MLB Player News

Morton (9-5) allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out six over 5.2 innings in Friday's 6-4 loss to Texas.

Morton didn't have his best stuff and compounded that by committing an error that led to two unearned runs and inflated his pitch count to 37 in a four-run third inning. Not every start's going to be a quality one, so you'll just have to accept this one and move on. Morton has been steady for the Astros this season, out-pitching his preseason projections, particularly in the area of strikeouts. His next start will come Wednesday, when the Astros kick off a homestand against the Diamondbacks.

McCullers (back) has been playing catch this week, but has yet to progress to pitching off a mound, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It's encouraging news that McCullers is throwing, but we'll know he's getting close when the right-hander takes to the mound in a bullpen session. The presumption is that McCullers will need a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.

Blackburn allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings in a no-decision Friday against Baltimore.

Blackburn is alternating quality starts and weak starts at this point, as he has allowed four, zero, five, zero and now four runs over his past five starts. Friday's start saw him allow a career high in hits as well as his first home run in four starts in what was clearly not his sharpest outing. Blackburn still owns a solid 3.02 ERA and is establishing himself as part of Oakland's young core.

Gonzales lasted just 4.1 innings but allowed only one run on four hits and a walk in a no-decision Friday against Los Angeles.

Gonzales may have held the Angels to one run, but it looked like the floodgates were ready to burst at any moment. The lefty just couldn't miss bats, as he drew just four swinging strikes in 64 pitches, and he allowed eight fly balls, including a Jefry Marte solo home run. James Paxton's injury means the Mariners need all hands on deck, but Gonzales may not be long for the rotation if he can't find a way to make hitters miss.

Nolasco allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts over five innings in a no-decision Friday against Seattle.

Nolasco has now allowed 10 runs in just nine innings over his past two starts, thanks to 16 hits including three home runs. He isn't fooling anybody at this point, and Nolasco's ERA has skyrocketed to 5.24 thanks to this cold streak. If his struggles don't abate soon, the Angels could choose to shut him down and give a farmhand a look down the stretch.

Rodriguez (4-3) allowed no runs on two hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings, but received no decision Friday against the Yankees.

Rodriguez left the contest with a three-run lead after his departure in the sixth inning, but the bullpen fell apart in the late innings, keeping him from a potential win. After failing to do so in four straight outings, he's now posted back-to-back quality starts to lower his ERA to 3.80, making him a player who's trending upward as we near the stretch run. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Carrasco (11-5) fired eight scoreless innings Friday to earn the win over the Rays, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out 10.

He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but Logan Morrison spoiled the bid for history with a two-out single. Carrasco had been struggling to begin August, coughing up 10 runs in 7.1 innings over his first two starts of the month, but he appeared to be in peak form Friday. He'll take a 3.83 ERA into his next start Wednesday on the road against the Twins.

Gibson (6-9) allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings but received no decision Friday against the Tigers.

Gibson had a 5-1 lead as he started the fifth inning, but after giving up a pair of runs in the frame, he was removed one out before qualifying for a potential win. He's allowed at least three runs in each of his last five outings, and with a 6.09 ERA, he's not been very useful for fantasy managers. He'll make his next start Saturday against the Diamondbacks.

Stroman (10-6) allowed four runs, none of which was earned, on four hits and one walk while striking out four over eight innings to take the loss Friday against the Pirates.

Stroman gave up all four runs in the third inning, but then shut the Pirates' bats down the rest of the way. After struggling slightly in a pair of recent starts, he's allowed two earned runs over his last 14.2 innings to lower his ERA from 3.19 to 3.00, and he's a solid bet to continue being a strong fantasy option. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Rays.

Albers has been acquired by the Mariners, David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

The 31-year-old has been dominant at Triple-A Gwinnett, where he sports a 2.61 ERA with a sharp 115:19 K:BB over 120.2 innings. The Mariners just found out that they will lose James Paxton for the next three weeks, so they desperately need some organizational depth at starting pitcher. Ideally, Albers will serve as Triple-A depth, but should the Mariners lose another starter, he could earn a call-up to Seattle.