MLB Player News

Keuchel (0-3) allowed just two runs on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts in an eight-inning complete game but was still left with the loss Monday night against the Mariners.

Keuchel remains winless, but this was finally a performance worthy of a former Cy Young winner. The main blemish was a solo home run off the bat of Nelson Cruz in the fourth inning, but other than that, Keuchel was exceptionally sharp. He induced 14 grounders against just four flyballs and threw 24 first-pitch strikes to 31 hitters as he hit his spots all night long. If Keuchel can find this form with regularity, the Astros' lineup will deliver him the wins before long, perhaps in his next start Saturday in Chicago against the White Sox.

Blackburn (forearm) is expected to begin a throwing program Friday, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Blackburn was moved to the 60-day disabled list April 5, but he's scheduled to play catch Friday up to a distance of 60 feet. He'll look to progress through his throwing program as he aims for a return by the end of May.

Severino (3-1) tossed six scoreless innings while earning the win Monday against the Marlins, allowing one hit and one walk with eight strikeouts.

Severino was flat out dominant in this one, throwing first-pitch strikes to 15 of 20 batters as he registered a season high in strikeouts. He curiously induced just one groudball out as opposed to nine flyouts. He likely could've gone deeper into the game, but he was spotted a massive lead and exited luxuriously after just 86 pitches. Severino has been excellent in the early going, posting a 2.63 ERA and a 10.5 K/9 through 24 innings.

Perez (1-2) allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings in Monday's 8-4 loss to the Rays.

That's two straight games in which Perez has allowed eight runs. He's been fooling no one this season, giving up 29 hits and 18 runs over 12.1 innings (13.14 ERA). His early-season struggles could be an unexpected side effect of the fractured bone in his right (non-throwing) elbow, sustained in December, that forced him to alter his offseason program and delayed his normal spring routine. Perez was never a master at missing bats, but he limited hard contact in 2017 to 33.3 percent of batted balls. Through his first two starts in 2018, that rate ballooned to 59.0 percent. Perez has been bad enough to remove from the rotation, but he gets a two-week stay while Doug Fister (hip) remains sidelined. He'll look to fix himself between now and Sunday against the Mariners.

Snell (2-1) got the win over the Rangers on Monday, giving up just one earned run on five hits in 6.1 innings, striking out nine and walking none in Tampa Bay's 8-4 victory.

It was the second straight strong outing for the 25-year-old left-hander, who has given up just two earned runs to go along with 19 strikeouts over his past 12.1 innings. He also showed improved control in this start as he didn't issue a single walk against Texas after surrendering five free passes to the White Sox in his last start. Aside from one dud outing against the Yankees in his second start of the year, the early-season returns have been strong from Snell, who now sports a solid 2.95 ERA and 1.08 WHIP to go along with 26 punch-outs in 21.1 innings -- numbers that would make him a rock-solid fantasy option if he's able to maintain the pace.

Chirinos will start Tuesday against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Chirinos will get his third start of the season and is coming off a solid outing in which he tossed 5.1 scoreless innings and struck out five. He's yet to allow a run through 14.1 innings this season and owns an impressive 0.70 WHIP. Unless he starts to significantly regress, Chirinos should continue to function as the Ray's No. 4 starter, although he should not be expected to log much more than five innings per start.

Clevinger is scheduled to make his next start Saturday against the Orioles, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

Clevinger will take the hill Saturday on seven days' rest, a result of two postponements over the past weekend in addition to team off days Monday and this coming Thursday. The pair of off days this week will allow the Indians to get by with a four-man rotation until April 24, leaving Josh Tomlin to serve out of the bullpen in the short term.

Carrasco will start Wednesday's game against the Twins in Puerto Rico, Nick Camino of Newsradio WTAM 1100 reports.

The start will come a full week after Carrasco's previous outing since postponements of games Saturday and Sunday against the Blue Jays coupled with Monday's team off day forced the Indians to push back all members of their rotation in the pitching schedule. The extra rest was probably beneficial for Carrasco, who needed 110 pitches to earn a complete-game win over the Tigers his last time out April 11. Carrasco will have a tougher path to victory Wednesday while going head-to-head against emerging ace Jose Berrios and facing a Twins offense that ranks ninth in the majors with a 109 wRC+ on the season.

Verlander allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out 11 as he took a no-decision Sunday against the Rangers.

Verlander put together an outstanding performance but was unable to factor into the decision with Bartolo Colon carrying a perfect game into the eighth inning. He's sporting a 1.35 ERA and 0.75 WHIP with 34 strikeouts across 26.2 innings in his first four starts of the season. Verlander will look to keep it rolling in his next start, which figures to come Thursday against the Mariners.

Boyd is listed as the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

Boyd's third start of the season will come three days later than he was initially expected after postponements Saturday and Sunday against the Yankees forced the Tigers to push each of their starters back in the pitching schedule. While the shuffling of the schedule denied Boyd of a two step last week, he'll at least trade a matchup against a powerful Yankees squad with a more favorable one at home against an Orioles offense that ranked 23rd in the majors in terms of wRC+ entering play Sunday.