago's top-ranked prospect and 2014 No. 3 overall draft pick, went 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB ratio over 17 2/3 innings this spring. he will begin the season at Triple-A Charlotte.

"I had a real fun spring," Rodon said, per ESPN. "I got to spend it in big league camp the whole time, which was exciting. I learned a lot of stuff. It was just an overall great experience."

Crain is working his way back from shoulder and bicep issues that caused him to miss the entire 2014 season. He suffered a minor setback in his recovery in mid-March, which kept him out of Cactus League action this season.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (triceps) will not pitch in Friday's spring training game, leaving his status for the start of the season is in jeopardy, per MLive.com.

Manager Brad Ausmus hinted on Tuesday that the 32-year-old right-hander may need to start the season on the disabled list if he's not recovered from his right triceps camp. Verlander threw at 60 percent strength from 60 feet on Wednesday.

Ausmus told reporters that the idea of Verlander making his first start of the regular season on Wednesday seems a "little bit of a stretch" but hasn't been ruled out yet.

Although the Mariners's final roster for Opening Day has not been made official, pitchers Taijuan Walker and Tyler Olson are among the 25 healthy players remaining in camp and are on the verge of breaking camp with the club, according to MyNorthwest.com.

Walker appears destined for his first Opening Day roster. He registered a 0.36 ERA and 24:4 K:BB ratio in 25 innings this spring. Olson did not allow a run in 12 2/3 innings of work this spring.