Tigers’ Fulmer pointing toward regular season
AL’s top rookie last year says injured ankle has healed.
AL Rookie of t he Ye a r Michael Fulmer said hi s injured right ankle that cost him a start for the Detroit Tigers earlier this month is 100 percent and he’s on track to be ready for the start of the regular season.
Fulmer, making his second start since spraining the ankle during an agility drill March 4, gave up three runs and four hits in 3⅓ innings in a 3-0 loss Friday to the New York Yankees — a game in which Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka and two relievers combined for a no-hitter.
Fulmer threw 59 pitches. The Tigers had targeted him for 55 to 60.
“It’s a process,” Fulmer s a i d. “I t hi nk t oday was another day that the results might have not been there but just building up pitch count right now. Just building up stamina, trying to be ready for opening day to go 100-plus pitches. That’s my main goal, to be 100 percent ready, 100 percent built up for my first start.”
Fulmer went 11-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 26 starts last season.
Marlins: The team is waiting to learn the extent of third baseman Martin Prado’s hamstring injury, including whether he’ll be available for opening day. Playing for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, Prado hurt himself running out a grounder in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s loss to Team USA. Prado immediately left the game and didn’t return.
Dodgers: The father of manager Dave Roberts died at age 68. Waymon Roberts served in the Marine Corps and was stationed in Japan when his only son was born on Okinawa in 1972. The you n ge r Rober t s ’ c h i l d - hood was spent moving from one military base to another before the family settled in San Diego. Roberts was replaced for Friday’s split-squad games by bench coach Bob Geren and Triple-A Oklahoma City manager Bill Haselman.
A’s: Outfielder Jake Smolinski had surgery on his right shoulder and will be in a sling for the next four weeks. The team said Smolinski had an arthroscopic procedure Thursday in Scottsdale, Ariz., to repair his labrum and remove a bursa — a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between the bone and surrounding tissue. Smolinski appeared in three games this spring, hitting .167 with a double and an RBI. He hit .238 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in 99 games with the Athletics last year.
Orioles: Right-hander Logan Ondrusek, due to have his elbow examined next week by Dr. James Andrews, was re l e a s e d. Ondrusek agreed in December to a nonguaranteed $650,000, one-year contract. If doctors determine Ondrusek is injured, there might be a grievance arguing he should not be released but instead placed on the disabled list.
Rangers: Right-hander Andrew Cashner threw a 30-pitch bullpen session, his first in camp since being slowed by upper right biceps soreness. Manager Jeff Banister said he is unlikely to be ready for his spot in the rotation by the first week of the season.
Sidney Crosby scored twice to move into a tie for the NHL lead with 37 goals, Carter Rowney added the first goal of his career and Pittsburgh beat New Jersey. Matt Murray stopped 32 shots as the Penguins relied on Crosby and some fresh faces to overcome the loss of Evgeni Malkin, who is out with an upper-body injury.
Aleksander Barkov scored a third-period goal and added the winner in the shootout as Florida beat New York. Jaromir Jagr had two assists and passed Hall of Famer Gordie Howe for the most points after turning 40 with 269. Late Late
The depleted Pittsburgh defense has taken another hit. Coach Mike Sullivan says Ron Hainsey is week to week with an upper-body injury. The Penguins acquired the 35-year-old Hainsey just before the trade deadline. Pittsburgh is already missing injured defensemen Kris Letang, Olli Maatta and Trevor Daley.
Captain Steven Stamkos was a full participant in practice Friday for the first time since he tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee Nov. 15. But,“by no means does this [mean] his return is imminent,” coach Jon Cooper said.