Mariners’ Taijuan Walker relies on fastball during best start of season
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:57 am ET) Mariners starting pitcher Taijuan Walker showed great improvement in his third start of the season Tuesday against the Astros after his first two starts were pretty bad.

Walker, who threw 101 pitches, allowed one run and struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed 14 runs in 7 1/3 innings during his first two starts.

“I thought he was outstanding,” manager Lloyd McClendon said, per MLB.com. “He did exactly what I thought he was going to do. Obviously the pitch count got up a little bit, but he pounded the zone and really pitched off his fastball very well. He did a nice job for us.”

Walker’s fastball was ranging from 95-98 mph Tuesday. 

“I just went out there and attacked them with the fastball,” Walker said. “That was the main focus. I definitely don’t like the four walks, but it was a start to build off.”

All signs point to Ian Kennedy starting Saturday for Padres
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(11:53 am ET) Although Padres manager Bud Black has yet to announce a starter for Saturday’s contest against the Dodgers, all signs point to starter Ian Kennedy, according to U-T San Diego.

“I think he’s ready,” Black said. “If everything goes according to plan, which I suspect, we’ll have a decision to make later in the week.”

Kennedy tossed six innings on 81 pitches in an extended spring training start on Monday. The right-hander has been sidelined since April 10 with a hamstring issue, and is eligible to return from the disabled list on April 25.

“Today, it actually feels good to feel a little sore, like, in the arm area,” Kennedy said. “Feels like I actually did something. I was happy. Especially as (Monday’s) game went on, I felt good.”

Yankees’ Girardi finding ways to keep Chris Young in lineup
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:52 am ET) Yankees manager Joe Girardi is finding it difficult to keep outfielder Chris Young out of the lineup as he keeps producing offensively. Young hit his fourth home run and second in three games Tuesday at Detroit.

“He’s playing so well,” Girardi said, per NJ.com. “He really is. I’ll find a spot for him somewhere (Wednesday).”

Young, who is batting .344 with an .844 slugging percentage through 12 games, said he is not having any trouble adjusting to his role as a bench option for New York.

“I’m not going to say it’s easy, but it’s definitely what I was aware of coming in,” he said. “I just try to do extra work when I get the chance to when I’m not playing — go to the cage and try to get my eye right and try to stay ready. Even in the games I don’t start, there’s a good chance I’m going to come in that game. That helps as well. I think you always stay on top of your toes naturally and you never get too relaxed because you know that even if you’re off that day you know you have a chance to get in.”

‘Babe’ Giavotella continues to tear it up for Angels
by Marty Gitlin | CBSSports.com

(11:51 am ET) Angels infielder Johnny Giavotella has never caused pitchers to tremble on the mound. His batting average peaked at .247 in 2011 and has dropped every year since.

But he sure has been hot to start this season.

Giavotella continued to rake Tuesday night in a thrashing of Oakland. He ripped a three-run homer off Drew Pomeranz in the second inning and added a run-scoring single in the sixth before crossing the plate himself. He finished with a career-high four RBI and now boasts a fine slash line of ..317/.383/.439.

Dodgers’ Brett Anderson can’t solve the Giants on Tuesday
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(2:01 am ET) Dodgers pitcher Brett Anderson suffered his first loss of the season Tuesday night against San Francisco.

Anderson (1-1) allowed a run-scoring bunt single to Brandon Crawford in the second, a run-scoring single to Buster Posey in the third and a two-run infield single to Nori Aoki in the fourth. Anderson was charged with four runs on nine hits and no walks while striking out one over four innings of a 6-2 defeat.

“The only real legitimate run was the [Buster] Posey single,” Anderson said, per MLB.com. “I still feel confident in my abilities. The defense couldn’t have done any more than they did today, it was just some well-placed hits that you have to deal with and go on to next one.”

Anderson has allowed three earned runs in two of his first three starts. He owns a 4.20 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP and an 8:2 K:BB ratio over 15 innings. He will face Brandon Morrow and the Padres in San Diego on Sunday. He has not faced the Padres since 2009.

Mariners’ Zunino feels changeup will be asset for Taijuan Walker
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4/10/2015) As Mariners starting pitcher Taijuan Walker takes the mound for his season debut Friday against the Athletics, the expectations have been raised after the highly touted prospect had a very productive spring campaign.

The right-hander went 4-0 with a 0.67 ERA in seven spring starts, securing a spot in the team’s rotation.

“I think that’s a test they were looking for — how do I react when I get runners on?” Walker said, per The News Tribune. “Do I overthrow, do I panic? So I think that was a big test for me. Also, when I gave up a home run against Anaheim, how would I react giving up a run? And I think those are also all big tests, and I feel like I handled myself pretty well.”

While Walker still has a fastball that reaches the upper-90s, his cutter has transformed into a slider and his changeup has also improved, according to catcher Mike Zunino.

“I think that’s going to be a huge pitch for him,” Zunino said of the changeup. “He throws one that’s a little bit harder, but it’s got great life to it. I think he’s going to be able to use that quite a bit vs. righties and lefties.

“I think he came into spring ready to pitch. Obviously, when you throw that hard, you get into the category of (just) throwing sometimes. But he definitely came in ready to pitch and wanting to learn how to get guys out.”

Padres optimistic as prospect Tate returns from torn Achilles
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4/10/2015) Padres outfielder Donavan Tate, who was the third overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, is beginning his sixth pro season in extended spring training, according to U-T San Diego. 

Tate, who missed the 2014 season with a torn Achilles, will spend some time in extended spring before being assigned to an affiliate, which will likely be Class A Lake Elsinore.

“He’s in extended trying to get more ABs,” Padres farm director Sam Geaney said. “Had a very good spring and we’re optimistic at this point. (The) Achilles’ (is) totally healthy.”

The 24-year-old outfielder’s career has been beset by injuries and failed drug tests. He has played in just 194 games in the minors, producing a .238/.355/.320/.675 slash line.

J.J. Hardy could get into minor-league games next week
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4/10/2015) Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy took dry swings with a fungo bat on Thursday. He will graduate to his bat on Friday in hopes of getting into minor-league rehab games as early as Tuesday, according to the Baltmore Sun.

“I don’t really feel it doing everyday stuff, but yesterday I felt it taking off my jacket,” Hardy said, per MASN Sports. “Just little things that I’m not thinking about. I fling my arm or my coat open and I’m like, ‘Ah!’

“When it first happened I couldn’t (reach across to) wash my shoulder over here. So it’s stuff like that where I go, ‘I feel better today,’ because I can wash my shoulder.”

Hardy, who is on the 15-day DL with a shoulder strain, remains without a timetable for return.

Mets’ Parnell, Black to throw in minor-league games this weekend
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4/10/2015) Mets relievers Bobby Parnell (elbow) and Vic Black (shoulder) are expected to pitch in minor-league games over the weekend, general manager Sandy Alderson said Thursday, per the New York Daily News. Both players are on the 15-day disabled list.

Astros’ Chris Carter hitless in 11 at-bats in series vs. Cleveland
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4/10/2015) Astros slugger Chris Carter started all three games in the season-opening series against the Indians. Unfortunately, Carter didn’t have a whole lot of luck offensively.

Carter, who hit 37 home runs in 2014, was hitless in 11 at-bats against the Indians. He struck out four times, including three strikeouts Thursday. 

Slow starts are nothing new for Carter, who has a career .181 average during the first month of the baseball season. In 2014, he hit .153 with three home runs, six doubles, eight RBI and 37 strikeouts in 26 games in April.