MLB Player News

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw's first spring training game had him retire all six batters he faced in two innings. 

In Thursday's 6-1 win over the White Sox, Kershaw recorded three strikeouts. 

"It felt good. The first one is just good to get out there and make sure you feel good physically," Kershaw said, via the Associated Press. "The results are obviously something that you look for, but maybe not the most important thing.

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran still remembers the 2012 spring training game when he gave up six home runs in two innings against the Tigers. 

Therefore, scheduled to pitch against the Tigers on Thursday, he refused to use the same bullpen at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. that he did during that disastrous outing.

"I don't really think about that," Teheran said, per MLB.com. "I know some guys make fun of that, and I do too. It's just something that happened before."

On Thursday, Teheran fared much better in a 6-4 Braves victory. 

Teheran gave up one run during his first spring start of the season. He threw 36 pitches with 25 going for strikes. 

"I was controlling all of my pitches," Teheran said. "That was my goal today. I think the ball was coming out pretty good from my hands. I think that is where I want to be."

Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez dominated on Thursday against the Marlins.

Martinez tossed two perfect innings, striking out three batters in the process. The 23-year-old is considered a strong favorite for the fifth spot in the rotation, but must beat out Jaime Garcia and Marco Gonzales for the role. 

Following the start, Martinez said throwing strikes was his main goal. "I tried to focus on every pitch and be on the zone," Martinez said. "That's basically my main focus right now, to concentrate on the strike zone. That's how I want to work until the end."

Martinez posted a 4.03 ERA over 89 1/3 innings last season. 

Pirates pitcher Charlie Morton gave up two hits and two walks in two scoreless innings while striking out one in his spring debut Thursday, his first outing since undergoing hip surgery.

"No pain, which is awesome," Morton said after the game, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "A little rusty, but I got weak contact and groundballs. Pleased by that. But I don't like walking people and falling behind."

Morton is expected to be ready to pitch out of the rotation at the start of the regular season.

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright plans on throwing a live batting practice this coming Sunday in spring training, according to MLB.com. 

This would follow a high-intensity bullpen of nearly 50 pitches he threw on Thursday. 

"Good bullpen. I stepped up the intensity and velocity of everything, all my pitches," Wainwright said, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I threw with a greater convicton. I felt very good coming out of it. I felt very good doing it. So, very good step."

Dodgers pitchers Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu are scheduled to throw batting practice Friday and Saturday, respectively, per MLB.com. Both players are dealing with injuries, and remain one start behind the other pitchers on the roster. Both pitchers will make their spring debut five days after their BP session.

Diamondbacks pitcher Chase Anderson tossed two scoreless innings on Wednesday against the Rockies. 

Anderson came into camp competing for a spot in the team's rotation, though manager Chip Hale recently said Anderson is probably set in his spot. If he has to prove himself, he got off on the right foot on Wednesday. Anderson tossed two scoreless frames, giving up two hits and a walk. He struck out two during the outing. 

Anderson, 27, posted a 4.01 ERA over 114 1/3 innings last year.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Wednesday that pitcher Gerrit Cole "did fine" in his spring debut, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

"He probably threw more pitches than he wanted to in the first inning," Hurdle said. "But he didn't back off and kept the damage to a minimum. He had some good angle to his breaking balls and used his two-seamer well. A good step forward."

Cole, who surrendered one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out three in two innings Wednesday, said he wasn't worried about the outcome but wanted to get on the same page with new catcher Francisco Cervelli.

"I told (Cervelli) I wasn't going to shake him off," Cole said. "I was just going to see how he wanted to do my stuff so he could get a feel for how he wants to call the game. I think it'll be that way for probably awhile. He'll get some information. I'll get some information, and then we'll probably sit down (to talk)."

Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles came into spring training with the goal of making his new changeup becomes a weapon in his arsenal. Lyles faced eight batters in his spring training debut Wednesday and was able to mix in most of the pitches he wanted to throw, reports the Denver Post.

"I wanted to throw everything," Lyles said. "I usually start out slow throwing just fastball-changeup. But I really wanted to work in everything, especially the changeup. I probably threw six or seven of those. That was the gameplan going in. That was my second most-used pitch today."

Lyles allowed no hits with two strikeouts and a walk in his appearance against the Diamondbacks.

Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani went two innings in his spring training debut Wednesday, allowing two hits and one run. He did record two strikeouts and feels he has a shot to claim a spot in the starting rotation, according to MLB.com.

"I felt really good. I felt like everything was working," DeSclafani said. "[It was] the same plan as always, just attack hitters. It feels good to get the first one out of the way."