MLB Player News

Verlander (9-8) allowed one run over eight innings and struck out nine batters while picking up a win Sunday against the Dodgers.

Verlander was nothing short of terrific Sunday, as he shut down one of the league's most powerful offenses en route to a victory. His only mistake came in the sixth inning when Curtis Granderson managed to hit a solo home run off the righty. Otherwise, he was dominant as he allowed a mere two hits and walked just a single batter. Verlander will look to carry his momentum into a favorable matchup against the White Sox on Saturday.

Kluber (ankle) threw a side bullpen session Sunday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

This is an encouraging development, as Kluber, who exited his last start after just 74 pitches with a sprained ankle, didn't appear to have any issues during Sunday's session. The Indians will wait and see how Kluber feels Monday before determining his status for Wednesday's start against the Red Sox.

McCullers (back) completed a three-inning, 45-pitch simulated game Sunday morning, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

This is a major step in his recovery from a back injury that has kept him sidelined all month, and if everything is still feeling in order Monday, his next step could be to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. The Astros haven't determined how many rehab starts he'll need to make before rejoining the big-league rotation, but it will be multiple outings.

Asher was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday.

With Miguel Castro landing on the bereavement list, Asher was summoned back tot he big club to offer an extra bullpen arm. Asher has worked primarily as a starter since being sent back to the minors, so he'll offer length out of the Orioles' bullpen. He compiled a 5.53 ERA through 55.1 innings during multiple stints with the big club earlier in the season, so he'll likely stick to lower-leverage situations.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Ramirez (forearm) is feeling better Sunday but still remains doubtful for his next scheduled start, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ramirez exited his last start with a right forearm injury, and while the severity of the issue isn't know at this point, it appears the ailment may force him to miss his next turn in the rotation. He's set to undergo an MRI on Monday, after which there should be a clearer idea regarding his status for his upcoming start.

Berrios (11-5) pitched seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts during Saturday's win over Arizona. He allowed just two hits and a walk.

After allowing 11 runs through 8.1 innings over his previous two outings, this was an impressive rebound. The D-backs own an admirable offense, and Berrios cruised through the heart of the order three times. Considering he has just 32 starts in the majors on his resume, Berrios' 3.99 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 8.1 K/9 are solid marks, and he's established himself as a reliable fantasy option moving forward. He projects to face the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field in his next start.

Perez (8-10) gave up six runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four over six innings in a win over the White Sox on Saturday.

Perez stumbled out of the blocks, giving up five runs in the first, but he eventually settled in and the Texas bats were able to get all of those runs back and more against Derek Holland. The 26-year-old allowed just one run on two hits over his final five frames and snapped a streak of seven straight starts with at least one homer allowed. He lines up for a road start against the Angels his next time out.

Ramirez (11-10) left Saturday's game in the sixth inning with a right forearm injury, but before his departure he allowed one run on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings to earn the win against the Orioles.

Ramirez allowed a run on a wild pitch in the first inning, but settled down after that, and the offense smashed four home runs to help him notch his 11th victory of the season. Until the severity of his injury is determined, it's unclear as to whether he'll make his next start Thursday against the Rangers.

Gausman (9-9) allowed five runs on six hits and four walks while striking out three across four innings to take the loss Saturday against the Angels.

Gausman gave up four home runs to force his early exit from the contest, leading to his ninth loss of the season. This was just the second time over his past six starts that he's allowed more than two earned runs, and despite a 5.25 ERA overall, he's still a solid fantasy option under the right circumstances. He'll make his next start Friday against the Red Sox.

Sale (14-5) allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out nine across seven innings to take the loss Saturday against the Yankees.

Sale gave up a three-run homer in the second inning along with a solo shot in the sixth, while the Red Sox were unable to give him enough run support, leading to his fifth loss of the season. Despite the loss, he'll continue to be one of the best fantasy aces in the business, as evidenced by his 2.62 ERA. He'll make his next start Thursday against the Indians.