MLB Player News

Lloyd McClendon said Saturday that Mariners premier pitching prospect Taijuan Walker might require only one more rehab start before he takes a big league mound, the Tacoma News-Tribune has reported.

That would target his first start for mid-April.

Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker began a Class A rehab assignment on Friday. He logged 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out seven.

Walker was placed on the disabled list retroactive to March 21, as he continues to work his way back from a shoulder injury. He remains without a timetable, but could be eligible to be activated from disabled list as early as Saturday.

Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi put together a dominant outing, earning his first career win on Friday against the Rangers.

Making his first start of the season after earning the final spot in the rotation in spring, Odorizzi allowed only three hits and three walks while striking out four over six scoreless innings pitched. He tossed 95 pitches, 57 of which were strikes.

Odorizzi will make his next start Wednesday at Kansas City.

Tigers pitcher Drew Smyly came away with the win Friday against the Orioles.

Anibal Sanchez started the game, but was chased in the fourth inning due to a rain delay. Smyly came on in relief, and tossed three scoreless innings. He gave up just one hit, and added three strikeouts. Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez was bombed for seven runs during his start, giving Smyly the easy win.

Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman is slated to pitch in Triple-A Friday night, according to MLB.com.

Gausman was scratched from Thursday's start in case there was a double-header against the Tigers Saturday. The two teams were able to get underway Friday, but are currently stuck in a rain delay. If the game is cancelled or postponed, it's unclear whether the team will hold Gausman out for another day.

The Orioles are keeping right-hander Kevin Gausman available for a possible Saturday doubleheader against the Tigers, MLB.com reports.

Baltimore will open a three-game series in Detroit starting Friday, but the forecast calls for non-stop rain. Gausman was scratched from a Triple-A Norfolk start Thursday night in case he is needed for Saturday, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Gausman had a 5.66 ERA in 47 2/3 innings last year.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana was the victim of bad luck in two ways as he made his first start of the season Thursday against Minnesota.

Quintana was plagued by an error by first baseman Jose Abreu in the third inning that resulted in three unearned runs. And he was plagued by a bad bullpen, which threw away the 8-5 lead he left with after six innings.

The left-hander gave up two earned runs on five hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.

Tigers ace Justin Verlander will maintain his Sunday start against the Orioles despite the rainout Thursday against the Royals that could have pushed it back.

The result of the rainout is pitcher Drew Smyly will be skipped in the rotation. Anibal Sanchez, who was scheduled to start Thursday, will pitch Friday and Rick Porcello will start Saturday.

Mariners pitcher James Paxton turned in an excellent debut Wednesday, allowing just two hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings while striking out nine in his team's 8-2 win over the Angels.

Paxton put together four solid starts in his major-league debut in September, and he kept it going with Wednesday's win. He gave up a double and a walk in the first inning but cruised from there. He'll face the same opponent in a rematch at home Tuesday.

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber took the loss in his season debut Wednesday, giving up five earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out two in just 3 1/3 innings as his team fell to the A's, 6-1.

Kluber gave up one run in the first inning, two in the second and another two in the third. He was removed with one out and two on in the fourth, though the runner in scoring position reached on an error and didn't end up scoring. His next start should come Monday or Tuesday against the Padres.