MLB Player News

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander underwent an MRI Thursday to get another opinion on his injured triceps muscle, according to MLive.com.

The MRI confirmed what the team already knew about the injury, which is that Verlander has a right triceps strain. Trainer Kevin Rand said Verlander remains in a holding pattern.

Verlander has had his last two scheduled throwing sessions pushed back because of soreness in in his arm and hopes to get back on the field to throw at some point this week.

Red Sox starter Justin Masterson moved to 2-0 on the season with a win over Baltimore on Monday. 

Masterson picked up the victory with five innings of three-hit ball. He allowed one run, walked three and struck out six. 

Masterson threw 53 strikes in 93 pitches and lowered his ERA to 5.74. 

"The slider was working real good," Masterson said, per WEEI. "That's what helped me in 2013 and helped me to be a better pitcher. The best way to do that is to throw it for strikes in good counts."

Masterson's next start is scheduled for Saturday, at Baltimore, in a rematch with Wei-Yin Chen.

Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson heads into his start Monday against the Royals with a career 16-17 record and 4.97 ERA in 43 starts. Although, the Royals are one team that Gibson hasn't struggled against in his young career.

Gibson has won all four of his career starts against Kansas City, including last Wednesday. He has a 1.38 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in those outings. Gibson can't pinpoint why he has had so much success against the AL Central foe, but added the key is pitching inside and using their aggressiveness against them, per MLB.com.

The Royals have scored less than four runs just twice in 12 games, including Gibson's outing Wednesday. They are tied for the second-most runs (68) in the majors.

The White Sox purchased the contract of left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon Monday while also activating right-handed pitcher Jake Petricka from the 15-day disabled list.

The pair are set to strengthen the team's bullpen, which is 26th in the league with a .252 batting average against while posting a 3.86 ERA.

Rodon was the team's No. 3 overall selection in last year's draft and has thrown just 34 1/3 inings in his professional career. He's expected to pitch out of the rotation long-term but will begin his career as a reliever. The White Sox did the same thing with current ace Chris Sale, who made 79 relief appearances in 2010 and 2011 before joining the rotation in 2012 and reeling off three straight seasons with top-six Cy Young finishes.

Petricka opened the season on the disabled list due to a sore right forearm. He started his rehab assignment Thursday and is able to join the team this week after suffering no setbacks.

"It was a matter of getting rid of that soreness, and time wasn't on our side in spring and now we are here," Petricka said, per MLB.com. "I mean, I definitely wanted to be here, but it was more of a mental change than physical because the structure was fine in the arm. It was a matter of getting it feeling good again. That was a tough little battle. But it's over and now let's have a good long season."

Rays pitcher Drew Smyly (shoulder) threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in a rehab start with Double-A Montgomery Sunday.

Smyly was scheduled to throw 70 pitches and wound up leaving the game after 68 pitches (40 strikes) having given up one hit and three walks while striking out four. He'll be re-evaluated to determine whether he'll need another rehab start before joining the Rays rotation, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Mariners pitcher James Paxton allowed seven runs on nine hits in just 2 2/3 innings in Seattle's 11-10 win over of the Rangers Sunday.

It all fell apart for Paxton in the third inning when the first four batters of the inning reached base safely, leading to a run. Then with the bases loaded, Shin-Soo Choo grounded out to bring home another run. Texas continued to peck away at Paxton, scoring five runs all on singles or fielder's choices. Jake Smolinski then smacked a two-run home run over the left center field wall. The Rangers added another run before Paxton was pulled.

"Things weren't going my way, but I also wasn't making good pitches," Paxton said to MLB.com. "I was staying in the middle of the zone too much and making mistakes. I'm struggling right now, but I'm not going to quit fighting. I'm going to figure it out and persevere."

Paxton, still 0-1 on the year, now boasts a 5.40 ERA and will look for his first win of the year Saturday against the Twins.

White Sox pitching prospect Carlos Rodon will join the major-league team Monday, FOXSports.com reports. CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman later confirmed the report.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft, Rodon has posted a 3.60 ERA and 13:4 K:BB ratio in 10 innings over his first two starts with Triple-A Charlotte. Though his long-term future in Chicago is in the rotation, he will initially pitch out of the team's bullpen. The reduced workload will allow the team to limit his innings workload in his second professional season.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana gave up nine runs and 10 hits in four innings to suffer his first loss of the year. 

Quintana gave up two home runs to Yoenis Cespedes, including a grand slam. He walked one and struck out one, while falling to 1-1 on the year with an 8.40 ERA. Quintana threw 56 strikes out of 93 pitches.

"He got ahead early on quite a few guys, he was probably 0-2, 1-2, but just didn't seem to come right after them," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said to ESPN.com. "Come right after them. I think he was picking too much and once we got to a point he probably got too much of the plate.

"It's a tough lineup to go through, but you do have to be a little more aggressive and have them swing the bat," Ventura continued. "He just seemed to be 3-2 on everybody."

Quintana's next start will be Friday against Kansas City and Danny Duffy. 

Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco threw a bullpen session on Sunday, as he attempts to come back from an elbow injury that has him on the disabled list. 

GM Terry Ryan said on Inside Twins that Nolasco's bullpen "went well". The next step will be a minor league rehab assignment at Class A Cedar Rapids, starting Saturday. 

The Indians are shuffling places in their starting rotation. Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer will swap places, per MLB.com. 

Bauer is now going to start on Monday and Carrasco will get the ball for Tuesday's game.