MLB Player News

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told reporters Friday that pitcher Drew Smyly will rejoin the rotation Wednesday against Cleveland, MLB.com reports. Smyly has logged six scoreless innings in his first two outings this season. 

Mariners pitcher James Paxton won't begin his rehab throwing program for another 7-8 days, MLB.com reports on Friday.

Paxton was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a lat strain, which he suffered the previous day against the Angels. He's 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 13:2 K:BB ratio in his first two starts.

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel put together a dominant outing on Thursday, earning his first win of the season in a 6-4 victory over the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Making his second start, Keuchel (1-1) permitted a solo home run to Colby Rasmus in the fifth inning for his only blemish of the night. He yielded just one run on five hits and two walks while striking out six over seven innings pitched. He tossed 101 pitches, 60 of which were strikes.

Keuchel has allowed just five runs over his first 12 innings pitched and owns a 11:4 K:BB ratio over that span. He will make his next start Wednesday against Kansas City.

The Rangers are delaying starting pitcher Colby Lewis' return to the rotation by a few days, so the team realigned its rotation plans for a weekend series vs. Houston.

Yu Darvish will start the series opener Friday, and he will be followed by Tanner Scheppers Saturday and Martin Perez Sunday. 

The delay in Lewis' return doesn't have to do with his surgically repaired hip. The Rangers are waiting to see if third baseman Adrian Beltre (quadriceps) will need a trip to the disabled list. If Beltre goes on the DL, then the team will have a roster spot for Lewis. If he doesn't, then the Rangers will have to make another move to get him on the roster.

Therefore, Lewis and Robbie Ross are expected to start the first two games of the Seattle series, which starts Monday. The alignment depends on when the Rangers decide to make a roster move.

The Mariners must add another starting pitcher next week to replace the injured James Paxton in the starting rotation. Taijuan Walker and Blake Beavan are the leading candidates.

Walker will probably get the call if he is ready in his recovery from shoulder soreness. He certainly appeared to be in fanning 10 in five shutout innings during a rehab start for Double-A Jackson. But if the Mariners want to increase his pitch count before sticking him in their rotation, Beavan could be promoted.

Beavan was far less impressive in his last start for Triple-A Tacoma. He surrendered three runs and two homers in six innings for a no-decision.

Mariners starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (shoulder) is itching to rejoin the team's rotation. He let his actions speak loudly during a rehab start Tuesday for Double-A Jackson, as he struck out 10 batters in five scoreless innings.

"I felt really good. My arm feels good, 100 percent," Walker told MLB.com. "I feel like I can just go out there and play catch and not feel anything. It's good I can go out there and have no worries. I want to get up there as soon as possible. Not only do I feel really good, but I wanted to go out there, pitch and compete. I wanted to make sure I was out there competing and throwing all my pitches for strikes, so when they do call me back up I'm ready to go out there and give my team a chance to win."

Walker, who threw 85 pitches Tuesday, said he felt he had better command in his second rehab start. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk in 4 1/3 innings for Class A High Desert in his first rehab start.

"My curveball was much better than it was in High Desert," Walker said. "I threw a lot more of them (Tuesday) because it was working. My changeup is one of my best pitches right now, too."

The Mariners have not yet revealed the next step in Walker's rehab, but the initial plan was to have him throw 95-100 pitches before returning to the major-league rotation. Although, James Paxton's injury could alter the Mariners' plans for Walker.

Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker excelled in his rehab start with Double-A Jackson Wednesday, giving up three hits and one walk in five scoreless innings while striking out 10.

Walker threw 84 pitches in the outing as he works his way towards his season debut with the Mariners. He's recovering from shoulder soreness.

The Mariners placed pitcher James Paxton on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a lat strain, MLB.com reports.

Paxton suffered the injury Tuesday and was expected to hit the DL before Wednesday's game. He's 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 13:2 K:BB ratio in his first two starts.

Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker will make a rehab start with Double-A Jackson Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Walker could potentially replace the injured James Paxton in the rotation if the latter goes on the disabled list. Walker was limited by shoulder soreness this spring, but Wednesday's rehab start is expected to be the final one he needs before making his season debut.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said Wednesday that pitcher James Paxton is "most likely" heading to the disabled list, MLB.com reports.

Paxton suffered an lat strain Tuesday and was scheduled to undergo an MRI on the injured area today, but the results of the test have yet to be announced. He's 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 13:2 K:BB ratio in his first two starts.