MLB Player News

Sale (6-0) allowed one run on five hits and four walks while striking out six over 5.1 innings to earn the win Sunday at the Orioles.

Sale battled control issues and blew through 112 pitches before being removed in the sixth inning, but he left the contest with a five-run lead in a game the White Sox would win easily. He now has allowed one or fewer earned runs in each of his last four starts to lower his ERA to 1.66. He'll make his next start Saturday against the Twins.

Stroman (4-0) allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out nine over eight innings to earn the win Sunday at the Rays.

Stroman gave up a solo homer to Evan Longoria and left with the game tied at one after eight innings before the offense picked him up by scoring four runs in the ninth. Not only was the single run he allowed the fewest he's given up in any start this year, but he also posted a season-high nine strikeouts. Despite a solid 3.77 ERA, he has an exceptional 0.95 WHIP. He'll make his next start Friday against the Dodgers.

Odorizzi allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out six over seven innings, but received no decision Sunday against the Blue Jays.

Odorizzi gave up a solo homer to Josh Donaldson and left the game with a 1-1 tie in a game the Rays would go on to lose. He's now held opponents to one or fewer earned runs in three of his last four starts to lower his ERA to 3.12. He'll make his next start Saturday at the Angels.

Despaigne is 0-4 with a 5.40 ERA after starting five games at Triple-A Norfolk.

Despaigne's struggle to keep opponents off base has continued this season, as he has a 1.52 WHIP after pitching 25 innings. Most of this damage came from a three-game span, where Despaigne was taken for 13 earned runs off of 23 hits and seven walks. In his most recent outing, he began to recover from the rough patch, as he gave up only one run and four hits in six innings. Norfolk needs more of these performances from Despaigne, as he is one of three starters with an ERA above 4.00.

Hamels (groin) is listed in the lineup and will start Sunday against the Mariners, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

After he was scratched from his previously scheduled start Monday against the Yankees due to a sore left groin, Hamels made it through a mid-week bullpen session without incident, so he'll be able to take the ball Sunday. Don't expect him to face a pitch limit in this one, barring any in-game setbacks with the groin.

Miley (2-2) pitched a five-hit shutout while striking out four Saturday against the Royals.

Miley completely silenced the Royals' bats and received plenty of run support in an easy win for the Mariners. He came into this game having allowed 18 earned runs over 23 innings, but his masterful effort lowered his ERA to 5.06. He'll make his next start Thursday at Houston.

Bassitt (elbow) will get a second opinion Thursday, but he could be headed for Tommy John surgery, the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reports.

The results of his first examination did not rule out Tommy John surgery, and it is starting to look like that is where this situation is heading, as Bassitt had a mid-game velocity dip in his last start, which can often be a precursor for surgery. Jesse Hahn and Sean Manaea figure to stick in the rotation going forward.

Smyly (1-3) took the loss Friday despite recording eight strikeouts against the dangerous Blue Jays lineup. He surrendered only two hits, two earned runs and a walk over six innings.

The recurring exercise in frustration that has been Smyly's 2016 season continued Friday, as he was saddled with his third loss despite a fourth consecutive quality start. After not surrendering a home run in his last three games, it was the long ball - along with a lack of run support - that did in the 26-year-old southpaw Friday. Michael Saunders and Josh Donaldson touched up Smyly for solo shots, nullifying an effort in which he induced an impressive 15 swings and misses and threw 63 of 99 pitches for strikes. He'll try to break his string of bad fortune in his next trip to the mound, Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Meyer gave up two runs and five hits in one inning of relief in Friday's loss to Detroit.

Meyer is set to start Tuesday against the Astros, but got some work in ahead of that outing. Meyer's first appearance was ugly, but he dominated Triple-A hitters by only allowing two earned runs in 17.1 innings with a 19:4 K:BB.

Kluber allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, he did not walk a hitter and struck out six over seven innings, netting a no-decision against the Phillies on Friday night.

After a rugged start to the season, Kluber turned in a second straight quality start, but came away with a no-decision as the Indians fell to Philadelphia 4-3 in 11 innings. He was efficient, needing just 90 pitches (61 for strikes) to cover seven innings, but he left with the game tied. He'll take an improving 4.24 ERA into his next start against Detroit.