MLB Player News

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander won't throw light toss on Sunday, as originally planned, per MLive. 

Verlander is on the 15-day disabled list with a triceps injury. 

"I think we're going to wait until he really feels good," Tigers pitching coach Jeff Jones said late Sunday. "I don't think he felt bad (Sunday), but I think we're trying to wait until everything gets out of there, and then we'll go from there."

Verlander is not scheduled for an MRI, and the team said that there are no plans for any further tests on him. 

"The biggest thing is that we have to make sure everything is out of there before we go forward," Jones said. "He might've been able to pitch through it at the start of the season, but we didn't want to take that chance. I think if we would've taken that chance and he hurt it worse, we would've been kicking ourselves."

Rays pitcher Drew Smyly is scheduled to throw 70 pitches in his third rehab start in Double-A, reports the Tampa Tribune.

Smyly, who is currently on the 15-day DL with shoulder tendinitis, could be back with the club this week if all goes according to plan and start Friday's game against the Blue Jays.

Smyly went 9-10 in 2014 with a 3.24 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 153 innings pitched.

Rays starter Jake Odorizzi (2-1) held the Yankees scoreless through five innings on Saturday but was touched for three runs in the sixth and ended up suffering the loss.

He struck out nine in his six innings of work in his first loss of the year.

Odorizzi came into Saturday's game as the third AL pitcher in the last 100 years to start the season by winning consecutive starts of six-plus innings, two hits or fewer and one run or less.

Odorizzi will look to get back in the win column on Thursday against the Red Sox.

Astros starter Dallas Keuchel (2-0) did not allow a run in six innings of work Saturday to defeat the Angels.

Keuchel struck out seven and walked three in the win.

"He made pitches when he needed to," manager A.J. Hinch said to MLB.com. "He got a couple of uncharacteristic walks. You walk a fine line of expecting perfection out of him by how he goes about it and swings and misses that he gets. No one will ever complain about six zeroes in an outing from Dallas Keuchel. He had to work for it and he got to a pretty high pitch count. You're not used to seeing him over 100 pitches through six innings."

Keuchel's next start is set for Friday in Oakland.

White Sox starter Chris Sale improved to 2-0 on Saturday with six strong innings against the Tigers.

Sale allowed two runs on four hits and struck out six to earn the victory.

J.D. Martinez connected for a solo homer off Sale.

"Man, yeah, It really takes all the pressure off," Sale said about his run support. "You still have to perform and get through it. I don't think I've ever seen 12 runs before. It was impressive."

Sale's next start is schedule for Thursday against the Royals.

Rays starter Alex Cobb told reporters he is throwing pain-free, but is still unsure when he'll be cleared to throw a bullpen session. He is scheduled to play catch at a distance of 90 feet on Saturday, per the Tampa Tribune.

"We're on track for what we thought," Cobb said. "There's been no setbacks. It's just a lengthy process before it gets fully healed and then we're good to go.

"I've been shut down for a while," Cobb said, "so we got to build back up."

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander's throwing session was pushed back one day because of soreness in his triceps. He is now expected to throw Sunday, according to the Detroit News.

Verlander is not expected to return to action on Tuesday against the Yankees. Kyle Lobstein will make his second start in Verlander's absence. 

"We expected him to be sore the next day," manager Brad Ausmus said, per MLive.com. "But two days later, we expected he'd have recovered better.

"We're going to slow him down," Ausmus said. "He's a little more sore the second day than we'd planned, so we're going to slow him down a little bit."

Indians starter Corey Kluber threw eight strong innings on Friday, giving up two runs on three hits and striking out eight in a no decision against the Twins.

Kluber gave up both runs in the sixth inning when Chriss Herrmann singled in a run and then came around to score on a wild pitch.

Kluber's next start is scheduled for Wednesday in Chicago against the White Sox.

Athletics starter Sonny Gray was racked for 11 hits in six innings while allowing four runs and striking out five for the no decision against the Royals on Friday.

Gary's next start is set for Wednesday in Los Angeles against the Angels.

Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez was ejected from Friday's start in the fourth inning after hitting Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval with a pitch.

Jimenez did not allow a run in 3 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking three.

Kevin Gausman was called upon from the bullpen to relieve Jimenez.

"It was my first one. I was shocked," Jimenez said. '"He's a good hitter and I'm trying to go inside."

Jimenez's next scheduled start is Wednesday in Toronto.