MLB Player News

Heaney (shoulder) has resumed playing catch off flat ground but is without an official timetable for return, the Associated Press reports.

The Angels ended up skipping Heaney's turn in the rotation last week after the lefty came out of his Sept. 9 start with a shoulder impingement, and it looks like he could be at risk of missing another outing, given the limited progress in his recovery to date. Manager Mike Scioscia turned to reliever Bud Norris to take Heaney's spot in the rotation last time out, and it appears that another bullpen game could be on tap for the Angels when a fifth starter is next required Saturday against the Astros.

Schmidt, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery last April, began a throwing program in late August and expects to make his minor-league debut next June, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

The Yankees selected Schmidt with the 16th overall pick in the 2017 first-year player draft knowing that the 21-year-old's professional career would be delayed due to the procedure, but it doesn't sound like the surgery has put a damper on the right-hander's long-term outlook in the eyes of the organization. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Schmidt enjoyed a productive college career at South Carolina and could rise through the system quickly once he's able to command his repertoire and regain his pre-surgery velocity upon returning to the rubber. Prior to going under the knife, Schmidt was lauded for his low-to-mid-90s fastball, slider and curveball, all of which have the potential to become plus offerings over time.

Dietz went 3-10 with a 4.93 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 26 starts during his first season at Low-A Delmarva.

Baltimore's second-round pick in 2016 struggled in his first run with a full-season squad. Deitz showed slight gains by posting a 4.34 ERA during the second half, compared to his 5.54 mark prior to the South Atlantic League's All-Star break. To be fair, the 6-foot-5 righty owned an unlucky .336 BABIP and 65.4 percent strand rate, and his 3.77 FIP was respectable. Dietz has a ways to go before making it onto MLB's radar screen, but he remains one of the organizations top pitching prospects, and his development is worth monitoring.

Verlander (13-8) defeated the Mariners on Sunday, holding them to one run on three hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

Verlander has made quite an impression on his new club, going 3-0 in three starts while allowing only two runs and posting a 26:3 K:BB over 21 innings since being acquired from Detroit. The 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young award winner clearly has plenty left in the tank at age 34 and is quickly putting himself back in the conversation with the game's elites. Expect another gem at home Saturday against the Angels.

Gibson (11-10) allowed five runs on three hits and five walks while striking out eight batters through six innings to collect the win against Toronto on Sunday.

This clearly wasn't Gibson's best form, and it was especially discouraging after entering on a roll. The 29-year-old righty posted a 1.38 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 7.2 K/9 through his previous five starts, after all. He lines up for consecutive road starts against Detroit and Cleveland to finish the year, and the matchup against the Tigers sets up as a bounce-back spot for Gibson.

Rodriguez (5-6) allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk across 5.2 innings while taking the loss Sunday against the Rays. He struck out seven.

Rodriguez allowed an unearned run in the first inning and was lucky to escape a bases-loaded jam with just one more run tacked on in the fifth. He worked into the sixth inning but was chased from the game with an elevated pitch count after Jesus Sucre took him deep for the decisive solo home run. Despite the loss, Rodriguez has pitched well of late, posting a 2.55 ERA with a 24:6 K:BB across 17.2 innings in his last three starts. He will look to keep it going Saturday against the Reds.

Odorizzi (9-8) tossed six innings of two-run ball to earn the win Sunday against the Red Sox, allowing one hit with two walks and six strikeouts.

Odorizzi took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in this one, only to see Jackie Bradley ruin both that and the shutout with a two-run home run. He ran up his pitch count before finishing the frame and was not brought back out for the seventh, as his side turned over a newfound lead to the bullpen. Odorizzi has now allowed just three earned runs across 16.1 innings in his last three starts and will look to build off of this successful outing Saturday against the Orioles.

Kluber (17-4) picked up the win Sunday after allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out nine Royals over seven innings.

Kluber, who's lost only once since July 4, allowed just three singles Sunday, and extended his scoreless streak to 22 straight innings. The Cy Young candidate lowered his ERA to 2.35 while locking in 76 of his 99 pitches for strikes, 22 of which were swings and misses. Kluber will look to match last season's 18 wins -- a career high he's managed to notch twice since 2014 -- when he takes the hill Saturday in Seattle.

Gray (9-11) allowed five runs on six hits and two walks across four innings while taking the loss Sunday against the Orioles. He struck out four.

Gray allowed a pair of runs over the first three innings, but the big hit came in the form of a three-run home run from Tim Beckham in the fourth. He did not pump in strikes with his usual efficiency and struggled when he was forced to pitch from behind in the count. Gray had allowed more then two earned runs just one of his previous 14 starts and still owns a solid 3.38 ERA for the year. He will look to get back on track Saturday against the Blue Jays.

Boyd (6-10) tossed a one-hit shutout while earning the win Sunday against the White Sox, allowing one walk with five strikeouts.

Boyd came within an eyelash of a no-hitter in this one, allowing a double to Tim Anderson with two outs in the ninth inning. He worked up to 121 pitches, but he was allowed to finish the game off and did so with no additional issues. This gem came as something of a surprise for Boyd, who hadn't delivered a quality start in his last nine outings. He owns a disappointing 5.33 ERA on the year, but that mark sits at 2.16 over his last four starts ahead of Friday's turn against the Twins.