MLB Player News

As expected, Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco underwent ankle surgery on Monday, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Nolasco has been on the disabled list since June 4 with the ankle injury, and there is currently no timetable for his return to the Twins' rotation. 

Five American League pitchers didn't appear in the All Star Game on Tuesday. 

The pitchers who didn't appear were: Brad Boxberger, Rays; Kelvin Herrera, Royals; Darren O’Day , Orioles; Chris Sale, White Sox; Hector Santiago, Angels.

The American League got every position player into the All Star Game. 

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel started in his first All Star Game appearance on Tuesday. 

Keuchel pitched two innings, allowing a run on two hits. He left with the score tied, taking a no-decision. He was the first Astro to start the game since Roger Clemens in 2004.

Keuchel didn't walk a batter and struck out one. 

"I was super amped," Keuchel said on the Fox broadcast. "I thought I was gonna throw up out there." 

The desire of Robin Ventura to keep White Sox ace Chris Sale off the mound Tuesday night in the All-Star Game is apparently being heeded by American League manager Ned Yost.

Yost said Sale would only pitch in an emergency, per the Kansas City Star.

The Sox want Sale available immediately upon their return off the break, especially considering they play a doubleheader against Kansas City on Friday.

Sale owns an 8-4 record and 2.72 ERA.

The Astros are eyeing Reds ace Johnny Cueto, who might even be their top trade target, people familiar with their thinking told CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Pairing Cueto with All-Star Game starter Dallas Keuchel would give the surprising American League contenders a formidable 1-2 punch. 

One person connected to the team added to Heyman that the Astros know they need to bolster their rotation to stay in the division race the rest of the season.

The Athletics will likely be sellers at the trading deadline, but pitcher Sonny Gray does not believe he will be included among those shipped elsewhere.

"I don't think I am going to get traded," he told WEEI.

Gray is not eligible for free agency until 2020 and is currrently under a club-friendly contract that pays him $515,000 this season. But the Athletics are nine games under .500 and will have inquiries about the 25-year-old Gray who is 10-3 and leads the American League with a 2.04 ERA.

The Rangers have announced that left-hander Martin Perez, who has been sidelined for 14 months following Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to make his 2015 debut Friday in Houston.

Perez struggled in six minor league appearances, allowing 34 hits in 25 2/3 innings and compiling a 4.56 ERA. But he only walked three.

His return to the rotation means Colby Lewis will start Saturday and Yovani Gallardo on Sunday.

Astros ace Dallas Keuchel was named the starter in Tuesday's All-Star Game by American League manager Ned Yost on Monday, cementing the young left-hander's status as one of the game's best pitchers. 

During the first half of the season, Keuchel went 11-4 with a 2.23 ERA in 19 starts for Houston, which sat atop the AL West for most of the year. Keuchel has three complete games, two shutouts and 114 strikeouts. 

Keuchel becomes the first Astros pitcher to start an All-Star contest since Roger Clemens in 2004. 

One day after his manager expressed his concern about pitching in the All-Star Game due to his heavy workload, White Sox starter Chris Sale will pitch on Tuesday, per the Chicago Tribune. 

White Sox skipper Robin Ventura said "it would be nice" for Sale to rest, but Royals manager Ned Yost, the AL boss, spoke with Ventura and worked out a plan for Sale to throw. 

"I'm going to pitch him," Yost said during a radio interview. "I've talked to Robin. We're OK. He's definitely going to pitch in the game."

Sale is 8-4 with a 2.72 ERA and will be taking part in his fourth All-Star contest. 

Rangers pitcher Martin Perez surrendered five runs on 12 hits over six innings of work during his final rehab start Sunday. He also struck out four and did not walk a batter. 

Perez has been rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He is expected to be activated after the All-Star break.