MLB Player News

The Rays have lined up their rotation plans for next week's four-game series against the Astros. Matt Moore will start the opener Monday and will be followed by David Price Tuesday and Roberto Hernandez Wednesday, according to manager Joe Maddon, per the Tampa Bay Times.

White Sox pitcher Hector Santiago endured a rough outing but received a no-decision in Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the Indians. Santiago yielded five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five in 2 1/3 innings pitched.

Santiago has allowed nine runs combined over his last three starts (15 2/3 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at home against the Orioles. He is 1-2 with a 4.84 ERA in six appearances (three starts) at home.

Red Sox pitcher Rubby De La Rosa is on a hot streak at Triple-A Pawtucket.

De La Rosa has not given up a run in his last three starts. He's struck out 18 over 17 innings in that period. De La Rosa has a 2.28 ERA through 14 starts in Triple-A. 

Blue Jays pitcher Esmil Rogers' recent performance has made him one of the most added players in Fantasy leagues, but he doesn't have a huge upside.

When utilized as a starter, Rogers has been unable to provide strikeouts. After striking out a batter per inning out of the bullpen in 2012, his numbers have taken a step back. Rogers' 14.2 percent strikeout rate rates as a career-low. 

He's also been a bit lucky. Rogers' BABIP is .274, a huge difference considering his .342 career rate. His 3.46 ERA may be solid, but Rogers has a 4.40 FIP, which is a better indicator of how he'll pitch going forward. There's nothing wrong with riding the hot hand, but don't expect Rogers to immediately turn into a Fantasy stud. 

After turning in some inconsistent performances out of the White Sox's bullpen, Hector Santiago seems to have hit his stride as a starter. He's put up better stats over his eight starts than in his 11 relief appearances, and in his current three-game-old stint in the rotation, Santiago is sporting a 2.29 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.

He's getting more movement on his fastball and changeup, and that has helped Santiago to generate more whiffs this season. However, with a 42 percent ground ball rate and home starts at U.S. Cellular Field, Santiago is probably a little lucky to have allowed only seven home runs in 65 1/3 innings and a .361 slugging percentage. In fact, only 20 of Santiago's innings have come at home so far this season, so putting his favorable BABIP (.267) and strand rates (80 percent) aside, he still appears due for some regression.

There could be something to Santiago maintaining a K-rate of close to one per inning, but home runs and walks could do some damage to his ERA and WHIP. During Wednesday's broadcast of Fantasy Baseball Today, Scott White laid out why he thinks Santiago can keep his job long-term. But even if he does, that doesn't mean he'll necessarily pitch well enough to be worth a pickup in many mixed leagues.

While command wasn't his strong suit Tuesday, Rays starter Matt Moore was impressive against the Blue Jays. Moore struck out 11 batters over six innings and earned the win.

Unfortunately, Moore also walked six batters and needed 120 pitches to go just six frames. Still, he limited the damage to just one earned run allowed on four hits to improve to 10-3 with a 3.95 ERA.

Moore, who started the year 8-0 before suffering three consecutive losses, has now won back-to-back starts. The 24-year-old still needs to work on that command, but 83 Ks over 86 2/3 innings with 10 wins is highly impressive. Moore will make his next starting appearance Sunday versus Detroit.

What is this, midseason fatigue? Aren't we all still looking for the next big thing on the waiver wire? So how is Hector Santiago still unowned in 64 percent of leagues after that eight-inning gem at Kansas City last time out?

Oh, I know. You picked him up the last time the White Sox slotted him into the rotation in May and ended up having to drop him when they opted for Dylan Axelrod over him upon John Danks' return from the DL a few weeks later.

So what? Santiago is in the rotation now and is likely to remain there at least until the All-Star break with Jake Peavy sidelined by a broken rib. And if he keeps doing what he's done in his first eight starts, posting a 2.68 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 9.6 strikeotus per nine innings, those three weeks should be all the time he needs to finish off Axelrod once and for all, assuming someone else doesn't go down in the meantime.

Recognizing his Francisco Liriano-like potential -- and in a relief spot, no less -- I'm willing to gamble on Santiago keeping the job this time around.

The Royals recalled pitcher Will Smith from Triple-A Omaha Tuesday. Smith, who will be used out of the bullpen, lost in his only appearance (start) April 28 against the Indians.

The Rays have lined up their rotation plans for this weekend's series against the Tigers. Per the team's game notes, Alex Colome will start the series opener Friday and be followed by Chris Archer Saturday and Jeremy Hellickson Sunday.

Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore put an end to a three-game losing streak in his last start Thursday against the Yankees. Moore said the key to ending his skid was staying aggressive in the strike zone and attacking hitters early in the count.

Moore, who will be back on the hill Tuesday against the Blue Jays, said he learned a lot while he struggled at the outset of June, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

"Instead of trying to figure a way out and hustle to get out of that, I understood that in as long a season as this one, there's going to be ups and downs," he said. "I was more so trying to pay attention to certain things that (stunk) … and try to really just embrace that. That way I'm not nervous about something to go wrong again."