MLB Player News

Astros southpaw Dallas Keuchel was close to perfect in his performance Saturday against Philadelphia. He pitched three hitless innings, walking one and striking out two.

Keuchel has been lights-out so far. He has yielded just one hit in five shutout innings in two appearances. He is off to a strong start in his quest to land a rotation spot after a poor 2013 in which he lost 10 of 16 decisions and compiled a 5.15 ERA.

Rangers pitcher Martin Perez allowed two earned runs on two hits and three walks while striking out two in two innings in his team's 2-1 loss to the Dodgers Friday.

"I feel pretty good. I still need to attack more with my fastball," Perez told MLB.com. "My other pitches are good. The only thing I have to work on is my fastball. A couple of hitters, I was behind in the count."

Perez also walked two batters in a two-inning performance Saturday, giving him a 3:5 K:BB ratio in five innings over his first two appearances. He's scheduled to break camp in the team's starting rotation but needs to get a handle on his control issues.

Starter Corey Kluber continued the Indians "fanfest" Friday with five strikeouts in three innings against the Cubs. The Indians struck out 11 batters in the first six innings.

Kluber, who could wind up as the second starter behind Justin Masterson once the regular season begins, allowed just one hit during his stint and walked none.

Only a two-run homer marred a strong performance against the Cubs on Friday by Indians rotation hopeful Carlos Carrasco, who seems to have a leg up on the fifth spot.

Carrasco struck out six in three innings while yielding three hits and no walks. Both runs against him were unearned. He has yet to surrender an earned run in five innings this spring.

He is battling Josh Tomlin, Aaron Harang and Trevor Bauer, all of whom have been impressive. But Terry Francona is leaning toward Carrasco, who boasts impressive stuff and is without a minor league option.

Twins starter Vance Worley couldn't make it through the second inning against Pittsburgh on Friday. He yielded five earned runs on seven hits, including a home run. He both walked and struck out one batter.

Worley has been a Jekyll-Hyde case in two exhibition game starts. He allowed just one hit in three scoreless innings in his 2014 debut. His performance against the Pirates will hinder his chances to land a spot in the rotation.

Rays emerging right-hander Alex Cobb pitched well Friday against Toronto. He hurled three shutout innings and had his sinker working. He enduced seven consecutive groundouts while yielding two hits and a walk.

Cobb is listed as the second starter behind ace David Price. He won 11 of 14 decisions with a 2.76 ERA in 22 starts a year ago.

Mariners stud rookie right-hander Taijuan Walker has experienced no discomfort Friday after his first day of catch on Thursday, the Tacoma News Tribune has reported.

Walker had been shut down due to a shoulder ailment. His availability for the start of the season remains unknown. He must still prove himself worthy of a rotation spot in exhibition competition if healthy.

Athletics starter Sonny Gray was rocked on Thursday, failing to make it past the first inning against the Diamondbacks in Cactus League play.

Gray surrendered a run-scoring single to Gerardo Parra, a two-run double to Martin Prado and allowed a run to score on a Matt Tuiasosopo groundout in the first. He surrendered four runs on five hits and no walks through just an inning of work. He has allowed four runs, seven hits and two walks through his first three innings this spring.

Indians pitcher Justin Masterson tossed three scoreless innings Thursday.

Masterson pitched around trouble in the first, getting out of a bases loaded jam with only one out. He struck out Welington Castillo and got Mike Olt to fly out to end the inning. He faced the minimum in the second, and allowed one single in the third. Masterson struck out three and walked one in the appearance. 

Masterson is coming off a season in which he posted a 3.45 ERA in 193 innings.

Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman is now being considered for a rotation spot, according to MLB.com.

All offseason, the club stressed Stroman would likely begin the year in the minors. General manager Alex Anthopoulos slightly recanted recently, saying he's not concerned about preserving Stroman's service time. With J.A. Happ dealing with fatigue, Stroman could move his way into the rotation with a couple strong spring showings.