MLB Player News

Verlander (16-5) allowed four hits and struck out four over 5.1 scoreless innings to pick up the win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday.

Verlander was cruising along nicely and had been spotted a nine-run lead when he started the sixth inning, but his night ended early when he was ejected for expressing his displeasure at a call on the pitch right before the Rays' Tommy Pham laced a double. The right-hander entered the contest having recorded double-digit strikeouts in seven straight games, but that streak came to an end with home plate umpire Pat Hoberg tossing him early. Verlander is scheduled to make his next start Sunday on the road in Toronto.

Morton (13-6) took the loss Tuesday, coughing up six runs on seven hits and two walks over four innings while striking out four as the Rays were trounced 15-1 by the Astros.

The right-hander got through the first two innings unscathed before the Houston offense erupted, and five of the seven hits Morton allowed went for extra bases. On the bright side, he did reach 200 strikeouts for the second straight season. Morton will carry a 3.11 ERA and 201:47 K:BB through 165 innings into his next start Sunday, at home against Cleveland.

Giolito (14-7) allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out nine to pick up the loss against the Twins on Tuesday.

Giolito pitched well against an opponent that is familiar to him -- Minnesota tagged him for seven runs in loss July 25 -- but he got little support from his mates. This was his sixth straight quality start (2.25 ERA, 62 strikeouts, 40 innings) following a rough four-start stretch (7.06 ERA) that would have likely torpedoed the right-hander's season last year. Giolito dropped his season ERA to 3.20, fifth in the AL, and will next take the hill on the road Sunday against the Braves.

Kikuchi (5-9) took the loss against the Yankees on Tuesday, giving up five earned runs on eight hits over four innings, striking out one and walking three as the Mariners lost 7-0.

Kikuchi tossed a complete-game shutout in his last start Aug. 18, but he followed it up with a dud in this contest, with home runs by Aaron Judge and Brett Gardner accounting for most of the damage against him. The left-hander now sports an uninspiring 5.36 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 104:46 K:BB across 139.1 innings on the season.

Heaney threw six innings in a no-decision against the Rangers on Tuesday, giving up one unearned run on four hits, striking out 10 and walking three as the Angels eventually won 5-2.

He wasn't rewarded with the win, but it was still another stellar outing for the left-hander, who posted his second straight double-digit strikeout effort and fourth of the season. Heaney has been red hot of late, as he's now given up just four earned runs and posted a lights-out 30:3 K:BB over his last 21 innings. The stretch has brought his ERA down to 3.95 and his WHIP to 1.16 over 70.2 innings ahead of his next start, which will see him take on the Red Sox in a Sunday home matchup.

Turnbull (3-13) allowed four runs on seven hits across five innings to take the loss Tuesday against Cleveland. He walked two and struck out three.

Turnbull allowed three quick runs in the first inning, and while he pitched better from there, he couldn't avoid loss No. 13 as Cleveland romped over the Tigers, 10-1. The righty has been serviceable with a 4.18 ERA this season, though a lethargic Detroit offense has greatly reduced his margin for error. Turnbull will look for his first win since May when he takes the mound again Sunday against the Twins.

Whitley will throw in the Arizona Fall League, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros' top pitching prospect has endured a season plagued by injuries and ineffectiveness. Whitley pitched to a 12.21 ERA over his first eight starts before the organization sent him to Florida for a two-month reset, a period during which he was on the minor-league injured list with right shoulder fatigue. Since his return to full-season affiliates, the right-hander has been inconsistent, posting a 4.94 ERA over six starts for Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Round Rock.

Severino (lat) will start a rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Trenton, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Manager Aaron Boone previously suggested Severino could begin his rehab stint Sunday, and his 35-pitch, two-inning simulated game Tuesday proved to be the final hurdle before it became official. It's not fully clear how many minor-league games the 25-year-old is expected to require, but he should be ready to go fairly early in September since he's initially expected to work out of the bullpen.

Chirinos' finger has improved, and he played catch Tuesday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Chirinos said the finger is doing the best it has since he landed on the injured list back in early August. He appears to have time to return to the Rays at some point this season but is unlikely to do so before late September. Though manager Kevin Cash told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times earlier this week that Chirinos would likely deployed in the rotation upon returning, the right-hander won't have enough time to build up to a normal starter's workload and will presumably be in store for abbreviated outings on days he pitches.

Glasnow (forearm) will make a rehab appearance at High-A Charlotte on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Glasnow's live batting practice session Tuesday apparently went well, and he's set to take the next step in his recovery from a forearm strain. He's expected to make another two or three appearances in the minors after Friday's before rejoining the Rays, with manager Kevin Cash telling Topkin earlier this week that Glasnow would be deployed as a starter once activated from the 60-day injured list. However, since Glasnow won't have enough time to build up to a normal starter's workload, he'll likely be in store for abbreviated outings on days he pitches.