MLB Player News

Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran continued his torrid spring run, firing six hitless innings during Atlanta's 3-2 win over Houston in a Grapefruit League contest Saturday. Teheran, who has secured the fifth spot in the team's rotation, struck out 10 batters and walked three while lowering his 1.04 ERA over six starts. The right-hander also hurled five hitless innings against the Cardinals on March 12.

Teheran, 22, was hailed as the fifth-best overall prospect by Baseball America last spring before faltering with his command. This spring, he has redefined his arsenal and leads the majors with 35 strikeouts over 26 innings while holding opponents to a lowly .082 batting average.

"He's showing four quality major-league pitches," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "A couple years ago, it was one, and not even one, because he couldn't control it."

Despite already being ticketed for Triple-A to start the season, Mets pitching prospect Zach Wheeler continues to make an impression this spring. Wheeler worked in a minor-league intrasquad game on Saturday and drew the gaze of several MLB scouts. The right-hander effectively mixed his breaking pitches with a fastball that consistently touched 96-98 mph on the radar gun. "So effortless," a scout described Wheeler's delivery to ESPN.com.

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Patrick Corbin continued to try to prove himself worthy of the fifth starter's role Friday, as he pitched five solid innings against the Indians. Corbin allowed two runs in the game, after walking the bases loaded in the third inning and allowing a two-run single. He was solid otherwise, scattering three hits, while striking out four batters.

Corbin lowered his ERA to 3.66 in six spring outings, with 19 strikeouts and just seven walks in 19 2/3 innings. Corbin posted a 4.54 ERA in 22 appearances last season with the Diamondbacks, but is stuck in a battle with Randall Delgado for the final spot in the rotation. 

Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco made his final regular start of the spring Friday against the Mets, and he now has just one more tune up start before opening the season April 1 in Washington. Nolasco threw 101 pitches in the game over six innings, allowing just one run on four hits.

"It was good to get to that barrier of more than 90 pitches," Nolasco told MLB.com. "It's not easy doing it for the first time. I had to battle myself a little more on my fastball than I wanted to. I was able to make the pitch with the fastball when I had to. Everything else was OK. It was good to stretch it out and keep the ball down in the zone."

Nolasco walked two batters and struck out five, while lowering his spring ERA to 3.48. He will make just one more start in the spring, and will likely toss just 40 or 50 pitches, to ensure that his arm is at full strength for opening day. Nolasco has 21 strikeouts and just five walks in 20 2/3 Grapefruit League innings. 

Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw continued to round into form Friday against the Reds. He completed six innings for the second Cactus-League outing in a row. Kershaw allowed three runs  -- two earned -- on four hits and three walks, while striking out eight batters. Kershaw did much of his work against a Reds lineup that was heavy on regular starters, leaving him pleased with just one more outing remaining before opening day.

"That’s probably their regular lineup, minus maybe [Ryan Hanigan] and [Shin-Soo Choo]," Kershaw said. 'That’s a good lineup. They have a good team over there. I feel good, which is a good thing. Overall, these past two, three starts, I felt better. Now, it’s time to get going.”

Kershaw is expected to make one more brief appearance in a spring game Wednesday, before taking the mound April 1 against the Giants for the season opener. Kershaw has a 3.60 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 25 innings of work during the spring. 

<player idref='s poor showing so far in Cactus League action has not impacted the Reds' outlook. He was named the team's opening-day starter Friday by manager Dusty Baker, the second straight year he has earned that distinction.

Cueto has a 7.02 ERA in 16 2/3 innings in the spring, but is coming off consecutive seasons of sub-3.00 ERAs. He went 19-9 last season with a 2.78 ERA, earning him a fourth-place finish in Cy Young voting. 

Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke is back on track after another bullpen session Friday, and is set to make his return to Cactus League action Monday. Greinke has not pitched in an official game since March 1 due to elbow tenderness, but now has two scheduled starts remaining in the spring. According to MLB.com, Greinke was throwing without pain Friday, and is still hopeful that he will be able to build his arm strength to be able to make his regular-season debut April 5 against the Pirates. 

Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg permitted three runs and seven hits over six innings during Washington's 4-3 loss to Detroit in Grapefruit League action Friday. Strasburg, who had five strikeouts and walked a batter, also remained in the game after being struck by a ball hit by Prince Fielder in the fourth inning.

After shaking off the injury and being cleared by team trainers, he struck out two of the next three batters. He allowed just one extra-base hit -- a solo homer by Matt Tuiasosopo -- and six singles during his longest outing of the spring.

"My arm felt great," Strasburg told the Washington Post. "I think my stamina is there. I felt as strong, if not looser, from the first inning to the sixth. I definitely could’ve gone back out there for the rest of the game, to be honest. That’s a good sign. It’s going in the right direction."

Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels turned in a solid performance in Thursday's contest against the Red Sox. Hamels, who made his fourth Grapefruit League start, allowed just one run on four hits in six innings of work -- his longest outing of the spring. He also struck out five and issued two walks as he improved his ERA to 1.13. Hamels will take the mound for the Phillies on opening day at Atlanta April 1.

Reds starter Johnny Cueto was knocked around and did not make it past the second inning of Thursday's Cactus League contest against the Athletics. Cueto, who made his fifth start of the spring, pitched a perfect first inning before running into trouble in the second. He allowed five runs, including a two-run home run to Derek Norris, before he was pulled for Nick Christiani in the second. He lasted just 1 2/3 innings as he gave up five hits, walked two and struck out one. Cueto has allowed 15 runs -- 13 earned -- in 16 2/3 innings of work this spring.