MLB Player News

Gonzales (neck) is highly unlikely to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday, the first day he'd be eligible, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The southpaw simply hasn't made sufficient progress from his neck strain, with the light catch he played before Thursday's game serving as his only activity since going on the disabled list. Gonzales added that he didn't feel a bullpen session was even "on the radar" at present, further suggesting he'll miss more time than the minimum 10 days.

Paxton (forearm) played "aggressive catch" on flat ground Thursday and proclaimed himself fully ready for activation from the disabled list, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander has reportedly been on track for a return, and Thursday's development further supports that notion. Paxton is set to start Saturday's game against the Athletics, an outing into which he'll take a 3.68 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 139.1 innings.

Montas (5-4) allowed seven runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out four across six innings to take the loss Thursday against the Mariners.

Seven of the first nine batters Montas faced reached base, which allowed the Mariners to score five runs in the first inning. While he surrendered two more earned runs, he managed to settle down to work six innings, avoiding a completely disastrous outing in the process. While Montas maintains a respectable 3.96 ERA, the rest of his skills suggest that mark is too generous, as he has a 1.48 WHIP to go along with only 43 strikeouts across 63.2 innings.

Heaney (8-8) fired six scoreless innings and earned the win Thursday, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out six in the 5-2 win over Houston.

In his last start, Heaney was knocked around for five runs by the same Astros team, but Thursday he bounced back strong. The 27-year-old southpaw also allowed less than two runs for the first time since July 22. Heaney lowered his ERA to 4.09 with a 144:39 K:BB across 152 innings this season. He'll take the mound in Texas on Tuesday.

Verlander (13-9) tossed 5.1 innings Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk in the 5-2 loss to the Angels. He struck out 11 and took the loss.

It wasn't a terrible performance from the 35-year-old, but Verlander is clearly still stuck in a bit of a slump that's lasted most of August. His ERA shot up from 2.24 to 2.78 this month but he managed to post a wonderful 50:5 K:BB during that same span. Verlander will look to turn things around in his first September start, coming Tuesday at home against the Twins.

Smoker was optioned to Triple-A Toledo following Thursday's game against the Yankees.

Smoker made one appearance since being promoted to the big leagues Sunday, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings while walking two and striking out two. The Tigers are expected to announce a corresponding move prior to Friday's matchup.

Giolito allowed an earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out eight across 6.1 innings Thursday against the Red Sox. He did not factor into the decision.

Giolito held the powerful Red Sox lineup without an extra-base hit and allowed only two runners to reach scoring position. He generated an impressive 14 swinging strikes on his way to matching his highest strikeout total of the season. While Giolito has still been hit hard in a few starts, he has flashed the skills that made him a hyped pitching prospect only two seasons ago by posting a 4.58 ERA with 47 strikeouts across 47.2 innings in eight post All-Star break starts.

Odorizzi (5-9) allowed three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out four over 5.1 innings Thursday as he took the loss against Cleveland.

Odorizzi tossed a decent outing, surrendering a run in the fourth and two in the sixth, but his offense failed to bail him out. The 28-year-old has been sadled with two straight losses despite giving up just four runs over 12.1 frames. Things won't get much easier for Odorizzi moving forward as he'll face a tough Houston lineup Tuesday.

Clevinger (10-7) allowed two runs (zero earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out nine across 6.2 innings as he notched the win Thursday against the Indians.

Clevinger should have made it out of the fifth inning unscathed, but after the Indians afforded Minnesota an additional out, Ehire Adrianza clubbed a two-run homer to right field. Despite this, Clevinger would manage to exit the ballgame with a three-run lead after throwing 70 of 114 pitches for strikes. He continues to impress in 2018, as he'll head into his next start with a 3.17 ERA and 172 strikeouts over 170.1 frames.

Despaigne was removed from the Angels' notes as Sunday's probable pitcher and added to the list of relievers on the club's lineup card ahead of Thursday's contest in Houston, Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group reports.

Despaigne has failed to make it into the fifth inning in any of his three starts this month, logging a 7.50 ERA and 2.00 WHIP with just nine strikeouts across 12 innings in those outings. It appears as though he will transition to a long-relief role in the bullpen, especially since the club is now listing Sunday's starter as "TBA." Though Fletcher floats the idea that Shohei Ohtani (elbow) could possibly return for that start, the Angels have yet to offer up any word on his status after he pitched a simulated game Monday. With rosters expanding to 40 players this weekend, there's a plethora of arms that could take Despaigne's place in the rotation.