MLB Player News

Astros starter Collin McHugh was unable to factor into the decision Thursday night against the Phillies in Philadelphia. The right-hander looked sharp and permitted only one run on five hits and no walks while striking out eight over seven innings of work.

Over his last two starts covering 13 1/3 innings, McHugh has allowed only two earned runs. He owns a 3.18 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP over 17 starts (102 innings). His next start will come Tuesday at home against Minnesota.

Yankees pitcher Esmil Rogers is expected to start Friday against the Indians, according to the New York Daily News. Rogers looked sharp in his New York debut on Sunday, scattering no hits and one walk in three scoreless innings while striking out three in a win over Boston. He owns a 6.08 ERA and 24:8 K:BB ratio in 23 2/3 innings.

Maybe pitching prospect Trevor May comes up to start Saturday's game for the Twins, as Michael Hurcomb suggests in the latest Prospects Report. Maybe not. But either way, I don't think he's the sort of prospect you need to add before he even sets foot on the diamond, at least not in leagues where pitchers like James Paxton, Danny Salazar and Jimmy Nelson are still available.

Not that it's so easy to tell, mind you. As owners of Oscar Taveras, Jon Singleton and Andrew Heaney can attest, most midseason arrivals don't put up relevant numbers right away. But the ones who do, as George Springer and Gregory Polanco owners can attest, make the pursuit worthwhile.

But in standard-sized leagues where not every newcomer is instantly the best thing available on waivers, how do you decide who is? May has been good at Triple-A Rochester -- not Nelson good, but good enough to justify a second look. In 17 starts, he's improved his walk rate from poor to below average, compiling a 2.93 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Who's to say he won't be just as good as someone like Salazar?

Indeed, who's to say? Certainly not me, which is why I don't worry so much about what I think in these situations and instead focus on what everyone else thinks.

Right now, May is only 6 percent owned. That's 3 percent less than the ever-combustible Hector Noesi. He wasn't rated nearly as high as prospects like Taveras, Springer and Polanco coming into the year, which gives him a chance to slip through the cracks. You can wait until he actually does something to pick him up.

Look how much Nelson has done, and he's still only 45 percent owned.

Yankees closer David Robertson didn't have much room for error, but made quick work of the Tigers in closing out a 1-0 win over the Tigers Thursday.

Robertson allowed a leadoff single followed by a walk to put the tying run in scoring position, but got out of the jam quickly. He induced a double play followed by a weak pop up to end the game, stranding the potential tying run at third base.

Robertson has been dominant as the Yankees closer this season, striking out 71 batters in 44 2/3 innings and saving 31 of his 33 chances. He has a 2.62 ERA and 1.05 WHIP on the season as well. 

Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly faced his former team Wednesday, giving up one earned run on three hits and four walks in seven innings and striking out two but not factoring into the decision in his team's 2-1 victory over the Cardinals.

Kelly, who was making his first start since being traded by the Cardinals to the Red Sox, appeared to suffer a leg injury running down the first-base line, but he remained in the game and managed to reach seven innings on a typical workload. He owns a 3.86 ERA and 27:14 K:BB ratio in 42 innings. Kelly is scheduled to face the Reds Tuesday.

White Sox reliever Zach Putnam is expected to return to action for the big league club in time for the series opener Friday in Seattle, per MLB.com.

Putnam has been sidelined since July 23 with shoulder inflammation. He began a rehab stint for Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.

Twins pitching prospect Trevor May could make his major league debut Saturday in Oakland, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The fifth spot in the rotation had been vacated when Logan Darnell was demoted Sunday.

May has earned a promotion. He boasts an 8-6 mark and 2.93 ERA with Triple-A Rochester. Most encouraging is that he has allowed just 75 hits in 91 1/3 innings with 91 strikeouts.

The Star is also speculating that the Twins could stay within their roster and start Anthony Swarzak against the Athletics.

White Sox pitcher Zach Putnam made his rehab debut with Triple-A Charlotte Tuesday, striking out one in one inning of work.

Putnam needed just seven pitches to retire the side in the eighth inning Tuesday. He's working his way back from shoulder inflammation, and he may return to the team sometime later this week.

Angels pitcher Hector Santiago wasn't a factor in Tuesday's decision, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings and striking out two in his team's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.

Santiago gave up a three-run home run in the second inning to fall behind 3-2, and fell behind again on a sacrifice fly in the sixth before his offense tied the game in the eighth. He owns a 3.84 ERA and 73:33 K:BB ratio in 84 1/3 innings. Santiago is scheduled to face the Red Sox Sunday.

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney surrendered a run on two hits Tuesday but also struck out one and picked up his 31st save in his team's 4-2 victory over the Braves.

Rodney began the inning by giving up a leadoff double, and the runner would come around to score on back-to-back groundouts. After surrendering a two-out single, the closer slammed the door on the win. Rodney owns a 2.36 ERA and 51:18 K:BB ratio in 45 2/3 innings.