MLB Player News

It would be a surprise to most if the Astros become players in the Cole Hamels sweepstakes, considering his annual salary of $24 million is about half of what the Astros' total payrolls sunk to in recent lowly years.

However, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman, Scott Kazmir (a Houston native), Clay Buchholz and Kyle Lohse (ties to general manager Jeff Luhnow) are the three pitchers to watch for in Houston, should they become available.

Some close to Indians ace Corey Kluber believe his early-season struggles were related to missing Yan Gomes, who is on the shelf with a with a sprained MCL, CBSSports.com Jon Heyman reports.

However, Kluber didn't seem to have any issues on Wednesday when he put together one of the best pitching performances of the season, striking out 18 -- the most in a game since Ben Sheets in 2004 and the most by an American League pitcher since Roger Clemens in 1998. 

Kluber is 1-5 with a 4.27 ERA over 52 2/3 innings pitched.

Rays manager Kevin Cash has declared the Tommy John surgery undergone by top pitcher Alex Cobb a success, per the Tampa Tribune.

"Now the rehab process starts," Cash said.

Cobb has lost the entire 2015 season.

What was expected has become reality. The Red Sox have placed struggling right-hander Justin Masterson on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, retroactive to Wednesday.

The free agent signee has followed a strong start to the season with two disastrous outings. He yielded 10 runs on 13 hits and seven walks in 6 2/3 innings to catapult his ERA from 4.71 to 6.37. 

Masterson pitched well in four of five starts before those poor performances against Tampa Bay and Oakland, two of the weaker-hitting teams in the American League. He has traditionally fared far better against right-handed hitters, but owns a 7.43 ERA against them this season.

Left-hander Robbie Ross has been promoted from Triple-A Pawtucket to take the place of Masterson on the big-league roster.

After throwing light bullpen session on Tuesday, Tigers pitchers Justin Verlander and Bruce Rondon are both on track to throw off the mound again on Friday. Verlander is scheduled for a 35-pitch session, while Rondon session remains uncertain, per the Detroit Free Press.

Verlander is on the 15-day disabled list with a right triceps strain. Rondon is on the 15-day disabled list with biceps tendinitis.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Carlos Rodon has the potential to be a key part in the front half of the club's rotation. 

Speaking with MLB Networks Radio, Hahn said the White Sox are taking the necessary steps to put his development in the right direction. Hahn recently announced that Rodon would enter the team's starting rotation. 

As of now, the White Sox don't have any plans to limit Rodon's innings in upcoming starts. 

"There is no magic number, we're going to remain flexible responding to what we see and hear from the player," Hahn said. 

White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana had another strong day on the mound in Wednesday night's 4-2 win over the Brewers. 

Quintana struck out 10 batters in seven innings of work. He allowed one earned run, one walk and four hits. Quintana now holds a 4.39 ERA. 

After giving up 14 earned runs in his first three starts, Quintana has only allowed six earned runs in his past four. 

His next start is projected for May 19 against the Indians. 

Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker took the loss on Wednesday, giving up two earned runs on four hits and one walk in six innings while striking out six in his team's 4-2 defeat against the Padres.

Walker (1-4) gave up a pair of runs in the third inning, with one coming on a solo home run, but it was a largely positive outing for the young pitcher, who has struggled through much of the season after an excellent spring.

Walker owns a 7.22 ERA and 33:15 K:BB ratio in 33 2/3 innings. He's lined up to face the Orioles in Baltimore Tuesday.

Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco earned a win on Wednesday, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings while striking out seven in his team's 6-2 victory over the Tigers.

Nolasco (3-1) picked up his third straight win with the excellent showing, enjoying a 6-0 lead by the middle of the third inning and allowing his two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth.

"It was a good game for us getting a win here in Detroit after four losses," manager Paul Molitor said after the game, per MLB.com. "We kept our optimism from Ricky from what we saw from him in spring training. He threw the ball well. He had a little more velocity out of the chute, and you could tell his breaking pitches, both his slider and curveball, were sharp early."

Nolasco owns a 6.38 ERA and 14:9 K:BB ratio in 18 1/3 innings across four starts. He's slated to face the Pirates in Pittsburgh Tuesday.

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber worked a nearly perfect start on Wednesday against the Cardinals in Cleveland's 2-0 win. Kluber pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with 18 strikeouts. 

It was the most strikeouts in a game since Ben Sheets in 2004 and the most by an American League pitcher since Roger Clemens in 1998. Kluber needed just 113 pitches, 74 going for strikes, in his eight innings of work.

"He started to find it and feel it," manager Terry Francona said, per MLB.com. "The pitches were thrown with conviction and confidence and attacking with all his pitches. When you have the talent he does, that's what can come of it."

Kluber, now 1-5, lowered his ERA to 4.27 in 52 2/3 innings of work. He will look to keep rolling Monday against the White Sox.