MLB Player News

Kluber (12-4) suffered defeat at the hands of the Red Sox on Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over 7.2 innings while striking out 12.

He was locked in a scoreless pitcher's duel with Drew Pomeranz until the fifth inning, when Mitch Moreland smacked a solo homer and gave Boston a lead they wouldn't surrender. Kluber has now struck out double-digit batters in 13 of 22 outings this season while delivering quality starts in an incredible 17 of them, but he'll face another tough task Monday on the road against the Yankees.

Bundy allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out eight batters through six innings during Wednesday's win over Oakland. He didn't factor into the decision.

The Baltimore bullpen blew a 6-1 lead after Bundy exited Wednesday's contest, and it cost the 24-year-old righty his 13th win of the season. Something has clicked of late for Bundy, as he has allowed just eight earned runs and struck out 33 batters through 27 innings over his past four starts. There has been the odd poor outing, but with a 4.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 7.7 K/9 for the campaign, Bundy has been a serviceable fantasy asset in the majority of settings. He projects to face the Mariners at home in his next outing.

McCullers (back) will head out on a rehab appearance with Triple-A Fresno on Friday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers was able to complete a 45-pitch simulated game Sunday, and has been deemed ready to face live hitting for the first time since going down with a back injury near the end of July. It hasn't been determined how many rehab appearances McCullers will need, but it's likely that the right-hander spends two games ramping up his endurance with Fresno before returning to the big-league team.

Nuno was sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, Eduardo Encina of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The 29-year-old appeared in 12 games for Baltimore, logging a 10.43 ERA and 2.25 WHIP. Nuno fared much better over 15 contests with Norfolk, managing a 2.82 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. He'll now return to the Tides, but without a spot on the 40-man roster this time around.

Blackburn (wrist) is dealing with stiffness and soreness in his hand Wednesday, and is unlikely to be able to toss a bullpen session during the next couple days, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Blackburn was removed from Tuesday's start after getting drilled on the wrist by a comebacker in the fifth inning. Although tests revealed no structural damage, the recent news regarding his injury casts doubt upon the date for Blackburn's next start. The right-hander remains a candidate for the 10-day DL in the coming days if it becomes apparent that he won't be able to take the mound by next week.

Manager Brad Ausmus was critical of Boyd following Tuesday's outing (seven runs allowed in 2.1 innings), but said the left-hander will likely remain in the rotation with the Tigers out of the playoff hunt, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Ausmus was fairly blunt in his comments about Boyd, who's given up 17 earned runs on 23 hits and nine walks over his last 13.1 innings. "At some point, there's an expiration date on how much rope you're given," Ausmus said. "The truth is, (Boyd) is going to have to learn to pitch or there's going to be a move made." However, that move likely won't come this season, as the Tigers are just 54-70 and well out of the race in the American League. "There's no reason to not be patient at this point," Ausmus said. "And I don't think the next month and a week will decide anything definitively. But in the big picture, it can't go on forever."

Morton (10-6) took the loss against the Nationals on Tuesday, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six.

Staked to an early 2-0 lead, Morton proceeded to give up two-spots in the third and fourth innings, and the Astros offense couldn't respond. The right-hander has been mostly impressive since the All-Star break, posting a 3.81 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 57:18 K:BB in eight starts (49.2 innings), and he'll look to get back in the win column Sunday on the road against the Angels.

Nolasco held the Rangers to one run on three hits while walking three and striking out six over 4.2 innings Tuesday. He was left with a no-decision after he failed to complete five frames in a 10-1 win.

Nolasco was wild yet effective through four innings, but with a pitch count just north of 100 in the fifth, manager Mike Scioscia yanked his starter after he allowed three Rangers to reach base in a -- at the time -- close contest. The Angels ended up cruising to a 10-1 victory, but the 34-year-old came up one out short of his seventh win of the season. Nolasco reportedly had no lingering effects of the cramps that cut his previous start short, so he should be fine for his next scheduled outing against a dangerous Astros lineup.

Carrasco (12-6) took the loss Tuesday after surrendering six runs on eight hits against the Red Sox. He struck out six, walked one and hit a batter.

While he wasn't exactly having a spectacular start, Carrasco was at least looking respectable until the seventh inning, when he let the Red Sox rally for three runs before being pulled. It didn't matter much, though, as Doug Fister threw a one-hitter on the other end. Carrasco was crushed by the Red Sox in far uglier fashion three weeks ago on the first day of August, and he's now given up five or more earned runs four times in his last 11 starts. Sure, he's given up just eight runs over the course of the other seven starts in that stretch, but that Jekyll-and-Hyde act is doing his fantasy owners no favors -- nor is it helping his ERA, which is now up to 3.95, easily a four-year high.

Boyd (5-7) was slapped with seven runs and a loss after pitching just 2.1 innings against the Yankees on Tuesday. He allowed seven hits and three walks while striking out two.

There have been stretches in which Boyd has played the part of a competent-looking MLB starter, but those must feel like a distant memory to his embattled fantasy owners. Over his last four appearances, Boyd has been mauled for 17 earned runs on 23 hits and nine walks over 13.1 innings; those are fantasy-season-ruining numbers. That said, he's still only 26 and left-handed with spectacular minor-league stats (career 2.49 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 9.0 K/9), so there's still some long-term appeal here.