MLB Player News

Tigers ace Justin Verlander was nearly unhittable over the first few innings of his opening day start at Minnesota Monday. He ended up giving up a couple base knocks, but cruised to victory nevertheless against the Twins.

Verlander pitched five shutout frames as he allowed just three base hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. He was removed after throwing 91 pitches, 54 for strikes, in favor of Drew Smyly with a 3-0 lead. Smyly gave up two runs but the Tigers won 4-2. 

Verlander's fastest pitches were thrown against Josh Willingham and were between 93-95 mph, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Verlander was around 89-91 against everyone else. 

The ace retired Willingham and rookie Aaron Hicks all six times he faced them with five strikeouts and a pop up. The yearly American League Cy Young threat will get a second start this week coming Sunday against the Yankees and their ace CC Sabathia. Sabathia and New York lost to Boston Monday.

Chicago starter Chris Sale took the mound for an opening day start against the Royals. Pitching at U.S. Cellular Field in front of the home crowd, Sale got his first opening day start off on the right track with 7 2/3 scoreless innings.

The White Sox ace didn't allow a run as he pitched into the eighth inning and Chicago was able to hold on for the 1-0 victory to start his year at 1-0. Sale struck out seven batters as he gave up seven hits and walked one batter. He threw 104 pitches in the outing and 72 went for strikes.

Sale is scheduled to make a second start during the first scoring period of the regular season and that is expected to come Sunday against Seattle, also at home.

When the Marlins announced that top pitching prospect Jose Fernandez would be promoted to the majors, the result was a 30 percent increase in ownership -- making him the most added player so far. Fernandez went from being owned in 12 percent of leagues to 42 almost overnight.

Also shooting up the most added list are Mariners starting pitcher Brandon Maurer, who will make his MLB debut Thursday, and Red Sox outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., whose stellar spring landed him in Boston’s opening day lineup batting eighth. Just behind them are Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu and Cardinals relief pitcher Mitchell Boggs, rounding out the top five. 

The Rangers have placed Martin Perez on the 15-day disabled list, the club announced.

Perez suffered a fractured wrist in spring and is expected to be out until June. He was slated to be the Rangers' fifth starter at least until the return of Colby Lewis from elbow surgery rehab, but the injury opened the door for Nick Tepesch to open the season in the role.

Orioles prospect Kevin Gausman pitched in a minor league game Sunday and developed a blister on his pitching hand, reports MASNSports.com. 

Gausman had three more innings to go when he developed the blister, but Baltimore stopped him as a precaution. It is not expected to be serious and the O's are just being careful with their No. 2-ranked pitching prospect.

Gausman is expected to begin the year in the rotation for Double-A Bowie. 

White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana made a one-inning appearance in relief during Chicago's 5-4 loss to Milwaukee in an exhibition game Saturday. Quintana, labeled the team's No. 4 starter heading into the season, replaced Gavin Floyd in the second inning and allowed a single while striking out two batters.

The left-hander is scheduled to take the mound for his regular-season debut Friday against Seattle. Quintana faced the Mariners twice last year, including once as a starter, and posted a 4.26 ERA over 6 1/3 innings.

Indians' opening day starter Justin Masterson lines up for two starts in Fantasy Week 1 (March 31-April 7), getting the nod at Toronto and at Tampa Bay. With so many high-end starters getting a pair of starts this coming week, there aren't likely to be many two-start pitchers to grab off the waiver wire.

Masterson, owned in just under half of the leagues on CBSSports.com, would be one of those rare pitchers, but outside of deeper mixed leagues and AL-only formats, I'd prefer to use a one-start pitcher already on my roster. He had a better spring this year than last, but even last season, he walked just five batters in 18 Cactus League innings. I'd pay more attention to his high walk rate (3.8 BB/9) in the 2012 regular season than his six free passes in 22 2/3 innings this spring.

Use Week 1 as an opportunity to see if Masterson has improved his command, and if he puts together some good starts in the early going, he can be used in standard mixed leagues the next time a two-start week comes around.

It took nearly the entire spring, but the Tigers finally set their rotation for the start of the season on Friday. As previously announced, Justin Verlander will take the hill for opening day Monday at Minnesota before being followed by Anibal Sanchez and Rick Porcello the remainder of the series.

Doug Fister will start Detroit's home opener Friday against the Yankees before Max Scherzer makes his season debut. Manager Jim Leyland has previously hinted the order could change following the first turn through the rotation.

Justin Verlander has signed a five-year contract extension with the Tigers, the club announced. Verlander is signed through 2019 for $180 million with a vesting option for 2020 worth another $22 million.

Everybody knew it was all matter of "when" and not a matter of "if" for this contract, and once Felix Hernandez signed a $175 million contract with Seattle it looked like Verlander's market was set. Verlander was signed through 2014, with the new extension starting in 2015.

Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish took the mound for his for his final tune-up of the spring Thursday against los Diablos Rojos, of the Mexican Baseball League. Darvish turned in another stellar performance as he struck out seven in four scoreless innings in a 12-1 win. He gave up a leadoff single in the fourth inning for his only mistake of the night. Darvish did not issue a walk and only has three walks in 17 2/3 innings of work this spring.