MLB Player News

Making his Rangers debut, starter Cole Hamels battled on Saturday against the Giants, but was left with a no-decision. Hamels allowed five runs on eight hits over 7 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six, throwing 61 of his 97 pitches for strikes. The Rangers wound up losing 9-7 in extra innings.

The Rangers gave Hamels a 2-0 lead after the first inning, but he allowed three runs to score in the third, including a solo home run by Brandon Belt. 

Hamels settled in after that, putting up zeroes over the next four frames. But he gave up another solo home run in the seventh--this time to Buster Posey. He started the eighth, but was pulled after putting a runner on second with two outs. That run (and two more) would end up scoring.

This was Hamels' first start since tossing a no-hitter against the Cubs last weekend. Despite the shaky outing on Saturday, he received a standing ovation from the home crowd as he departed the game.

Twins young right-hander Kyle Gibson was solid in his start against the Mariners on Saturday. Gibson allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings. He walked one and struck out four, but was left with a no-decision in the 3-2 walk-off win.

Gibson gave up an early run in the first, and then surrendered a solo home run to Nelson Cruz in the sixth, accounting for all the damage against him on Saturday.

Gibson left the game trailing by a run, but the Twins were able to rally for a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth to get him off the hook.

It was a strong bounceback effort from Gibson, who had allowed 11 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings over his previous two starts.

Astros young pitcher Vincent Velasquez is headed back to Triple-A Corpus Christi. Velasquez was optioned down to the minors after pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in Saturday's 9-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

Manager A.J. Hinch said Velasquez will remain in the bullpen at Triple-A, as he will look to get more innings under his belt before returning to Houston. 

The move was made to clear a spot on the 25-man roster for the newly-acquired right-hander Mike Fiers. 

Astros ace Dallas Keuchel benefited from nine runs of support on Saturday, as he beat the Diamondbacks 9-2. Keuchel allowed two runs on two hits over six strong innings. He walked three and struck out eight, throwing 65 of his 108 pitches for strikes.

Keuchel (13-5, 2.35 ERA) allowed both of his runs in the second inning, actually putting the team down 2-1. But the Astros' bats powered up and rallied for five runs in the fourth inning to back their starter.

This was a good bounceback effort for the 2015 All-Star, after he had allowed five runs on 10 hits in his previous start. 

Orioles starter Kevin Gausman threw a second consecutive gem on Saturday, as he limited the Tigers to two runs on four hits over seven sharp innings. Gausman struck out six and did not issue a walk in the 6-2 victory.

Gausman evened his record to 2-2 with the solid outing, throwing 68 of his 106 pitches for strikes. The only mistake he made came on a two-run home run to Nick Castellanos in the fifth inning. But the Orioles were already leading by five at that point, and Gausman lowered his ERA to 3.97.

The young right-hander struggled in his two starts sandwiching the All-Star break, allowing 11 earned runs over 9 2/3 innings. But in past two outings, he has an impressive 1.23 ERA.

Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney was overmatched during Friday's game against the Dodgers.

Though Heaney pitched well, he was facing off against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who continued his 37-inninng scoreless streak. Heaney tossed 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out three batters and walked a pair.

With the loss, Heaney drops to 5-1 on the season. He owns a remarcable 1.97 ERA in 45 2/3 innings this season.

Rays starting pitcher Drew Smyly was roughed up during a Class A rehab start on Friday, per MLB.com.

Smyly allowed five runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings of work. He struck out four batters and allowed a home run.

"It wasn't good," said Rays manager Kevin Cash about Smyly's line. "I heard everything from a health factor was fine. I don't know about the game report. I know he gave up some hits. The velocity was good. He got his pitches in. So that was the priority. We're really not going to start evaluating the numbers right now. We need to keep him going. He got his pitches, he threw close to 70 pitches."

Smyly will continue to throw every five days. He will have a rest day on Saturday before throwing another bullpen session and another rehab start. The Rays, though, are not sure about how soon Smyly will return to the team.

"I think that all kind of goes in part with where we're at in the season with the off-days, we have to factor that in," Cash said. "I know he's itching to get back, but we have to make sure he's ready before we commit to having a set time."

The Rays have made changes to their rotation, flip-flopping Jake Odorizzi and Nathan Karns, per the Tampa Bay Times.

Odorizzi will now start Sunday in Boston with Karns going Monday against the host White Sox.

White Sox starter Carlos Rodon gave up a season-high eight runs and lost for the third time in four decisions, Friday against the Yankees. 

Rodon surrendered eight hits over three innings, the shortest start in his career. Rodon walked four, the third time in five starts he's walked at least four. He also struck out four, his lowest total since June 10. 

Yankees pitcher Nathan Eovaldi won his sixth straight start, Friday against the White Sox, improving to 11-2 on the year. 

Eovaldi hasn't lost since June 16. He allowed three runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. He's gone six innings just once in the last six starts. 

Eovaldi walked three, struck out five and allowed his first home run since June 10.