MLB Player News

Despite pitching out of the bullpen once in the past week, Tigers starting pitcher Drew Smyly has stubbornly remained near the top of CBSSports.com's most-viewed and most-added player lists.

The last time we looked at Smyly, he looked like a potential usurper of Rick Porcello's rotation spot, as he came in and pitched 5 2/3 scoreless relief innings after Porcello flamed out against the Angels April 20. Smyly pitched for the first time Saturday since then, tossing just 2/3 innings. Porcello, meanwhile, steadied himself with a quality start Saturday, and it does not look a move is imminent. 

Smyly was worth a speculative pickup when it looked like Porcello's struggles might give him a chance to start every fifth day. But until that move is made it is hard to imagine him remaining such an intriguing option for Fantasy owners scouring the waiver wire. He could be a difference maker for Fantasy owners down the line in a starting role, but it might be hard to use a roster spot on someone who is stuck in relief right now.

The Indians announced that pitcher Corey Kluber will start Sunday night against Will Smith and the Royals, MLB.com reports.

Kluber has appeared in two games for the Indians with one run allowed over five innings with five Ks. He was expected to start Wednesday, but that game was postponed.

Orioles pitching prospect Kevin Gausman hasn't been perfect in his first season of professional ball with Double-A Bowie. That said, he's been impressive, the Baltimore Sun reports.

The No. 2-ranked prospect in the organization will make his fifth start Sunday against Harrisburg. He's 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA. He's allowed four or more earned runs in two of his four starts, but was sharp in the other two. He's throwing strikes and he's got 21 Ks compared to just one walk on the year.

"I feel healthy, my arm feels great, my [velocity’s] been pretty solid, my stuff’s been there," Gausman said Friday. "I think there have been some times when I’ve left the ball up in fastball counts and that’s something you definitely can’t do here. I think the hitters in big-league camp, they’re so good that I think they have a better approach up there. Here, they’re all looking for fastballs, so when they see one, they’re going to go for it. I think I’m getting better."

Orioles starting pitcher Jason Hammel is starting to round into form, and he has two chances in Week 5 (April 29-May 5) to help out Fantasy formats. With a pair of solid matchups on the way, our Al Melchior has Hammel ranked 46th among all starters in his Week 5 pitching planner.

Hammel is coming off six shutout innings in a win over the Athletics, and he is looking more comfortable on the mound after being limited to just nine innings during spring training. Hammel has a 28th-ranked Mariners offense and a 17th-ranked Angels offense on the schedule, so he should put up good results this week.

Hammel is a solid option in many Fantasy formats when he has two-start status, so get him active.

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander is expected to make his scheduled start Tuesday after coming out of his last start with a blister on his thumb.

"He's dealt with it before," head athletic trainer Kevin Rand told MLB.com. "Basically, it's a crack in the skin just like regular people working outside. Unfortunately, the location of it in the thumb area caused him to not be able to pitch coming out in the eighth inning [Thursday]."

Verlander is 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings this year.

Martin Perez will throw two innings and 35-40 pitches in extended spring training Saturady as he rehabilitates from a broken wrist, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Perez is expected to return to the Rangers by late May. It's unclear how the rotation will shake out, as he will return about the same time as Colby Lewis. Nick Tepesch has pitched well -- 2.53 ERA and 4.7 K/BB -- and there are only two spots available.

Indians starter Carlos Carrasco took a line drive off his arm in a minor-league start and suffered a deep contusion, MLB.com reports. He is day-to-day.

Carrasco allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings in his only start in the majors this year. He has thrown 14.2 scoreless innings at Triple-A Columbus, but it's unclear when he will get another shot in Cleveland.

White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale struggled with his control early Thursday, walking two batters in the second inning. Catcher Tyler Flowers made a point to come out and settle Sale down, which Sale credited with helping him push through for one of his best starts of the year.

"He came up and met with me on the mound," Sale told ESPN.com. "It was kind of funny. He said in the nicest possible way, 'When you start getting in trouble you start trying too hard and doing too much.'"

Sale has two wins this season, both of which have come at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. He is 11-3 in his career at home, a trend that Sale credited to feeling more comfortable with the surroundings.

"You are always a little bit more comfortable at your house," he said. "You have the home crowd behind you and of course I have pitched here more than anywhere else. There is no level of effort change. It is just how it shakes out, I guess."

Orioles starter Jason Hammel turned in a quality performance as he picked up his third win of the season Thursday night against the Athletics.

Hammel (3-1), who made his fifth start, surrendered two unearned runs in the second inning for his only damage of the night. The right-hander was charged with those two unearned runs and three hits in six innings of work in a 10-2 victory. He struck out two and walked two on 104 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Hammel has allowed just six earned runs in his last three outings. He has lowered his ERA from 4.34 to 3.82 over that span. He is scheduled to start Tuesday at Seattle. He allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings of work in his only meeting last season with the Mariners.

Twins starting pitcher Vance Worley remained winless Thursday against the Rangers, despite twirling one of his best starts of the season.

He limited the Rangers to two runs in five innings of work on six hits and a pair of walks, however the Twins' offense was unable to get much going to support him. He struck out three in a 2-1 loss.

Worley is 0-3 in five starts, with a 6.38 ERA and 1.83 WHIP. He is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday against the Tigers in Detroit. He had a quality start when he faced the Tigers in his first start of the season.