MLB Player News

After a slow start to his American League career, Rangers starter Cole Hamels continued to prove himself a worthy pickup with an easy win Thursday. He went six shutout innings while allowing four hits and three walks in a 9-1 victory over Oakland.

The Rangers have now won eight straight games in which Hamels has started and it's clear that trade really catapulted this impressive run that will likely win them their division.

Over his last six starts, Hamels has a 2.57 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 39 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched. The length is what the Rangers appreciate most though, as he's gone at least six innings in every outing with his new team.

Athletics starter Chris Bassitt (1-7) didn't last long Thursday, as he allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over three innings in a loss to Texas.

Bassitt threw just 73 pitches as his record continues to look terrible despite respectable peripherals. In 76 1/3 innings this season, he has maintained a 3.07 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Those numbers are trustworthy in standard mixed formats, but it's hard to trust him in general, considering he doesn't go deep into games and can't get run support from a meager Oakland offense.

Red Sox starter Wade Miley (11-11) gave up four runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings in a loss to the Rays on Thursday. He struck out three and walked one.

After three consecutive quality starts, Miley returned to normality in this one, delivering the sort of mediocrity fantasy owners have come to expect from him. He's improved his control a bit this year, but it's come at the cost of strikeouts, and the lefty's high-WHIP ways don't do him any favors. If the Boston rotation stays on schedule, he'll make two more starts this season.

Mariners starter James Paxton left Thursday's game against the Royals after just 1 1/3 innings with a torn fingernail.

Paxton allowed two runs on five hits in the start, but won't add to the statline because of the issue. He had another issue with a finger that cause him to go to the disabled list earlier in season, and it wouldn't be surprising if he's made his last start of the season. If not, his next scheduled start would come Tuesday against the Astros.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan indicated Thursday that left-hander Tommy Milone will throw again "in a day or two," and hasn't ruled out another start before the season ends, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Milone missed his most recent scheduled start Wednesday because of the issue, but it sounds as though he could pitch again this season. There's no guarantee, however, so it's worth monitoring his progression.

Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker could be done for the season with Vidal Nino set to start Friday for the Mariners, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. 

While there hasn't been any formal news regarding Walker's status, he's struggled this season - posting a 4.56 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 169 2/3 innings.

There was a bit of optimism recently surrounding Walker however, as the 23-year-old posted arguably his best line of the season against the Angels Sept. 14, giving up just one run on four hits while striking out seven batters through seven innings, but the Mariners clearly want to give some of their other young arms a chance to start.

Fantasy owners should stay tuned for more information coming in the following days.

Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (8-15) lasted only 3 2/3 innings Wednesday, giving up four earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six in a 4-2 loss to the Twins.

The Indians ace was pummeled in a nightmarish fourth inning, giving up a solo homer to Brian Dozier only to be yanked after giving up RBI hits to Trevor Plouffe and Eduardo Escobar. Kluber hasn't been particularly sharp since returning from the disabled list, failing to exceed four innings in each of his two starts. The reigning Cy Young Award winner will next take the mound Monday against the Twins.

Rays starting pitcher Drew Smyly (4-2) struck out seven over 6 1/3 shutout innings against Boston on Wednesday, allowing five hits and three walks in a 6-2 victory.

Smyly's bizarrely alternated dominant outings and blowups since returning from the shoulder injury that stole much of his season. In his eight August and September outings, he's given up five runs, then zero, then four, zero, four, zero, five and now another zero. It adds up to a strong 3.26 ERA and a 69:17 K:BB over 60.2 innings, which has Smyly looking like a high-upside option for next year.

Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (3-0) shut the Yankees out over seven innings Wednesday, striking out five while allowing just five hits and a walk in a 4-0 win.

Stroman's looked progressively better in the three starts he's made since returning from a torn ACL, and he's won each of them as the Blue Jays attempt to hold onto first place in the AL East down the stretch. At this rate, he should be considered a strong play against the Orioles on Tuesday.

Yankees starter Luis Severino surrendered three hits, two earned runs and three walks over six innings against the Blue Jays on Tuesday. He struck out three but did not factor into the decision.

It was another encouraging performance for the rookie, who has endured only one truly poor outing in nine major-league starts, against these very same Blue Jays. Severino was much sharper on Tuesday at the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre, getting first-pitch strikes on 17 of the 22 batters that he faced and largely neutralizing the potent Toronto lineup. Severino's biggest challenge this offseason will likely be finding a way to conquer the control problems that have contributed to the substantial 3.85 BB/9 rate he has amassed so far in his young career.