MLB Player News

Rangers pitcher Nick Martinez could not finish the third inning Thursday, in a 6-0 loss to the Tigers.

Coming off arguably the best start of his career, Martinez was a disaster this time around. The Tigers jumped on him for four runs on six hits, and he walked five batters while throwing just 33 of 69 pitches for strikes in the loss.

Martinez fell to 1-5 with the loss, his fourth in a row. He has a 4.65 ERA in 62 innings heading into his next start, set for Tuesday in Baltimore. 

White Sox starter Scott Carroll struggled in his return to the rotation Thursday, in a 7-0 loss to the Blue Jays.

Starting his first game since May 19, Carroll made it through five innings on 91 pitches. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays pummeled him, scoring five runs on nine hits and a pair of walks. He struck out four batters in the loss.

Carroll's record fell to 2-4, while his ERA rose to 4.76 in 51 innings with the loss. His next start is set for Tuesday against the Angels. 

Twins pitcher Yohan Pino is heading back to Triple-A Thursday.

Pino started two games in the majors, posting a 6.30 ERA over 10 innings. Jorge Polanco will be called up to take his place on the active roster.

Angels pitcher Hector Santiago will start Saturday's game in Kansas City, the Orange County Register reports.

Santiago was expected to make a start this weekend with Tyler Skaggs still recovering from a hamstring injury, and the team has decided to use him Saturday, with Matt Shoemaker staying on scheduled for Friday's start. Santiago owns a 4.41 ERA and 43:21 K:BB ratio in 49 innings.

Twins pitcher Yohan Pino took a loss Wednesday, giving up five earned runs on seven hits and one walk in just three innings while striking out two in his team's 6-2 defeat against the Angels.

Pino (0-1) had a fine debut last Thursday and made it through the first inning Wednesday intact, but he gave up three runs in the second inning and two runs in the third before being replaced by a reliever to begin the fourth. He owns a 6.30 ERA and 9:2 K:BB ratio in 10 innings going into Monday's scheduled start against the Royals.

Astros pitcher Collin McHugh took a loss Wednesday after surrendering three earned runs on just three hits and two walks in seven innings and striking out nine in his team's 4-0 defeat against the Braves.

McHugh (4-6) made it through six innings having given up just one run on a sacrifice fly, but the Braves were able to score two more on a home run in the seventh. The Houston pitcher's offense was unable to pick up the slack, but McHugh has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in seven straight starts. He owns a 2.86 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 81:27 K:BB ratio in 72 1/3 innings. McHugh is schedule to square off with the Mariners Monday.

Yankees closer David Robertson retired all five batters he faced Wednesday, racking up three strikeouts and his 18th save in his team's 5-3 win over the Blue Jays.

Robertson hadn't pitched in a week, so the team decided to turn to him for a longer-than-usual save opportunity. He didn't disappoint, striking out the last two batters of the eighth inning and the leadoff man in the ninth before retiring the last two batters on groundouts. Robertson owns a 3.08 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 47:9 K:BB ratio in 26 1/3 innings.

It hasn't been determined whether Astros pitcher Josh Fields will need a rehab assignment before returning from the disabled list, the Houston Chronicle reports.

"Today I just threw a few (pitches) with a catcher in front of the plate, so I was kind of just tossing," Fields said Wednesday. "Kind of a short ‘pen, just a few pitches. Not like a bullpen, but off the mound."

Fields has been sidelined with forearm soreness, but he is first eligible to be activated Monday. He owns a 5.93 ERA and 37:10 K:BB ratio in 27 1/3 innings.

Astros pitcher Anthony Bass could be activated from the disabled list next week, MLB.com reports.

Bass has been out since May 10 while recovering from a back injury, but he began a rehab assignment with Class A Quad City Sunday. He owns a 4.50 ERA and 4:5 K:BB ratio in 18 innings.

The Mariners recalled pitcher Brandon Maurer from Triple-A Tacoma Wednesday.

Maurer posted a 7.52 ERA and 17:14 K:BB ratio in 32 1/3 innings over seven starts earlier in the season. He's expected to pitch out of the bullpen for the time being after mostly filling that role with Tacoma, where he posted a 2.79 ERA and 24:8 K:BB ratio in 19 1/3 innings over 12 appearances (one start).