MLB Player News

Verlander delivered another strong outing Friday, allowing just four hits in 7.2 innings Friday in a victory over the Angels. He struck out eight and allowed just one walk.

Verlander settled down after a wobbly first inning where he gave up an Albert Pujols home run and a two-out single to C.J. Cron to retire 20 of the next 21 hitters he faced. He allowed two earned runs in a team-leading 14th win of the season.

Hamels (14-4) struck out eight and scattered two hits over eight scoreless innings in a dominant performance against Cleveland on Thursday.

He's now just 0.01 behind Danny Duffy for the American League ERA lead thanks to a run of brilliant work since the All-Star break. Hamels' outstanding second-half run (a 5-2 record, 1.59 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 58:14 K:BB in 56.2 innings) has put him squarely into the running for the AL Cy Young Award. His overall WHIP's still rather uninspiring -- at 1.23, it's the worst among the AL's top 15 in ERA -- mostly due to an elevated walk rate. But on the whole, it's hard for the Rangers or fantasy owners to quibble with the stats Hamels has given them in this season of high-powered offense.

Paxton allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out five over five innings in his return from the disabled list Thursday against the White Sox.

He left with a lead, but it didn't hold up thank to Seattle's bullpen and defense. Nonetheless, this represents a solid return for Paxton, who continues to show much-improved control. He's walked only six batters in his last seven starts -- a massive sea change from last year's ugly 3.90 BB/9. With his seemingly relatively minor elbow injury behind him, look for Paxton to offer more length in future starts.

Kopech pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out 10 for High-A Salem on Wednesday.

Kopech is emerging as one of the most overpowering pitchers in the minors. Wednesday's outing was his third consecutive with double-digit strikeouts as the young right-hander has piled up a 13.7 K/9 rate in 11 combined games between short-season Lowell and Salem.

McCullers (elbow) played light catch Friday, the Houston Chronicle reports. "Getting his arm back in shape, which is good news," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He hasn't felt any issues, he hasn't felt any pain or anything like that, so it's a step in the right direction."

The skipper added that McCullers is "still a ways away from aggressive catch, mound activity or anything like that," but Friday's work represented a positive step forward following a three-week long shutdown period. McCullers would seem to have a chance to return during the regular season but it's no lock, as the team will continue to be cautious, and he won't have much of a window to help owners if he does make it back.

Odorizzi (9-5) pitched seven innings, allowing one run on five hits and three walks while striking out four in Thursday's win over the Red Sox.

Odorizzi got the better end of a pitcher's duel with Drew Pomeranz to pick up his sixth straight victory. Thursday marked the right-hander's seventh quality start in his last eight outings, a stretch in which he's posted a minuscule 1.40 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 45 innings. Odorizzi remains undefeated since the All-Star break and has pushed his ERA for the season down to 3.53, its best mark since June 8. The 26-year-old will look to continue his hot streak when he takes on the Red Sox once again, this time on the road, in his next start Tuesday.

Albers was called up to the major league roster Friday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Following a pair of rough outings this week, Jose Berrios and Tyler Duffey were sent back to Triple-A, and it appears Albers is in line to grab one of the open rotation spots. In 21 starts with Triple-A Rochester this year, the lefty has worked to a 3.69 ERA and 1.45 WHIP, but he hasn't started at the major league level since a brief stint in the rotation in 2013.

Berrios was sent back to Triple-A following Thursday's game, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Berrios was roughed up yet again Thursday, allowing six runs (five earned) over five innings in a loss to the Tigers -- an outing that actually lowered his ERA on the season to 9.24. Minnesota had shown some patience with the highly touted prospect in what has amounted to a lost season for the Twins, but Berrios will now head back to the minors in attempt to straighten things out and it's unclear if he'll rejoin the major league rotation before the end of 2016.

Rodriguez (hamstring) was confirmed as Sunday's starter against the Royals, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Rodriguez was able to get through a bullpen session Thursday without any issues and is now set to rejoin the rotation after missing his last start with hamstring tightness. The lefty will look to pick up where he left off, as he struck out 13 while allowing just one run over 11 innings in his previous two starts prior to the injury. The move will push Clay Buchholz back into a bullpen role.

Paxton has been confirmed as Thursday's starter against the White Sox.

Paxton was activated off the disabled list Thursday after missing just over two weeks with an elbow injury. In his last two starts before landing on the DL, the lefty allowed just two runs (one earned) over 16.1 innings.