MLB Player News

Tigers starter Daniel Norris was perfect through five innings Tuesday night in a 2-1 win over the White Sox. He struck out four.

He was on a strict pitch count of 60-65, given it was just his second game back from the disabled list. He fired 41 of his 63 pitches for strikes and induced seven ground-ball outs. The Tigers actually carried the no hitter right into the ninth inning, but it ended with one out. Norris has great potential and more outings like this will help ease the sting of David Price's Cy-like season

White Sox closer David Robertson managed to secure his 30th save in spite of surrendering three hits and two earned runs in one inning in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Indians. He also struck out a batter.

It marked the third consecutive outing in which Robertson has made it interesting in the late innings, with the White Sox closer giving up a one-out, two-run homer in the ninth to Chris Johnson to pull the Indians within a run. The veteran reliever then surrendered a single to Abraham Almonte and secured the final out of the ballgame, and the save, by picking him off first base.

Despite Saturday's narrow escape, Robertson's 21.00 ERA and two homers surrendered over his last three innings has to be somewhat concerning to both his team and fantasy owners.

Tigers hurler Buck Farmer (forearm) could be available to pitch Monday in the Tigers' doubleheader with the White Sox, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports.

Farmer completed a bullpen session Friday and is scheduled to toss another Sunday, which should be his last step before receiving clearance to return to the Tigers' relief corps. He'll likely serve as a long man out of the bullpen after floundering as a starter earlier this season.

Rays relief pitcher Brad Boxberger allowed a run on one hit, he did not walk a batter and struck out one in an inning of work to log his 35th save against the Orioles on Friday night.

He has struggled mightily of late and while he picked up a save in this one, he allowed a home run to Steve Pearce, and saw his ERA drift even higher to 3.90 on the year. The Rays don't have a lot of viable options other than perhaps Jake McGee when he returns, so Boxberger could finish out the year as their closer despite his poor performance.

Twins pitcher Trevor May (hip) is expected to be availabe Friday, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

May was unavailable each of the past two days with a lower back and hip issue, but reported feeling much better Friday. The 25-year-old has thrived since moving to a setup role, but has struggled to a 6.14 ERA in seven September appearances.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski prefers pitcher Joe Kelly (shoulder) as a starter, the Boston Globe reports. The right-handed Kelly, who has been shut down for the season with soreness in his shoulder, had been considered as a candidate for the bullpen.

Dombrowski feels there's more value in a pitcher who can start and eat up innings and feels that's how Kelly is best deployed.

Angels starter Hector Santiago couldn't escape the first inning Thursday, giving up five runs on five hits and a walk while getting just two outs against the Twins.

He was fortunate to avoid taking the loss, as Tommy Milone gave up a five spot of his own while recording only four outs, but that's the only silver lining on this start for Santiago. He's been due for regression, as Santiago's K:BB is a hideous 23:22 over his last seven starts, and yet he's managed three quality starts in that span. With the problems Santiago's had, he can't be trusted down the stretch, especially next week against an Astros team that's fighting for a playoff spot.

Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly is just dealing with right shoulder soreness and the issue isn't serious, 93.7 WEEI FM reports.

Kelly was shut down for the season due to the shoulder issue, but fortunately there's nothing more serious underlying. The 27-year-old will finish the season posting a 4.82 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 110 strikeouts over 134.1 innings. He will enter the offseason in his first year of arbitration, but the injury shouldn't have much impact on the negotiations nor his availability for the 2016 season.

Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore turned in seven dominant innings Thursday, striking out nine Orioles while allowing no runs on two hits and zero walks, but was stuck with a no-decision.

Alex Colome came in and gave up four runs in the eighth inning to blow the game, depriving Moore of a win in what was easily his best start of the year. This was a version of Moore that we hadn't seen in a long time, so this outing qualifies as wonderful news for his fantasy owners. He next faces a Boston team that scored six runs off him Aug. 1 and eight (six earned) last Saturday -- if he can turn things around Tuesday against the Red Sox, he'll put himself squarely on the radar for next year.

White Sox closer David Robertson didn't close for anyone but the Athletics on Thursday. He took the loss and was charged with his seventh blown save of the season in a 4-2 defeat. He surrendered three hits, three earned runs and walk in one inning while also striking out a batter.

Robertson invited trouble by yielding a one-out double to Brett Lawrie and a single to Danny Valencia before allowing Billy Butler to plate both with a round-tripper to right field.

After a streak of eight consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run, Robertson has now given up seven runs (five earned) over his last two innings. The blown save also broke his streak of six consecutive successful save conversions.