MLB Player News

Luzardo has posted a 3.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 54:11 K:BB across 42.2 innings through nine starts since being promoted to Double-A Midland in late April.

While his numbers have predictably taken a hit in his move up from the California League to higher-caliber competition, Luzardo's healthy strikeout rate and 3.16 FIP illustrate that he's continuing to perform at an elite level. The Athletics have been limiting the young lefty to about 80 pitches per start this season, but Luzardo has said that he feels fully recovered from the 2015 Tommy John surgery that delayed his professional debut until 2017. Luzardo's numbers seemingly support that notion, and the 20-year-old has now likely positioned himself for a spot in the Oakland rotation at some point in 2019.

Morton will start Friday's series opener against the Royals.

Morton came unglued in his previous start, walking six and hitting four batters, and enters Friday's start in the midst of his worst stretch of the season. After going 7-0 over his first 10 starts, Morton hasn't won in three outings while posting a 6.00 ERA and 1.73 WHIP. A game against Friday's opponent, the Royals, comes at a perfect time for the struggling right-hander. Kansas City ranks 28th with 3.72 runs per game and 26th with a .684 OPS.

Nicasio (knee) threw again Thursday ahead of a possible bullpen session this weekend, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Nicasio is looking to keep his arm conditioned while managing the swollen right knee that landed him on the disabled list. The veteran reliever is likely to throw a bullpen session this weekend, and he'll likely embark on a short rehab assignment next week if he remains without setbacks.

Snell (8-4) pitched five innings Thursday, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks while striking out eight in a 4-3 loss to the Yankees.

Snell had won his last four decisions heading in to this tough matchup, last taking a loss May 13 against Baltimore. That was also the last time he allowed more than two earned runs. Even with the rough outing, the 25-year-old lefty has a stellar 2.58 ERA across 87.1 innings with a 97:29 K:BB. However, things won't get any easier for Snell, as his next start is slated to come Tuesday against the Astros.

German (1-4) struck out 10 batters in six innings of work Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks in a 4-3 win over Tampa Bay.

German allowed a leadoff home run to Matt Duffy but was pretty solid the rest of the way. The 10 strikeouts were a career high for the Dominican-born righty, and he lowered his season ERA from 5.32 to 5.23. German will get the ball again early next week at home against Seattle.

Montas (3-1) threw 5.1 innings Thursday, giving up seven runs (five earned) while allowing 11 hits and four walks in a 7-3 loss to Houston. He struck out just one batter.

This will certainly be an outing to forget for Montas, who dominated in his first three starts this season prior to this start. He allowed just one homer Thursday, but just couldn't keep Houston off the bases. The ugly performance shoots his ERA from 1.25 to 2.67 with 15 strikeouts and seven walks in 27 innings. Montas will look to turn things around next week in a solid matchup against San Diego.

Verlander (9-2) threw seven innings Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking none in a 7-3 win over Oakland.

It wasn't his sharpest performance, as Verlander allowed a pair of homers on the day, but it got the job done. At the end of May, the 25-year-old owned a 1.11 ERA, but that number has jumped to a still-incredible 1.61 after Thursday's contest. Verlander will have a very enticing matchup early next week at home against the Rays.

Lynn (4-5) took the loss despite working 6.2 quality innings Thursday against the Tigers, giving up three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out nine.

Lynn gave up the Tigers' go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh on his 114th and final pitch -- his highest count of the season. Still, Lynn now has rattled off five straight quality starts in which he's posted a sparkling 2,01 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 30.1 frames. The 16 walks he's dished out say he's probably working a bit over his head, but this recent form remains a marked improvement over his first eight starts (7.47 ERA with only two outings of six-plus innings). While he's returned to the tier of solid pitching options in many mixed leagues, his outlook is grimmer for his next scheduled assignment Wednesday at home versus the loaded Red Sox.

Rodon tossed five innings Thursday, yielding two runs on three walks and two hits while striking out four in a 5-2 loss to Cleveland.

Rodon allowed a leadoff shot to Francisco Lindor, but settled down after that. In his two starts since coming back from the DL, the lefty is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA and a 11:5 K:BB ratio in 10 innings. Rodon should get another look at Cleveland early next week.

Clevinger (5-2) fired seven innings of two-run ball (one earned) with a career-high 11 strikeouts while yielding a walk and five hits in a 5-2 win over the White Sox on Thursday.

The lone blemish on Clevinger's day was a two-run blast by Jose Abreu in the first frame. Barring any changes down the road, this will be the 27-year-old's first season as a full-time starter, and he's making the most of his opportunity. He owns a 3.15 ERA and a 80:30 K:BB ratio across 91.1 innings in 2018. Clevinger should take the mound again early next week against the White Sox once again. In his two starts against them this year, the right-hander has allowed just two earned runs in 13.2 innings with 18 punchouts.