MLB Player News

Astros rookie starter Lance McCullers put together a quality start Wednesday, tossing seven innings of five-hit ball to pick up his fifth win of the season. 

McCullers walked none and struck out five, while keeping the ball on the ground, registering 12 ground-ball outs. He allowed a first-inning run but settled down after that, finishing the night with 99 pitches. 

Over his last seven starts, McCullers (5-3) has alternated wins and losses with three no-decisions mixed in.

Fresh off a complete-game shutout in his last start, White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana posted another fine outing on Wednesday. Quintana limited the Red Sox to two runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out three in the 9-2 victory.

Quintana (6-9, 3.52 ERA) allowed a run in the fourth and a solo home run to Mike Napoli in the seventh. But by then, Quintana already had a six-run lead. 

In six July starts, Quintana went 3-2 with a 2.57 ERA.

The Rangers are on the verge of acquiring left-handed starter Cole Hamels from the Phillies, CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman reports. 

Hamels as been the source of many trade rumors over the past several weeks, with teams like the Astros, Dodgers and the Yankees all reportedly having shown interest in the three-time All-Star. 

Hamels tossed a no-hitter against the Cubs in his most recent start on Saturday.

The deal is not yet complete, and it is not known what other player or players are involved in the potential trade.

Indians right-hander Corey Kluber has spent much of this season as the least-supported starter in the American League. But he could certainly relax Wednesday.

Backed with 12 runs, Kluber cruised to a victory over Kansas City for his second complete game of the year. He allowed only one run on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

He had a shutout going into the ninth, but then tired enough to surrender the lone walk, double and sacrifice fly. He finished having thrown 112 pitches.

Kluber has six quality starts in his last seven outings and boasts a 3.44 ERA.

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander was absolutely dominant in his start against the Rays on Wednesday.

Verlander allowed just one run on four hits over eight innings of work. He struck out a season-high 10 batters, while flirting with a no-hitter through the first 4 2/3 innings of the game. Verlander's no-hitter was broken up by an Asdrubal Cabrera solo home run with two outs in the fourth inning.

Verlander is now 1-3 with the win. He has a 4.86 ERA this season with 35 strikeouts and 12 walks in 50 innings this season.

Athletics starter Sonny Gray threw a complete game shutout against the Dodgers on Tuesday. 

Gray recorded his second shutout in the last four starts. He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out nine, his most since June 14. 

Gray matched last year's totals of two complete games and two shutouts. 

Rangers starter Martin Perez had a nightmare of an outing against the Yankees on Tuesday. Staked to 5-0 lead after the first inning, Perez gave up eight runs on seven hits as part of an 11-run onslaught in the second inning. The Yankees would go on to demolish the Rangers 21-5.

Perez (0-2) pitched a scoreless first inning, but was unable to record a single out in the second. This was the left-hander's third start of the season, in what was the shortest start of his career. The eight runs allowed matches a career-high. 

Perez came into the game with a 4.91 ERA through his first two outings. After Tuesday's disaster, that number sits at 10.50. 

Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi won for the first time since July 11, improving to 6-6 on the year, Tuesday against Detroit. 

Odorizzi allowed one run, the third time in five outings that he's surrendered zero or one runs. He struck out eight, his most since April 18, and gave up one run over six innings.

After a pair of encouraging outings, Red Sox starter Wade Miley has reverted back to the struggling pitcher we saw earlier this month. On Tuesday, Miley allowed seven runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings to the White Sox. He walked three and struck out five in the 9-4 loss.

Miley (8-9) got off to a rough start in this one, allowing five runs in the top of the first inning. He managed to settle in over the next four innings, but then allowed a two-run home run to Jose Abreu in the sixth inning. 

Miley had given up a total of one run in 13 innings over his previous two starts. In three starts prior to that, he had allowed 13 runs over 17 innings. Overall, he is 2-4 with a 5.31 ERA in six starts this month.

Two more teams have reportedly thrown their hats in the ring for Phillies on-the-block starter Cole Hamels.

Included are the Diamondbacks, who have inquired about the left-hander, per ESPN.

Another is the Yankees, according to MLB.com, which is claiming that the Bronx Bombers will not part with premier prospects such as pitcher Luis Severino, outfielder Aaron Judge, shortstop Jorge Mateo and first baseman Greg Bird to land Hamels.

Their reluctance to do so could make them a longshot.