MLB Player News

Mariners starting pitcher prospects Danny Hultzen and Taijuan Walker are both off to stellar starts this season -- opening up the possibility their major-league debuts might not be far off. But if you can afford only one bench spot in a seasonal format, then your choice has to be Hultzen, who is 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA and .198 opponents' batting average through four starts in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

The most obvious sign is Hultzen is at Triple-A and Walker is at Double-A, so unless the Mariners absolutely see competition level not being a factor, then I don't see Walker getting the call before Hultzen, who made 12 starts last season at Triple-A.

That's another encouraging sign. Hultzen struggled last season (5.92 ERA) for Tacoma, but he's a different pitcher this year. Aside from a poor ERA, Hultzen walked 43 batters in 48 2/3 innings last season for Tacoma. This season, he has walked only six batters in 22 2/3 innings. While Walker has a 1.64 ERA and hasn't allowed an earned run in three straight starts (17 innings), he's walked 14 batters in 22 innings, so he clearly needs to work on some command issues.

Unless the Mariners are trying to save an arbitration year on Hultzen by delaying his MLB debut, then he should be first in line when the Mariners need a starter. Perhaps the biggest road block in Hultzen's way is Jeremy Bonderman, who is improving at Triple-A. But if you are looking for a potential impact arm down the road and can afford to be patient, then consider adding Hultzen to your bench.

There is no indication that a call up is close to imminent, but according to one scout in the minors, Orioles pitching prospect Kevin Gausman is showing major-league skills.

Pitching at Double-A Bowie, Gausman has been hit hard in three starts, but a scout told Baseball America's Jerry Crasnick that Gausman is "pretty close" to being major-league ready, despite having thrown just 31 innings as a professional. A big reason why Gausman is so impressive is his 31-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio in eight starts dating to last season. Baseball America ranked Gausman as the No. 26 prospect in the league entering the season. 

Gausman remains a possibility for a mid-season call-up if the Orioles are in need of a starter, though he is behind Dylan Bundy in the pecking order. That possibility is enough to make him a more-than-worthy speculative addition in keeper Fantasy formats, especially if you have a minor-league roster spot available. 

Twins pitcher Vance Worley allowed seven runs his last time out but was much sharper Saturday against the White Sox. He allowed a run on five hits over seven innings.

The right-hander surrendered a solo homer to the first batter he faced -- Alejandro De Aza -- before settling down. He threw 66 of his 104 pitches for strikes and left with the game tied 1-1.

Worley also struck out seven and walked two while lowering his ERA from 10.50 to 7.11 in the no-decision.

His next start is Friday against the Rangers.

Tigers pitcher Drew Smyly had a strong performance in relief of starter Rick Porcello Saturday against the Angels. Porcello allowed nine runs over two-thirds of an inning and Smyly entered in the first with the bases cleared.

The left-hander worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven. He also did not walk a batter and threw 63 of his 87 pitches for strikes.

Smyly, who competed with Porcello for the final spot in the rotation this spring, has a 1.80 ERA through six appearances with 17 strikeouts in 15 innings.

Orioles starter Jason Hammel gave up all his runs in the first and second inning on Saturday against the Dodgers. He was pretty sharp after that.

Hammel took a no-decision in the outing as he allowed four earned runs over six innings. He gave up a three-run homer to Andre Ethier in the first inning and a sacrifice fly RBI to Mark Ellis in the second.

Hammel allowed seven hits and walked three batters with five strikeouts. He threw 113 pitches and 73 went for strikes. His ERA on the year is now at 4.74.

Hammel has yet to go deeper than 6 2/3 innings in any start despite a 2-1 record. He needs to start going deeper in games. He'll get his next chance Thursday at Oakland.

Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish had his 10th career 10-strikeout game Friday against the Mariners. Darvish, who made his 33rd career start, struck out the side in the first two innings. He gave up three hits in seven innings.

"He threw more curveballs than he did in Seattle," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "He also threw more fastballs. He didn't have a really good fastball (in Seattle). Tonight, he threw a lot more for strikes. Yu has so many pitches and they're all good. It's hard to pick one."

His next start is Wednesday at Anaheim.

Rays starting pitcher Alex Cobb turned in a decent performance to earn his second win of the season Friday night at home against the Athletics.

Cobb (2-1), who made his third start of the season, surrendered two runs in the first and a solo home run to Coco Crisp in the seventh. The right-hander allowed 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings of an 8-3 victory. Cobb has not allowed more than three runs in each of his first three outings. He has a 2.53 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.

The 25-year-old's next start is Wednesday at home against the Yankees. Cobb went 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA last season against New York.

Orioles pitcher Jason Hammel had his scheduled start Friday against the Dodgers postponed due to inclement weather. The teams will play a makeup day-night doubleheader Saturday.

Hammel is scheduled to start the first game of the doubleheader. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in his first three starts.

The Rangers expect pitcher Martin Perez to throw live batting practice in 7-10 days, FOX Sports Southwest reported Friday. Martin, on the 15-day disabled list with a broken left forearm, has begun to throw off a mound in the bullpen but is expected to be sidelined until late May.

For the third time this week, poor weather conditions will keep the Twins off the field. Minnesota's series opener in Chicago against the White Sox on Friday was postponed due to a forecast of cold, windy weather.

The postponement will push back each team's starting rotation with the Twins' Vance Worley and Jake Peavy of the White Sox -- both Friday's probables -- starting Saturday's game instead.