MLB Player News

Rays left-hander Matt Moore made his fourth rehab start and his first with Triple-A Durham on Sunday. Moore, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, went 5 /13 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits including two home runs. He walked one and struck out seven, throwing 92 pitches, 67 for strikes.

The Rays have not announced the next step in Moore's recovery. Moore has not pitched in the majors since April 2014.

The term "hard-luck loser" can sometimes be used generously. But it certainly applied to Rays starter Alex Colome in a Cleveland victory on Sunday.

"Really, really competitive day for Colome," Rays catcher Curt Casali said, per MLB.com. "Especially after the last outing. For him to just completely flush that and come out here and work his butt off.

Colome was cruising along with a perfect game until a Michael Bourn infield single in the sixth that could have been ruled an error on second baseman Logan Forsythe. He finished with one hit allowed in seven innings, walking two and fanning four. But he also finished with a no-decision.

"It was really nice to see him bounce back after his last outing," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He made some adjustments and faced a really tough lineup with all the lefties. A couple of very hot hitters in there."

The right-hander certainly feels better about his latest start than he did his previous one, when he surrendered six runs in two innings. Now sporting a 4.50 ERA, he will try to remain in a groove next Saturday against Boston.

After reporting feeling well after throwing bullpen sessions Saturday, Rays pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Andrew Bellatti are scheduled to throw a full bullpen session Monday, reports TampaBay.com.

Odorizzi would likely need two rehab starts before returning. Odorizzi is on the disabled list with an oblique injury, while Bellatti is dealing with a sore shoulder.

Athletics pitcher Pat Venditte still has to make more progress from his shoulder injury before he can begin throwing, reports The San Francisco Chronicle.

"[He's] still strengthening," manager Bob Melvin said. "I don't think we have a target date for when he's going to throw."

Venditte has been out since June 10 with a strained right shoulder.

Sidearming left-hander Kyle Crockett has been dispatched by the Indians to Triple-A Columbus to make room on the roster for Sunday starter Cody Anderson, MLB.com has reported.

Crockett pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings since his promotion Thursday and has not allowed a run in five appearances this season.

Mariners reliever Carson Smith came on with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, and worked a perfect 1 1/3 innings to record his fifth save of the season on Saturday. Smith struck out two batters to pick up the four-out save and preserve the 6-3 win over the Astros.

Smith is a perfect 5-for-5 in save chances since taking over the closer role earlier this month. Despite being scored upon in two of his last five appearances, the young right-hander owns an impressive 1.52 ERA on the season.

Rays starter Matt Moore, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to make his fourth rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Durham, bringing him one step closer to the major-league roster, per the Tampa Tribune. 

Moore will throw 90 pitches in order to stretch him out, and he could be in line to replace Erasmo Ramirez, who suffered a groin strain Saturday. But the Rays will be cautious with a pitcher who hasn't started an MLB game since April 2014. 

"It'll be up in the air," manager Kevin Cash said. "We just got to sit down and talk. I don't think anybody is completely clear on what to do after that. We'll evaluate after his start."

Rays closer Brad Boxberger didn't have a great outing against the Indians on Saturday, but still managed to record a save in the win.

Boxberger needed 23 pitches to close out the ninth inning of his team's 4-1 win. He allowed two hits and walked a batter, but ultimately managed to end the game unscathed for his 18th save of the year.

Boxberger has a 2.70 ERA in 26 2/3 innings of work this season.

The Blue Jays tried to make Liam Hendriks a starter and that did not stick. Now that he's a reliever, he's become an integral part of the team, per the Toronto Sun. 

In 31 2/3 innings of work, Hendriks has an ERA of 2.84 and a 2-0 record. He's been particularly effective against right-handed hitters, allowing just seven hits to them in their last 51 at-bats dating back to late April. 

"My velocity has been consistent and I'm working at keeping it that way," he said. "I think it has always been in there but it has never been full harnessed and that's what I've been able to do this year with a little bit more of an aggressive approach."

Twins starter Trevor May was excellent in a no-decision on Saturday versus the Cubs. May went six innings, allowing just one run on seven hits. He walked two and struck out seven, as the Twins lost in extra innings. The rookie right-hander lowered his ERA to 4.03 with Saturday's impressive performance.

"Both starters did well," Twins manager Paul Molitor said, per MLB.com. "Trevor hung in there. He got out of a big bases-loaded jam and found a way to minimize through six innings. And from there, it just became a three-inning game for both teams with a lot of chances on both sides, but they finally capitalized there."

This was May's fifth quality start over his last seven outings, though he hasn't won a start since June 3. He'll make his next start on Friday in Milwaukee.