MLB Player News

Julio Teheran has wowed Fantasy owners as he has earned the Braves' fifth starter job with a dominant spring. His strikeout and walk rates from his two seasons in Triple-A have been nondescript, and a surging flyball rate in 2012 was particularly concerning, so I've been skeptical of his Grapefruit League success so far.

However, it's hard not to be impressed by Teheran's 35 strikeouts in 26 innings. He has also allowed only two home runs, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Teheran has started relying on a sinker. He's improved his ground-out-to-air-out ratio, but then again, we are looking at a small sample of innings. Teheran also has walked nine batters, so his control hasn't quite been impeccable.

So while I'm averse to drawing conclusions from spring training stats, some of Teheran's numbers are at the very least intriguing. If, like me, you are still a skeptic, you should at least keep a close watch on his early season stats to see if he is worth pursuing.

Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels wrapped up his spring slate with an efficient three-inning outing Wednesday against the Tigers. Hamels, who is slated to start opening day against the Braves, allowed one hit and one walk in three scoreless innings. He struck out three. Hamels finishes the spring with a 0.95 ERA in five starts. He also struck out 15 batters and walked four in 19 innings.

Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who will take the hill opening day against the Marlins, made his final spring tune-up in a minor-league game Wednesday. Facing Triple-A Syracuse hitters, Strasburg allowed no runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out five, while throwing 45 of 72 pitches for strikes. Strasburg was 0-3 with a 4.62 ERA abd 1.34 WHIP in six spring starts. He also struck out 31 batters and walked just seven in 25 1/3 innings.

Padres starting pitcher Sean O'Sullivan will open the year in the rotation at Triple-A Tucson, according to U-T San Diego. O'Sullivan is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in seven spring outings (three starts).

A Cardinals official told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Wednesday starting pitcher prospect Carlos Martinez finally had his work visa approved. Martinez has missed all of spring training because of visa problems in the Dominican Republic. The Cardinals expect Martinez to report to their spring training facility within the next week. He will then partake in extended spring training before being assigned to a minor-league affiliate. He's expected to join the Double-A Springfield rotation.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny announced Wednesday starting pitcher Lance Lynn will make his regular season debut next Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. He will finish out the three-game series after Adam Wainwright starts in the opener and Jaime Garcia pitches in the second game. Lynn is 1-3 with a 6.62 ERA and 1.64 WHIP through five spring starts.

Despite the injuries piling up in the Mets' rotation, manager Terry Collins said "there's a reason" why the team isn't entertaining the notion of putting top prospect Zack Wheeler in the opening day rotation, according to the New York Daily News.

"He needs to go to Triple-A. He needs to face hitters in Triple-A," Collins said. "He needs to go work on his stuff, and he needs to be able to do what he did toward mid-season, and that is pound the strike zone. Thus far, in the games he’s thrown over there, they said he’s been a little wild."

Negotiations on a contract extension between Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright's representative and the club are continuing to accelerate with the understanding of an opening-day deadline, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Sources familiar with both sides of the conversation expressed a sense of optimism an agreement could be reached before Wainwright starts opening day against the Diamondbacks. Wainwright is entering the final year of a contract he signed during spring training in 2008.

"The St. Louis Cardinals and Adam Wainwright aggressively continue to work to a resolution on his contract status," general manager John Mozeliak said. "And there is a sincere desire as there has always been to find a way to extend Adam. As opening day draws near, talks are intensifying and both parties agree that resolution is best sooner rather than later.”

After being knocked around his last time out, Reds starter Johnny Cueto bounced back with a brilliant performance in his regular season tune-up Tuesday night against the Cubs. Cueto, who made his sixth start of the spring, fired six scoreless innings and gave up just four hits. He also struck out five and walked one.

Cueto finished spring training with a 5.16 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.

He'll take the mound opening day against the Angels. The right-hander has yet to face the Angels in his career but is 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP in interleague play.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson told MLB.com that pitcher Wade Miley, who is working his way back from a bout of dead arm, is expected to pitch Saturday against the Reds. If he comes out healthy, then he'll start the fourth game of the season April 5 at Milwaukee.