MLB Player News

Mariners pitcher James Paxton played catch before Friday's game. 

It was Paxton's first throwing session since going on the disabled list with a sprained finger on his left hand at the end of May, per MLB.com. 

Twins right-hander Ricky Nolasco threw a bullpen session at Target Field on Friday. Nolasco was wearing his orthotic inserts, which he has been using in his recovery from an ankle impingement.

However, manager Paul Molitor said the session "did not go well", according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. 

Nolasco has been on the disabled list since early June, and there is currently no timetable for his return to the rotation. 

Rays starting pitcher Drew Smyly will throw off the mound Saturday for the first time since being shut down with a torn labrum in early May.

Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander has declared his back to be better and added that he's shooting to make his scheduled start Tuesday against Pittsburgh ace Gerrit Cole, per the Detroit Free Press.

Verlander made just two starts in his return from injury before going down again. Neither was particularly impressive - he owns a 6.17 ERA with four home runs allowed in 11 2/3 innings.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said following Thursday's game against the Astros a final decision on who will be removed from the rotation won't be made until the team's next off-day Thursday, according to MLB.com.

With Ivan Nova returning from the disabled list, the Yankees have gone to a six-man rotation for the time being. Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia appear to have rotations spots secured, leaving Nova, Nathan Eovaldi and Adam Warren fighting for the final two spots.

Although, all signs seem to point to Adam Warren moving to the bullpen since he's had success in a relief role at the major-league level.

"He's pitched as well as anyone in our rotation," Girardi said before Thursday's game. "As I've said, we don't need to make a decision right now. I'm not worried about making a decision right now. I know there's a lot of people around here who want me to make a decision right now, but that's not going to happen.

"There are a lot of things that can happen between now and when we get back from Anaheim. There just is. Let's just see how guys are doing and we'll make a decision."

Astros starter Dallas Keuchel was in dominant form against the Yankees on Thursday. The left-hander posted a complete-game shutout, recording a career-high 12 strikeouts along the way. He gave up four hits and one walk, as he was in complete control for most of this one.

After retiring 15 batters in a row, Keuchel got into trouble in the ninth inning, as he loaded the bases with a walk and two singles. But, after a meeting on the mound by manager A.J. Hinch, Keuchel was able to work out of the jam to finish the masterpiece with 116 pitches.

"I haven't been here a long time, but that's probably as good as I've seen Dallas Keuchel," said Astros manager A.J. Hinch, per MLB.com. "His ball was moving all over the place tonight, which made them have to be aggressive and he had really, really good put away pitches that ended at-bats in his favor."

Keuchel improved to 9-3 and lowered his ERA to 2.17 on the season. 

White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon allowed four earned runs in a no-decision during Thursday afternoon's 8-7 win over the Tigers. 

Rodon gave up two early earned runs in the first inning the high-scoring affair. Rodon has now allowed 13 earned runs over his past three starts, making this the worst three-game stretch of his season. 

Rodon gave up eight hits, struck out seven batters and walked three on 104 pitches.

"Pitch count was a little high. I wish I could have gone a little longer, but we played well and we hit the ball, so that's great," Rodon said, via MLB.com. "That's all I can do is to go as long as I can to try and keep the lead or keep it tied. Let the bats do the work, and they'll take it from there." 

Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray picked up his ninth win of the season on Thursday against the Rangers.

Gray tossed six innings, allowed nine hits and three earned runs on the day. He started his day off with three scoreless innings, but he gave up three runs over the next two.

Overall, Gray was solid as he struck out seven batters and allowed just one walk while picking up the win.

Gray (9-3) has a 2.09 ERA with 97 strikeouts and 26 walks in 107 2/3 innings this season.

Red Sox rookie starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez was roughed up for the second time in three starts during Thursday's 8-6 loss to the Orioles. The left-hander allowed six runs on seven hits and no walks, while striking out five in 3 2/3 innings.

Rodriguez (3-2) got off to a really great start Thursday. He had two strikeouts in the first inning and five strikeouts through three perfect innings. Unfortunately, it all fell apart for Rodriguez in the fourth inning.

He retired Manny Machado to begin the inning before he allowed a double to Chris Parmalee and an RBI single to Nolan Reimold. Matt Wieters then parked a two-run homer. Delmon Young and Chris Davis reached via singles before J.J. Hardy brought both players home with a double. Steve Pearce singled before Ryan Flaherty gave the Orioles a 6-1 lead with a sac fly. 

"He's cruising along -- he retires the first 10 of the game," Red Sox manager John Farrell said, per MLB.com. "He was dominant. He had a number of swing-and-miss [pitches], and then he gets in the stretch, they make a little bit of an adjustment. He wasn't commanding the baseball when he got to the stretch.

Alexi Ogando then replaced Rodriguez with two outs in the fourth, and escaped the jam by getting Machado to fly out to center field.

Rodriguez has allowed at least six runs in two of his last three starts. He lost both of those games.

Rangers pitcher Martin Perez is slated to make his next rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock this Saturday, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Perez made a rehab start on Monday and allowed one run on two hits in three innings. He's still recovering from Tommy John surgery and has not played in the majors yet this season.