MLB Player News

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke made a mechanical adjustment in the fifth inning of his minor-league start Wednesday that led to a potential breakthrough, as he induced an inning-ending ground ball and struck out the next four batters, MLB.com reports.

"I tried something with a pitch and it came out perfect," Greinke said.

Greinke allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings while striking out nine and throwing 85 pitches Wednesday.

"Not many guys can make one pitch and completely turn their game around," catcher Yasmani Grandal said. "He was like, they're not going to hit me anymore. It was a mechanical thing, [pitching coach Rick Honeycutt] said something with his face or the way he was looking."

Greinke's next start will come April 7 against the Padres in his regular-season debut.

Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez threw very well in his final Grapefruit League start Wednesday against the Mets. The right-hander threw six scoreless innings, allowing three hits (all singles) and one walk. He struck out five in a 5-4 win. 

"He was in a really good place today," manager Mike Matheny said after the outing, per MLB.com. "This was one of those that you just hope they put away and remember whatever it takes to get you back there. That was a good rhythm. That was a good mound presence. That was good preparation. Everything he did, let's repeat it."

Martinez finishes the spring with a 2.86 ERA in six outings (five starts). He allowed just one run over his final three outings (14 innings).

Martinez will make his first start of the season April 11 against the Reds.

Prior to Wednesday's spring game against the Nationals, Marlins manager Mike Redmond indicated he was likely going to keep the rotation alignment of Henderson Alvarez, Jarred Cosart, Mat Latos, Tom Koehler and Dan Haren in place to open the season.

Well, even with Cosart throwing six scoreless innings Wednesday in his return from a blister on his throwing hand, Redmond still opted to tweak the rotation.

Alvarez will still start Opening Day against the Braves, but he will now be followed by Latos, Koehler, Haren and Cosart. The first three pitchers will face the Braves, while Haren and Cosart will pitch against the Rays.

Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels earned the victory in his final spring start Wednesday against the Braves. Hamels (1-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk, while striking out three in six innings.

Hamels gave up a solo home run to Joe Benson in the second inning of a 9-2 win. He finishes the spring with a 4.15 ERA in six starts.

"It takes six starts [in spring training] to really feel comfortable and confident," Hamels said after the outing, per MLB.com. "When it comes to the start of the season, you just want to have that positive feeling and positive feedback from the spring that you're healthy and everything is working. Right now, I definitely feel a lot more sharp than two weeks ago."

Hamels will make his first start of the season on Opening Day (Monday) against the Red Sox.

Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran did not have a pretty outing in his final spring tuneup Wednesday against the Phillies. Teheran gave up four home runs, including two to veteran second baseman Chase Utley, in a 9-2 loss.

The Phillies didn't waste any time ruining Teheran's afternoon. They totaled four runs in the first inning, which included a three-run homer from Utley. 

Utley's second home run was a solo shot leading off the bottom of the third. Freddy Galvis and Rene Garcia then led off the fourth inning with back-to-back homers.

Teheran (2-2) had allowed just one home run in his first four spring starts. He was charged with seven runs on eight hits and no walks in four innings Wednesday. He struck out four.

“I felt really good,” Teheran said of Thursday’s outing, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’m not going to lie, I felt the best that I’ve felt in spring training. Talking about my arm. I felt really smooth, and that’s what I’ve been looking for the whole spring training. I really felt it today. Other than that, just a couple of mistakes that I made.

“All my pitches were working, but on the mistakes they were just swinging, and I paid for them.”

Teheran, who finishes the spring with an 8.00 ERA, will start make his first start of the season Monday against the Marlins.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss said Wednesday starting pitcher Jordan Lyles will start the second game of the season on April 7 at Milwaukee, per MLB.com. 

Lyles has had a solid spring, going 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA in six spring starts. He also has 13 strikeouts and seven walks in 21 innings.

The Reds have not made progress in contract talks with starting pitcher Johnny Cueto, a source told FOX Sports. Cueto has expressed a desire to finalize a contract extension before Opening Day.

Cueto, who is set to make $10 million in 2015, is in the final season of a five-year, $36.2 million contract.

Marlins manager Mike Redmond said Wednesday he is anticipating the rotation order to remain the same, per The Miami Herald. Henderson Alvarez will start Opening Day, and he will be followed by Jarred Cosart, Mat Latos, Tom Koehler and Dan Haren.

"(Wednesday) with Cosart throwing it's another big step, making sure his [blistered middle] finger gets through the grind of a game healthy," Redmond said. "I'm anticipating if everything stays fine with him this [order in the rotation] pretty much is what it is. But we'll know more after he goes out and pitches. I'm anticipating him being fine."

The Cardinals announced Wednesday starting pitcher Lance Lynn will start the second game of the season on April 7 against the Cubs. It was already previously announced Adam Wainwright would start the season opener Sunday against the Cubs.

John Lackey will then finish out the Chicago series April 8. Michael Wacha will open a three-game series April 10 at Cincinnati, and he will be followed by Carlos Martinez before the rotation resets. 

Lynn is on track to start the home opener on April 13 against the Brewers.

Diamondbacks pitcher Chase Anderson allowed six earned runs on 11 hits and one walk in four innings while striking out in his final Cactus League start in Tuesday's 8-7 win over the Rangers.

Anderson had put together a nice spring coming into Tuesday's start but fell flat, watching his Cactus League ERA jump from 1.84 to 4.34. He has posted an 11:5 K:BB ratio in 18 2/3 innings this spring. Anderson was recently named to the starting rotation, and his schedule lines him up to make his regular-season debut April 10 against the Dodgers.