MLB Player News

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said pitcher Carlos Rodon is being transitioned into the starting lineup, according to CSN Chicago. 

The White Sox had been deliberating whether Rodon would be a starter or reliever for the majority of the season. Rodon started his first major-league game last Saturday and earned the win. 

Rodon was scheduled to pitch Friday beforehand and now will as a starter. 

Hector Noesi will be in the bullpen for now but could see spot starts whenever Rodon needs a break in the rotation, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Rodon has a 2.92 ERA in 12.1 innings pitched this season. 

An MRI on the injured shoulder of Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman has come back clean, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Gausman will stay with the team for the time being but could resume throwing by the weekend. It's possible he's stretched out as a starter at the Triple-A level during his rehab assignment in advance of him potentially joining the Orioles' rotation once ready.

"I look for him, hopefully to be pitching in the Norfolk rotation in the near future," manager Buck Showalter said, per Comcast SportsNet Baltimore.

Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander threw a 20-pitch bullen session on Tuesday. Verlander is working his way back a triceps strain and threw all fastballs and changeups during Tuesday's session. Pitching coach Jeff Jones said he was "very pleased" with how the day went for Verlander, according to FoxSports.com.

The team has not announced next steps or a clearer timetable on when Verlander will return to a big-league mound. 

The Mariners have confirmed that right-hander Taijuan Walker and left-hander Roenis Elias will switch places in the rotation. Walker will now pitch on Wednesday against the Padres, while Elias will go on Thursday against the Red Sox, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.

The move was made in-part due to the large amount of right-handed bats in the Padres' lineup. Right-handed hitters are hitting .256 off of Elias during his career, so manager Lloyd McClendon decided to make the change in the rotation. 

Right-hander Chris Bassitt is the odd man out for the Athletics, according to Comcast Sportsnet.

Not that Bassitt is an odd man. But he has been sent to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for fellow righty Edward Mujica, for whom they traded Saturday.

Bassitt has struggled with his control in five appearances for Oakland this season. He has given up four runs on five hits in 10 1/3 innings, but wildness has caused nine walks.

Indians supposed ace and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber is still missing injured catcher Yan Gomes. And the numbers back it up, per Fox Sports.

Since the start of 2014, he is 18-9 with a 2.39 ERA when Gomes catches and 0-5 with a 5.13 ERA with anyone else behind the dish. Kluber sported a 2.63 ERA this year when Gomes was lost. He is 0-4 with a 6.10 ERA pitching to Roberto Perez.

Gomes, who is rehabbing ahead of schedule, is expected back in about four weeks.

Tigers ailing right-hander Justin Verlander had an unusual catcher for his Sunday throwing session. It was Brad Ausmus, who was pleased with what he witnessed.

"Verlander looked good," he told the Detroit News. "The ball was coming out good."

The former ace, who has been rehabbing from a triceps strain throughout the regular season, tossed 65 piches off flat ground, including fastballs, sliders and change-ups, but no curves.

"It was coming out good, not 100 percent, but, I don't know, 80-85 percent," Verlander said. "That's how I've been throwing the last few days ... and it's been responding really well."

Rays starting pitcher Drew Smyly is trying to avoid undergoing season-ending surgery on his shoulder, and is seeking a second MRI on the injury, per the Tampa Tribune.

Smyly was placed on the disabled list Saturday with what the team termed left shoulder tightness. If Smyly is done for the year, he would finish the year 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA.

The Rays feel that Smyly could have suffered the injury initially during spring training but that it was diagnosed only as tendinitis. 

White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon pitched well during his first major league start on Saturday, earning a victory that may muddle his status on the team, per the Daily Herald. 

Rodon is scheduled to pitch again when the White Sox open a series in Oakland on Friday, but manager Robin Ventura was noncommittal about whether it would be as a starter or reliever. 

"The next time he'll be on the mound, whether it's bullpen or starting, will be in Oakland," Ventura said. "He'll need some days off. He won't be pitching in Milwaukee. I'm not getting into whether he's starting or in the bullpen."

Rodon has thrown 12 1/3 innings with the White Sox, who want to keep an eye on his workload this season. 

The Athletics announced Sunday that reliever Chris Bassitt would be sent down to Triple-A Nashville in order to make room for recently acquired reliever Edward Mujica, per the San Francisco Chronicle. 

Bassitt has appeared in five games for Oakland this season, allowing six runs in 10 2/3 innings of work. Mujica was designated for assignment by the Red Sox earlier this week, and the Athletics acquired the veteran in a trade with Boston on Saturday. 

Mujica has allowed seven runs on 15 hits in 13 2/3 innings this season, but the A's are desperate for bullpen help, as he will become the 14th reliever used by the team this season. 

"Depending on availability, he's been pretty versatile in the bullpen where he's pitched before, anywhere from real late to middle of the game," manager Bob Melvin told MLB.com.