MLB Player News

Gibson gave up one earned run over 3.1 innings with seven strikeouts in Wednesday's spring training win over Boston.

Gibson has a 3.68 ERA In three spring starts with a 9:4 K:BB ratio in 7.1 innings. Gibson had just a 6.7 K/9 last season, which was a career high in the majors. He's set with a spot in Minnesota's rotation and his spring outing could show promise of a needed increase in strikeouts.

Red Sox manager John Farrell confirmed Thursday that Rodriguez (knee) will not be ready for the start of the season, freelance reporter Maureen Mullen reports.

Farrell confirmed what was already known, as Rodriguez dislocated his kneecap Feb. 27 and only resumed throwing off a mound Wednesday. A previous report suggested that the lefty won't be ready to make his first start until April 26.

Rodriguez (knee) threw off a mound Wednesday for the first time since temporarily dislocating his kneecap Feb. 27, the Boston Herald reports.

The left-hander threw about 20 pitches as pitching coach Carl Willis and manager John Farrell looked on as extremely interested parties. Rodriguez threw from a standard delivery, but did not throw with 100 percent effort. The exercise was more about feeling his landing and the weight transfer one makes during a delivery. "We saw what we wanted to see," Willis said. "More importantly, he felt that he could be normal. That's the case. You have to have that confidence not only in as a pitcher and your arm, but for your entire body to do what you do." While nothing is official yet, Rodriguez will most certainly open the season on the disabled list. In that likely event, the Red Sox will make do with Steven Wright, Henry Owens or Roenis Elias.

Odorizzi looked strong while pitching five shutout innings against the Red Sox Class-A club Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The right-hander allowed three hits and struck out four. Odorizzi displayed solid control throughout, walking none and finding the strike zone with 53 of his 77 offerings. The increased workload was encouraging for the right-hander, who had pitched a maximum of 3.1 innings in his three appearances so far this spring."The first time you go out there for five innings, you feel like you are out there for forever after you haven't been out there for more than two or three," Odorizzi said. "It was good to get up and down that many times, especially with the heat out there." The Rays' projected third starter plans to stretch out to 90 pitches in his next game, another minor-league start on Monday while the big-league club is Havana for their exhibition game versus the Cuban National Team.

Smyly yielded three hits, one earned run and a walk over 4.2 innings in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Phillies. He also struck out four but did not factor into the decision.

The five-year veteran continued his outstanding spring, and currently leads all Rays pitchers with two victories during the exhibition slate. Smyly surrendered his first earned run over three appearances on a third-inning homer to right field by Cedric Hunter, but looked sharp otherwise, throwing 45 of his 66 pitches for strikes. The southpaw is currently slotted third in a Rays rotation spearheaded by ace Chris Archer that has a chance to be dominant should their collective health hold up.

McCullers (shoulder) will begin the season on the disabled list, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports.

While McCullers received clean results from an MRI over the weekend, he's apparently still not overly close to returning, as he remains without a timetable. The Astros will continue to handle the situation with caution, and McCullers now figures to miss at least the first week-and-a-half of the season.

Berrios gave up five runs on two hits, a walk and two hit batters in a minor league spring game Tuesday, the MLB.com reports.

There has been little indication that Berrios will begin the season in the major league rotation. And while this may have been an outing just to get some work in, it doesn't help build any momentum to change that outlook. Berrios is in the running for the fifth starter job, but he'll likely begin the season at Triple-A. Last year he posted a 2.62 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts in 75.2 innings at Triple-A as a 21-year-old, so he could be called up to the majors early in the season.

Hill continued his rough spring Tuesday, allowing five runs and six walks over four innings, throwing only 29 of his 67 pitches for strikes.

Hill has now made three starts so far this spring and has struggled with his control in all three starts. He has allowed 13 earned runs with an absurd 12 walks in only 7.2 innings. Hill signed a $6 million contract with Oakland in the off-season and he is still entrenched into the A's rotation, but his start to the spring has to be a slight concern to the team, especially considering a lack of command was what got Hill into trouble when he has struggled in his career.

Alvarez threw a 30-pitch bullpen Tuesday and used his change-up for the first time this spring, reports Jane Lee of MLB.com.

Alvarez continues to progress in his return from right shoulder surgery and experienced no issues in this bullpen session Tuesday. He has felt good in every step of his work so far this spring and has a chance to return to the A's by mid-May. Upon his return, it is assumed that he will join the rotation, either filling in for an injured starter or replacing a struggling one.

Carrasco struck out five while allowing two runs on seven hits over four innings in his outing against the Rangers on Tuesday afternoon.

After piling up five scoreless innings in his first two spring appearances, Carrasco ran into some trouble Tuesday -- including a solo homer allowed to Prince Fielder. With the five strikeouts against the Rangers, he's now carrying a 10:0 K:BB through nine innings in Cactus League play. Carrasco has been sharp overall this spring, and he remains on track to begin the season as the Tribe's No. 2 starter.