MLB Player News

Verlander was placed on revocable waivers Wednesday, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports.

This does not necessarily mean Verlander will change clubs. Many, if not most, major-league players are exposed to this process following the non-waiver trade deadline, and the club could even pull him back if he's claimed. Also, as a 10-and-5 player, Verlander has a full no-trade clause. On top of all this, he's due $56 million across 2018 and 2019. There's plenty of risk in an organization taking on that commitment to receive what looks like waning production. Verlander, who turns 35 next season, holds a 4.29 ERA with a 22.1 strikeout percentage and a career-worst 10.5 percent walk rate.

Ramirez (10-9) allowed six hits and two walks over eight shutout innings against the Phillies on Wednesday. He struck out three en route to a 7-0 win.

Once upon a time, Philadelphia acquired Ramirez from the Mariners in a deal for Cliff Lee, and he was considered one of the organization's better prospects. However, after an unsavory 2013 stint in Philadelphia's bullpen (7.50 ERA in 24 innings), he proceeded to bounce around between several organizations -- to the Diamondbacks, back to the Mariners, then over to Cincy -- before landing with the Angels. He's finally made a home in Anaheim, serving as a relatively stabilizing presence in the rotation, though his 4.03 ERA and 1.32 WHIP are far better suited to a No. 4 or 5 starter than his current spot as the Angels' No. 1 for all intents and purposes.

Smyly (elbow), who underwent Tommy John surgery in July and is currently rehabbing in Dallas, visited with the Mariners in Arlington on Tuesday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. "He's doing OK," manager Scott Servais said. "He really likes it here on our team and feels bad he wasn't able to contribute. I'd still love to have him here going forward. Those are deals [general manager Jerry Dipoto] and his agent have to work out, but I still think there's a real good fit for him here."

Smyly met with Servais and both parties reiterated their hope that the southpaw can eventually take the mound for the Mariners. The veteran was injured during spring training, so he's actually yet to throw a pitch for his new team. Whether he ever will remains up in the air for the foreseeable future, as Smyly is also likely to miss most of 2018 due to the timing of the surgery. While he has one year left of arbitration eligibility, he'll become a free agent unless the team is willing to tender him the required minimum of 80 percent of this year's $6.88 million contract.

Keuchel (9-1) took his first loss of the season Wednesday against the Rays, lasting only five innings while allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

That's two concerning performances in a row since coming off the DL for Keuchel, who only lasted three innings last Friday against the Tigers in his return from a nerve issue in the neck. He was limited to 87 pitches in this one and posted a season-low strikeout total. On the bright side, Keuchel went mostly unscathed after Logan Morrison tagged him for a two-run homer in the first inning and maintaining the 1.04 home ERA he had coming into this start was always going to be unlikely. He'll have an extra day to rest with Houston off Monday, which should allow the lefty to be back to full strength prior to Tuesday's road date with the White Sox.

Kluber will keep his Thursday start against New York, despite Wednesday's postponed game against Boston, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Trevor Bauer was in line for Wednesday's start, but he will now be bumped in order to keep Kluber on schedule. The Tribe's ace has been on an absolute tear in recent weeks, and he'll look to keep that going when he squares of with new Yankee Sonny Gray in Cleveland on Thursday night.

Manager Kevin Cash said Odorizzi (back) appears to be on track to return next week, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Apparently everything went well during his bullpen session Wednesday, and it appears Odorizzi will indeed be back with the big club after just a brief stay on the 10-day DL. An exact return date should start to materialize as he continues to ramp up his activities in the coming days.

Sale was slammed for seven runs on eight hits -- including two home runs -- and a walk over five innings but escaped with a no-decision in Tuesday's 12-10 win over Cleveland. He struck out five.

An anticipated pitcher's duel with Carlos Carrasco instead turned into a classic Fenway Park shootout that saw 10 runners cross the plate in the first two innings and five more score in the ninth. Sale's 20.2-inning scoreless streak was snapped in brutal fashion in his worst start of the year, but expect the lefty to get back on track Sunday at home against his former club, the White Sox.

Carrasco surrendered five runs on six hits and three walks over only 1.2 innings but escaped with a no-decision in Tuesday's 12-10 loss to the Red Sox. He struck out one.

In what was expected to be a pitcher's duel with Chris Sale, Carrasco instead couldn't get out of the second inning as Boston sent 10 men to the plate in that frame and tagged the right-hander for four extra-base hits (three doubles and a Mitch Moreland homer). Carrasco will look to get back on track Sunday at home against the Yankees.

Berrios (9-5) held the Padres to one run on two hits and two walks over seven innings Tuesday, only to be stuck with a loss. He struck out four.

San Diego scratched across a sixth-inning run against him on a sacrifice fly, and that was enough on a day when opposing starter Jhoulys Chacin combined with two relievers for a shutout. This was a nice bounce-back for Berrios after his rough outing against the Dodgers his last time out, but he's certainly hit an inconsistent patch after getting off to a rip-roaring start following his mid-May promotion. Over his last seven outings, Berrios owns a 4.91 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with just three quality starts; he tossed six quality starts in his first eight appearances of the year. He'll look to parlay this outing into some positive momentum against Texas on Sunday.

Nolasco (5-12) held the Phillies to a single run on six hits and two walks in Tuesday's 7-1 win. He struck out five.

Nolasco has been a mostly mediocre or bad pitcher for more than a decade, but he's stuck around the league into his mid-30s anyway -- a testament to just how hard it is to find quality starting pitching. He'll turn in a surprisingly good start like this once in a while, but Nolasco is equally likely to experience a six-run implosion on any given day, making him an extremely volatile, low-upside fantasy asset. The veteran righty will draw a home gig against the A's on Sunday.