MLB Player News

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale struck out 14, giving him 29 in his last two starts. Sale recorded double-digit strikeouts for the 12th time this year.

Sale's win over Seattle on Friday was his third straight and gave him a 12-7 record on the year. He allowed three runs on four hits in seven innings. In his last two starts, he allowed three runs on five hits over 14 innings.

Athletics starter Chris Bassitt was strong in his outing against the Rays on Friday. The right-hander allowed one run on six hits over six innings of work. He was left with the loss, however, as the A's were unable to offer much in run support in the 2-1 loss.

Bassitt has just one win on the season, despite an impressive 2.48 ERA. He has not given up more than three earned runs in any of his 14 outings this season--nine starts

Rays left-hander Drew Smyly blanked the A's in his outing on Friday, but he did not stick around long enough to qualify for the quality start. Smyly tossed 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits without issuing a walk in the 2-1 victory.

Smyly (1-2, 3.42 ERA) was making his second start since coming off of a long stay on the disabled list. He fared much better on Friday than he did in his previous start, when he allowed five runs over four innings.

Indians starter Carlos Carrasco earned his first win in the month of August, Friday against the Yankees. 

Carrasco improved to 12-9 with his first win since July 30. He allowed a run in 6 1/3 innings and struck out 11, his most since fanning 13 on July 1. He's gone at least six innings in six of his last seven starts. 

Tigers starter Justin Verlander lost his third straight game to drop to 0-3 in August and 1-6 on the season. 

Verlander allowed just two runs, one earned, over seven innings, but Texas shut out Detroit on Friday, giving Verlander a hard-luck loss. 

Verlander has allowed one earned run on 11 hits in 20 innings over his last three starts. He's 0-2 over that stretch. 

Twins pitcher Tommy Milone gave up three runs over 5 1/3 innings and left trailing in Friday's game against Baltimore. 

The Twins rallied, however, allowing Milone to escape with a no-decision. Milone has given up three runs or more in four of his last five starts. 

Royals starter Johnny Cueto had a rather forgettable outing against the Red Sox on Friday. The veteran right-hander allowed a season-high seven runs (six earned) on 13 hits over six innings in a 7-2 loss. 

Cueto (9-8, 2.70 ERA) got knocked around early and often in this one, as he allowed three runs to score in the second inning, thanks to five consecutive hits by the Red Sox. He gave up a couple more runs in the fourth before allowing a two-run home run to Josh Rutledge in the sixth.

This was Cueto's fifth start as a member of the Royals. He hadn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of the previous four outings. 

Mariners starter James Paxton threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Friday, and no problems were reported. Paxton is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday, according to MLB.com. 

Paxton has been out of action since the end of May due to a finger injury. 

White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana was sharp against the Angels on Thursday. Quintana held the Halos to two runs on eight hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out three, and did a good job of limiting the damage against him, as the White Sox won 8-2.

Quintana (7-10, 3.60 ERA) was helped out a bit by the offense in this one, as he was able to hang on for the win despite perhaps not having his best stuff. He allowed a run in the first to tie the game and another in the fifth after the White Sox had put up a five-spot in their half of the frame.

Quintana has now given up three runs or fewer in five of his last six starts, and owns a 29:8 K:BB ratio over that stretch.

Red Sox left-hander Wade Miley was in fine form in Thursday's win over the Royals. Miley allowed one run on six hits over 7 1/3 strong innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter, throwing 80 of his 114 pitches for strikes in the 4-1 victory.

Miley (10-9, 4.41 ERA) cruised through a very tough Royals' offense, with the only run he allowed coming on a Mike Moustakas solo home run in the fifth inning. Aside from that, he was able to keep the Royals in check, as he pitched into the eighth inning for the first time since June 5.

Miley has been rather inconsistent of late. Of his last eight outings, three of them have resulted in five or more runs allowed. In the others, he allowed two or fewer. Overall, during that stretch, he is 2-2 with a 4.24 ERA.