MLB Player News

Yankees starter Luis Severino surrendered five hits and three earned runs over seven innings in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Orioles. He struck out six but did not factor into the decision.

The 21-year-old rookie wraps up 2015 with three consecutive quality outings, during which he has posted an impressive 2.37 ERA. Severino was sharp Saturday, throwing 66 of 91 pitches for strikes, securing first-pitch strikes on 21 of 26 hitters, and inducing 13 swings-and-misses. He didn't help his cause by surrendering homers to Nolan Reimold and the red-hot Manny Machado, bringing his final HR/9 rate for 2015 to 1.30.

While Severino definitely needs to curtail his propensity for surrendering round-trippers and handing out free passes, he turned in a considerably strong rookie campaign, and would be in line to start Game 1 of a possible AL Division Series for the Yankees.

Tigers starter Justin Verlander went six innings Saturday, allowing two earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out nine in a 4-3 loss to the White Sox.

Verlander took a no-decision in his final outing of 2015, wrapping his season up with four consecutive quality starts. The former Cy Young winner put up solid numbers in his abbreviated season, improving his K/9 to 7.63 from 6.95 in 2014.

Twins starting pitcher Tommy Milone took a no-decision Saturday despite a quality start, allowing just one run on six hits and two walks over six innings while striking out five.

He ends the season on a high note, and Milone will finish 2015 with a 3.92 ERA and 1.27 WHIP, numbers right in line with his career prior to last year's stumble.

Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels will start Sunday against the Angels, MLB.com's Phil Rogers reports.

He would not have pitched again until the postseason but the Rangers collapsed Saturday and Sunday's game now carries a great deal of importance. Garrett Richards will start on short rest for the Angels.

Twins right-hander Ricky Nolasco will start Sunday's game, WCCO's Dan Cook reports.

He will face the Royals in the Twins' final game of 2015 after they were eliminated from the playoff picture Saturday. To say Nolasco has been a disappointment since signing with the Twins would be putting it lightly. He posted a 5.38 ERA in 159 innings in 2014 and has posted a 5.97 ERA in 34 2/3 innings in an injury-plagued 2015 campaign.

Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson will not start Sunday, as the Twins were eliminated from the postseason picture Saturday.

Ricky Nolasco will instead take the ball in the Twins' final game of the season.

Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson won't start Sunday if the Twins are eliminated Saturday, the Star Tribune's Phil Miller reports.

If the Twins lose Saturday their playoff hopes will be dashed, but the team has not yet revealed who would start in place of Gibson in that scenario. Owners in single season leagues with daily roster moves should be prepared to ditch Gibson for another option if the Twins are eliminated Saturday.

Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez did not factor into the decision in Friday's loss to the Angels, allowing a single run on four hits and a walk while striking out four over seven innings.

Perez had struggled to find his form since returning to the mound in July following Tommy John surgery. He has since shaken off the rust a bit in his last four outings, logging a 2.25 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, albeit with a mediocre 6.00 K/9. Given the 1.42 ERA and 0.92 WHIP he posted in his first five starts of last season, Perez may be a young arm to keep an eye on in 2016.

White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (13-11) gave up one run on five hits and a walk over seven innings while striking out seven in Friday's win over Detroit.

It speaks to how remarkable Sale has been that a season in which he ranks second in the league in strikeouts can be considered an off year. Sale posted the highest ERA of his career in 2015 and his highest WHIP since 2012. Sale's 2015 was three dazzling months sandwiched by three months of performances below his standard. From May through July, Sale posted a 7-5 record with a 2.80 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. In April, August and September Sale was 6-6 with a 4.16 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.

Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino will start Friday against the Orioles, ESPN NY reports.

Adam Warren was initially slated to get the start, but after giving three innings of relief work Thursday, the Yankees will turn to Severino. The rookie has worked to an impressive 2.77 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 55.1 innings through his first 10 career starts.