MLB Player News

Cardinals rotation candidate Shelby Miller didn't get off to a good start on Monday in a Grapefruit League outing against the Twins. He finished strong, however, and may have cemented a spot in the rotation. 

Miller gave up a run in the first inning but that was all he would allow over 4 1/3 frames. He surrendered just the one run on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts and his ERA on the spring is now at 3.94. 

Joe Kelly, also in the running for the final rotation spot, pitched the sixth and seventh innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk. His spring ERA is now at 5.54. 

Miller may have done enough Monday to secure the starting nod, while Kelly appears destined to pitch in long relief to open the year for the Red Birds. Look for Miller to appear next in a minor league game Saturday with Kelly heading to Arizona with the rest of the club.

The Cardinals have not decided when Miller, if he does win the No. 5 spot, would make his first start of the regular season. It could either come in the fifth game or on April 10. 

The Cardinals still must decide who the No. 5 starter role will go to and that decision could come Monday, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Shelby Miller starts Monday against the Twins in Fort Myers and Joe Kelly, the other possibility, will appear in relief. 

Miller could take the job with a solid performance, but if he struggles and Kelly pitches well that could change things. With closer Jason Motte's availability in question to begin the year, the Cardinals have extra space in the bullpen for a long reliever, a role which both Kelly or Miller could fill. 

Whichever pitcher gets the starting nod will remain in Jupiter to appear in a minor-league game Saturday. The reliever will head to Arizona with the team Friday. St. Louis has yet to decide if the No. 5 starter will start the fifth game of the season or if they will wait for the turn to come up on April 10. 

Drew Pomeranz will likely begin the season in the minors after the Rockies signed Jon Garland, the Denver Post reports. 

Garland pitched with the Mariners during the spring, but left the team after it was clear they were going another direction in the rotation. Pomeranz is likely headed to the minors, but could be used a long reliever out of the major-league club’s bullpen. 

Last season, the 24-year-old had a 4.93 ERA and a 4.81 FIP in 96 2/3 innings with the team.

Padres pitcher Anthony Bass still wants to start in the major leagues. That said, from the start of spring training he's agreed to pitch in a relief role for San Diego this season, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. 

"Eventually," Bass said Sunday, clearly placing the emphasis on his first word, "I want to be a starting pitcher. I see myself as a starting pitcher."

But when manager Bud Black asked him whether he'd prefer to start at Triple-A or pitch in relief in San Diego, Bass decided he wanted to remain with the big club. Now, he'll have a versatile role for the Padres this season. 

"Anthony is the only pitcher on our staff who can start, come out of the bullpen in long relief or pitch in the seventh or eighth inning in a key spot," Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley said. "There is a lot of versatility there."

The 25-year-old hurler has allowed three earned runs over 11 spring innings thus far for an ERA of 2.45 with 10 strikeouts. 

Cardinals starting pitcher prospect Shelby Miller has taken Fantasy owners on quite the ride this spring.

He saw a spike in Fantasy value after the news emerged Chris Carpenter was set to sit out the 2013 season due to injury. Miller was then considered the favorite to take Carpenter's rotation spot and Fantasy owners were reaching for the young right-hander hurler. 

Miller then saw a drop in value after he struggled in his first few spring outings and Joe Kelly was cruising. Now, Miller is once again considered the front-runner as he is surging late in the spring and Kelly is struggling.

Kudos to those Fantasy owners who weren't afraid to reach for Miller when he was struggling this spring. It seems your gamble could end up paying off. Miller has the upside to be an impact arm in 2013 and his relief-pitcher eligibility in Head-to-Head formats is a bonus.

With the news Miller is back out in front, I think it's safe to view him as a mid-round Fantasy sleeper again.

Joe Kelly trails Cardinals top pitching prospect Shelby Miller leads in the club's fifth starter competition heading into what will be the deciding game on Monday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Kelly and Miller will each throw Monday against Minnesota, and the decision will be made following the game.

Kelly owns a 4.91 ERA in 11 spring innings so far and has walked five batters against just two strikeouts. Though Miller only has a 4.63 ERA himself, the top prospect's potential is likely the deciding factor.

Expect Kelly to make the Cardinals' bullpen.

Cardinals top pitching prospect Shelby Miller leads in the club's fifth starter competition heading into what will be the deciding game on Monday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Miller and competitor Joe Kelly will each throw Monday against Minnesota, and the decision will be made following the game.

Miller has a 4.63 ERA in spring but has a sharp 11-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Miller's stuff -- a mid-90s fastball that reaches 97 at times and a plus curveball -- make him one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball, and his potential is likely the reason he is likely to win the job over Kelly.

The Padres have optioned pitcher Brad Boxberger to Triple-A Tucson, according to MLB.com. Boxberger allowed four runs in eight innings this spring.

Mets pitching prospect Rafael Montero gave up four hits, three of them singles, over 4 2/3 scoreless innings of a 3-1 victory over Washington in Grapefruit League play Saturday. Montero, who will start the season in the minor leagues, struck out three and walked one during his third exhibition outing.

"I saw much better velocity than I saw early, better command of his breaking balls than I did early," manager Terry Collins said. "I hope he really continues to work hard with his changeup. He's got an outstanding change in the making."

After Christian Friedrich struggled in Friday's Cactus League game against the Giants, the Denver Post reported that Drew Pomeranz has emerged as the clear leader for the fifth spot in the rotation. Barring something unforeseen, the Rockies would have to make an addition from outside the organization for Pomeranz to not have a chance to open the season in the rotation.

Pomeranz was rated as the No. 30 overall prospect in baseball by Baseball America as recently as last offseason, however he was unimpressive in 96 2/3 innings in the majors in 2012. He posted a 4.93 ERA in 22 starts, however he still put up a 2.51 ERA in 46 2/3 innings in Triple-A Colorado Springs. Pomeranz has a 5.50 ERA in 18 innings this spring.