MLB Player News

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander was able to throw long toss from 120 feet on Sunday, according to MLB.com.

Verlander, who is currently on the 15-day DL with a triceps injury, may throw a bullpen session on Tuesday so he can throw off the mound again. Verlander has yet to play in the majors this season while nursing the injury he suffered at the end of spring training.

Rays starter Jake Odorizzi allowed one run on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings in a no decision against Texas on Sunday. 

Odorizzi was scratched from Saturday's start due to illness, but he had a solid outing when he finally took the mound. 

"I felt better, but I ... tried to give us as many innings as possible with what I had," Odorizzi said. "It was a tough one, but I was able to get through it and the defense really helped me out. I was just trying to pitch to contact to get as many outs as I could as quick as I could."

Odorizzi didn't walk a batter and struck out seven. He lowered his ERA to 2.09. His next start will be Friday at Minnesota. 

Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman will have an MRI on Tuesday. Gausman is on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder soreness, but he reported that the shoulder is feeling better, per MASN Sports.

Rays starter Jake Odorizzi will take the mound for Sunday's game. 

Odorizzi was scratched from Saturday's scheduled start with flu-like symptoms but said he was feeling better and should be able to start Sunday instead. Odorizzi is in the Rays' starting lineup. 

The Rays are -156 money line favorites at home against Texas.

The shoulder injury plaguing Rays left-hander Drew Smyly includes a labrum tear that will likely require season-ending surgery, the Tampa Bay Times has reported.

The 25-year-old Smyly was placed on the disabled list Friday after experiencing stiffness during and after his Tuesday start against the host Red Sox. He had claimed to have felt fine in his first two outings.

Smyly, who will undergo an MRI on Monday, would finish the year 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA if he is indeed done.

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel allowed four runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of work in Houston's 6-5 win over the Angels on Saturday.

Keuchel worked himself into a jam in the first inning when he loaded the bases for Erick Aybar, who singled to center to drive home two runs. He managed to get out of the inning with a double play ball.

Then in the fourth, Keuchel allowed an RBI double to Carlos Perez. He then allowed a Mike Trout solo home run in the fifth, before settling down to finish his start in the seventh.

The outing broke Keuchel's streak of 13 consecutive quality starts, the longest streak in the majors. Keuchel, now 4-0, moved his ERA to 1.93 in 51 2/3 innings of work. He will look to keep rolling Friday against the Blue Jays.

White Sox promising rookie southpaw Carlos Rodon appeared destined Saturday for another outing that would motivate some to claim he wasn't ready.

Then he began pitching lights-out.

Rodon earned his first career win in his first start after giving up nine hits and four walks in his first 6 1/3 innings pitched - all in relief. He surrendered three singles and a walk in the third inning to Cincinnati. But he faced just 10 batters in three shutout innings thereafter, yielding one hit and fanning four.

Now sporting a 2.92 ERA, Rodon is scheduled to make his next start Friday in Oakland.

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale has had a rough go of it in his last couple of outings. Sale has allowed 10 runs in his last 10 innings with just six strikeouts. Pitching coach Don Cooper thinks he has the answer to his struggles, according to MLB.com.

"You see his velocity up a mile or a mile and a half and you see the walks. He's just overdoing it," said Cooper. "Trying to do too much: not pitching, more throwing. We need more of a combination.

"He can do that from time to time. He has reached back -- and literally what I've seen is he's really reaching back. Also, the other day, he got a little bit out of control [with] his emotions and poise and got frustrated. That's it: He's overdoing it."

Cooper also noted Sale has some mechanical issues to work out.

"It's out of the norm for him," Cooper said. "When we do have a chance to sit down with him, we are going to show him -- and it's going to be real obvious when he sees it what's going on."

Sale has a 5.93 ERA in four starts to begin the season.

Rays pitcher Drew Smyly expects to undergo an MRI on his injured shoulder Monday, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Smyly, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday, said he started to feel tightness and stiffness in his shoulder during Tuesday's start against the Red Sox.

"You try to stay positive," Smyly said.

Smyly owns a 2.70 ERA and 21:3 K:BB ratio in 16 2/3 innings over his first three starts.

Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi said he's feeling "a lot better" Saturday and could make his next start Sunday against the Rangers, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Odorizzi was originally scheduled to start Saturday but was scratched due to flu-like symptoms. However, rather than miss a turn in the rotation, it appears Odorizzi could simply be pushed back a day. He's 3-2 with a 2.21 ERA and 32:8 K:BB ratio in 40 2/3 innings.