MLB Player News

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus announced right-hander Buck Farmer will get the start on Monday against the Reds, MLive.com reports. Farmer will make the start in place of Daniel Norris, who was placed on the disabled list on Thursday.

Farmer has made 11 appearances this year, including three starts. He has not pitched all that well, as he is 0-2 with a gaudy 8.39 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. 

Astros starter Collin McHugh was excellent in his outing against the Rays on Thursday. Unfortunately for him, he was on the wrong end of a Chris Archer one-hit shutout, as the Astros lost 1-0. McHugh did his part however, allowing one run on five hits over seven solid innings. He walked two and struck out five.

McHugh (13-7, 3.96 ERA) has been outstanding in August. In four starts this month, the right-hander is 1-2 but owns a very impressive 1.67 ERA over 27 innings.

The Astros recalled pitcher Vincent Velasquez while optioning pitcher Josh Fields to Double-A Corpus Christi on Thursday, the team announced.

Fields (4-1) has a 2.20 ERA in 41 innings this season. Velasquez tossed 41 2/3 innings with the Astros earlier this season before being sent to minors to fine-tune his skills for a postseason run.

Brad Ausmus has declared that Tigers starter Daniel Norris will be placed on the 15-day disabled list after leaving his outing Wednesday with right oblique strain, the Detroit Free Press has reported. He is scheduled for an MRI on Thursday.

Norris was taken out of the game in the fifth inning. It marked only his fourth start since his promotion from Triple-A Toledo.

Red Sox starter Joe Kelly needed a couple Houdini acts to escape unscathed Wednesday night against Cleveland, but in the end he emerged with his fourth consecutive victory.

The double play was his best friend. He induced three in the first five innings to prevent any earned runs from scoring against him. He allowed five hits in six innings with three walks and five strikeouts. The lone run he gave up was unearned and scored, ironically, on a double play.

Kelly has been far from sensational in his four wins. He has surrendered eight runs over 22 1/3 innings during that time. But he has evened his record to 6-6 in the process.

Athletics relief pitcher Drew Pomeranz recorded his second save of the season during his team's win over the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Pomeranz closed out the ninth inning of the 5-2 victory without allowing any walks or hits. He now has a 3.67 ERA in 73 2/3 innings this season.

Athletics starting pitcher Jesse Chavez looked good during his start against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Chavez allowed two runs on two hits in eight solid innings of work. He struck out six batters and allowed only two walks. Chavez's lone mistake in tge game came on a two-run home run he allowed to Jimmy Rollins in the second inning.

With the win, Chavez improves to 7-12 on the season with a 3.75 ERA.

Yankees reliever Dellin Betances picked up his eighth save of the season in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Twins. Betances needed 15 pitches to retire the side in order in the ninth inning, striking out two along the way.

Closer Andrew Miller had been used each of the past two games, including a four-out save on Tuesday. So Betances was called upon to give Miller a day to rest. 

Rays closer Brad Boxberger stranded the winning run on base in the ninth inning, but he surrendered a walk-off homer in the 10th to fall to 4-9 with a loss to Houston on Tuesday.

Boxberger gave up his third career walk-off. His last two homers allowed have both been walk-off shots. He gave up a leadoff homer in the tenth on Tuesday. On July 7, he surrendered a walk-off grand slam.

Mariners reliever Carson Smith earned his 13th save of the year with a perfect ninth inning against Texas on Tuesday.

Smith bounced back from a blown save two days earlier. After converting his first nine save opportunities this year, Smith has blown two of six opportunities in August.