Thu 3/20/14 4:17 PM

Luke Putkonen retired all four Nationals he faced on Thursday and has yet to allow a run in 10 1/3 innings this spring. He's allowed just three hits in his eight appearances. Putkonen looked like something of an underdog to win a spot in Detroit's revamped bullpen at the beginning of the spring, but it will be hard not to take him now.