MLB Player News

Clevinger struck out eight and walked two in six innings Friday against the Royals, allowing three runs on four hits in a no-decision.

Clevinger's one major blemish was a three-run homer given up to Salvador Perez in the first inning. He's thrown 16 quality starts (in 26 total starts) this year and has gone 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA over his last five times out. The 27-year-old is holding opponents to a .239 batting average and ranks 10th in the AL with 163 strikeouts. His next start will be a matchup with the Twins at home.

Keller allowed two runs on six hits in a no-decision against the Indians on Friday, striking out five and walking one in five innings.

He allowed just two extra-base hits and threw 60 of 96 pitches for strikes. In four of his last five starts, Keller has allowed two runs or fewer, and he's thrown six quality starts in 15 games started this season. The young righty has a 3.33 ERA and 1.35 WHIP to go with a 72:41 K:BB in 105.1 innings. His next start will come against the Orioles at home.

Heaney (7-8) took the loss against the Astros on Friday, giving up five earned runs on eight hits over six innings, striking out five and walking one in the Angels' 9-3 defeat.

Heaney looked like he was on his way to a solid outing, but he have up a grand slam to Marwin Gonzalez in the fifth inning which wound up ruining his final stat line. The left-hander has been struggling lately, as he's now given up at least five earned in three of his last four outings to bring his ERA up to 4.25 through 146 innings. He'll face the Astros again in his next start, this time on the road on Thursday.

Keuchel (10-10) got the win against the Angels on Friday, giving up two earned runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out six and walking two in Houston's 9-3 victory.

Keuchel bounced back from a rough start against Oakland his last time out, evening his record with his 10th win of the season following this solid effort against the Angels. He's been erratic at times this season and hasn't quite managed to consistently find the dominant form that he's displayed in past years, but it's been a solid campaign on the whole for Keuchel, who has a 3.54 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP and 125 strikeouts through 167.2 innings in 2018.

Cobb allowed two runs on three hits and three walks while fanning six over six innings as he didn't factor into the decision Friday against New York.

Cobb cruised through the first three innings before surrendering a two-run blast in the fourth. He'd exit the game with the ballgame tied 2-2 after throwing 61 of 100 pitches for strikes. Despite a 4-15 record this season, Cobb has looked solid of late, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his previous six appearances (41 innings). The 30-year-old sports a 5.00 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with a 94:37 K:BB through 138.2 frames in 2018.

Whitley failed to make his scheduled start Friday at Double-A Corpus Christi due to right lat discomfort, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic Houston reports.

Whitley returned from the disabled list Aug. 15 after missing time with a mild oblique strain, so he's dealt with his share of injuries in 2018. It's uncertain if he'll require another trip to the disabled list, but he'll be considered day-to-day moving forward.

Valdez is slated to start his first major-league start Sunday against the Angels, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic Houston reports.

Valdez notched a victory in his big-league debut Tuesday against the Mariners, as he tossed 4.1 innings and gave up one unearned run while fanning four. He'll likely remain in the major leagues until Lance McCullers (forearm) manages to return to health.

Paxton (forearm) completed a bullpen session Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Paxton has been on the disabled list since Aug. 15 due to a left forearm contusion, and he managed to throw his first bullpen session since suffering the injury. He'll likely return from the shelf sometime during Seattle's road trip against Oakland beginning Aug. 30, as manager Scott Servais doesn't want Paxton to have to see any at-bats.

The White Sox decided to shut down Cease for 2018 to limit his innings, James Fegan of The Athletic Chicago reports.

Cease threw a career high 124 innings between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham -- his previous career mark was 93.1 innings -- this season, so the White Sox will remain cautious. The 22-year-old finished with a 2.40 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 160:50 K:BB between the two levels.

Gray will start the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader against the Orioles, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Gray's poor start to the season saw him dropped to the bullpen in early August and passed over for the Yankees' first spot start opportunity, but he's the best man available Saturday with Chance Adams and A.J. Cole both pitching in relief Wednesday. Gray has a 5.56 ERA in his 21 starts this season.