MLB Player News

Athletics pitcher Jason Hammel took the loss Friday night against the Mariners in Seattle, dropping to 10-11 on the season. The right-hander permitted three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings of a 4-2 defeat.

Over his last two starts covering 11 2/3 innings, Hammel has allowed five earned runs. He owns a 3.60 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP over 28 starts (167 1/3 innings). His next start will come Thursday at home against Texas.

Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco took a step back on Friday against the Tigers, dropping to 7-5 on the year. He allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over 6 1/3 innings of work.

Over his last four games covering 25 innings, Carrasco has allowed six earned runs. He owns a 2.86 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP over 110 innings of work. He will make his next start Thursday at Houston.

Rays pitcher Alex Cobb flirted with a no-hitter but was unable to factor into the decision Thursday night in New York against the Yankees.

Chris Young doubled in the eighth inning, ending Cobb's bid for a no-no. Cobb was immediately pulled after allowing the first hit of the game. Young belted a walkoff three-run home run in the ninth inning to force a no-decision for Cobb.

The right-hander permitted one run on one hit and two walks while striking out four over 7 1/3 innings of a 5-4 defeat. He owns a 2.75 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP over 24 starts (147 1/3 innings). His next start will come Tuesday at home against the Yankees again.

Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco turned in a dominant outing but was not backed by any run support in a loss to the Indians, dropping to 5-11 on the season. The right-hander permitted one run on six hits and no walks while striking out five over seven innings of a 2-0 defeat.

Over his last two starts covering 12 innings, Nolasco has allowed three earned runs. He owns a 5.64 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP over 24 starts (140 1/3 innings). He will make his next start Tuesday against Detroit.

White Sox stud left-hander Chris Sale achieved his seventh straight quality start Thursday against Oakland. And "quality" does not begin to describe it.

Sale dominated the Athletics, giving up just two hits (both to Jed Lowrie) in eight innings. He walked two and fanned nine in raising his record to 12-3. Sale retired 19 in a row at one point and lowered his ERA to 1.99, its lowest point since July 26.

The Chicago ace is set to start again at Kansas City on Wednesday.

Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson entered his Thursday start in Cleveland having allowed just nine home runs in 27 outings. When he gave up two before retiring an out in the second inning it was obvious he wasn't going to stick around for very long.

Gibson was indeed removed after the third and finished having given up seven runs on seven hits with two walks and no strikeouts. He has not won since Aug. 13 as his ERA has skyrocketed to 4.58, its highest point since May 23. Gibson, who gave up a 442-foot shot to Carlos Santana in the first and solo job to Yan Gomes in the second, will attempt to bounce back Tuesday against Detroit.

Indians ace Corey Kluber continued his rebound from a mini-slump Thursday with his second straight strong performance.

Kluber yielded just two earned runs on eight hits in 8 1/3 innings against Minnesota to raise his record to 15-9 and lower his ERA to 2.45, which ranks fifth in the majors. He walked none and fanned seven. His effort followed a complete game shutout of the White Sox.

His attempt at a complete game was lost when he surrendered three singles in the ninth. Kluber will try to keep up the good work Tuesday in Houston.

White Sox pitcher Chris Bassitt turned in a quality start Wednesday against the Athletics.

Bassitt allowed one run on five hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked two during the outing. Bassitt gave up his only run of the game in the fourth inning. With two outs and a man on third, Bassitt gave up a run-scoring single to former White Sox Adam Dunn. Bassitt was matched by Jeff Samardzija throughout the start, and was actually in line for the loss despite his performance.

The White Sox managed a late comeback, giving Bassitt a no-decision. He'll take on the Royals if he gets another start. 

Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi had a rough game Wednesday against the Yankees.

Odorizzi gave up six runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two during the outing. Odorizzi was spotted a four-run lead before he got on the mound, but couldn’t hold on. The Yankees consistently put pressure on him, scoring at least a run in all but one inning against Odorizzi. Brian McCann proved to be a thorn in his side. McCann singled home two runs in the third inning, and would come around to score on a triple in the fifth. Odorizzi was replaced at that point, but was charged with his sixth run after departing.

With the loss, Odorizzi dropped to 10-12. He’ll take on the Yankees in his next start.

The Rays have shut pitcher Drew Smyly down, the Tampa Tribune reports.

Smyly ends his season with a 3.24 ERA and 133:42 K:BB ratio in 153 innings with the Rays and Tigers. He threw just 76 innings while working exclusively out of the bullpen last season. The team's starter for Friday has yet to be announced.