MLB Player News

Rays pitcher Alex Cobb lasted four innings Tuesday against the Orioles.

Cobb allowed two runs on three hits over four innings. He struck out six and walked three during the outing. Cobb performed well early, tossing three scoreless innings to open the game. He ran into trouble in the fourth. Cobb allowed a single and a walk to open the frame. He was able to pick up two outs against the next two hitters. With two outs, and men on second and third, Cobb gave up a two-run single to Caleb Joseph, tying the game.

Cobb was pulled with the game tied, picking up the no-decision. He’ll take on the Red Sox in his next start. 

Between Fantasy Baseball Today and the Fantasy Baseball Today blog, we've covered this topic thoroughly already, but for those who stick to the player updates, it's true: Marcus Stroman may be running out of gas.

Or steam, depending on your preferred method of propulsion. He's given up five earned runs in three of his last four starts. Prior to that, he had a 2.12 ERA in 11 starts. I, for one, am still mesmerized by his talent, but the body has its limits. Stroman's have kicked in at around 120 innings.

Well, what did you expect? He's never gone there before. And while a 30-to-40-inning increase is to be expected for a young pitcher in the early years of his career, those last few innings can be a bumpy ride.

You can read more about it and hear what CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman has to say on the matter by clicking here, but understand I'm not advising anyone to drop Stroman. He probably has another four starts in him, and he's a good enough pitcher to fight through the fatigue and reverse the momentum before his season ends. With each bad start, though, he has fewer to regain your trust. The countdown is on.

Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi had a rough start Monday against the Orioles.

Odorizzi allowed eight runs on 11 hits over four innings. He struck out three and walked one during the outing. Home runs were a major issue for Odorizzi. He wound up giving up four long balls during the game. Odorizzi got through the first two innings with no issues, but ran into some trouble in the third. Odorizzi gave up a single to start the inning, and then allowed back-to-back home runs. He settled down enough to get out of the inning without giving up any more runs. After a scoreless fourth, things fell apart in the fifth. Odorizzi gave up three straight singles to open the frame, the last of which brought home a run. With two men on, Delmon Young hit a three-run blast. J.J. Hardy followed that up with a solo shot. Odorizzi was replaced before he was able to record an out in the fifth inning.

With the loss, Odorizzi drops to 9-11. He’ll take on the Red Sox in his next start. 

Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish could miss the rest of the season, according to the Dallas Morning News.

General manager Jon Daniels told a local radio station that the club will be extremely cautious with Darvish moving forward. "With everything else we’ve dealt with and how important he is, we’ve said once he’s completely asymptomatic and the doctor clears him, we’d get another scan and then if everything is clear, we’d get him back pitching," Daniel said. He added, "by the calendar and how close to the end of the season we are, I don’t know that it will allow him to pitch again."

Darvish has been sidelined since August 9 with elbow soreness. The club has not officially said Darvish has been shut down for the season, but, as Daniels mentioned, it's starting to look unlikely that he returns in September. 

Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson took a loss Sunday, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings and striking out five in his team's 13-4 defeat against the Tigers.

Gibson (11-10) has given up five earned runs in three of his last four starts, and he owns a 16:12 K:BB ratio over that stretch while allowing just one home run. Gibson owns a 4.31 ERA and 83:44 K:BB ratio in 144 innings. He's scheduled to face the Orioles Saturday.

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale didn't factor into the decision Sunday, giving up four unearned runs on four hits and three walks in six innings while striking out seven in his team's 7-4 loss to the Yankees.

Sale surrendered all four runs after an error in the sixth inning, allowing him to pick up his fourth straight quality start. He owns a 2.03 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 165:29 K:BB ratio in 142 innings. Sale is scheduled to face the Tigers as part of a doubleheader Saturday.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander will remain the scheduled starter for Friday, MLB.com reports.

It was previously reported that Verlander would be moved up to start Thursday, as the team has a hole in the rotation to fill after Robbie Ray was sent to the minors. Thursday's scheduled starter has yet to be announced.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander will start Thursday's series finale against the Yankees on four days' rest, MLB.com reports.

Verlander was initially scheduled to pitch Friday, but he'll move up one day and take the spot of Robbie Ray, who was optioned to the minors after his last outing. Verlander surrendered four runs in 5 2/3 innings in Saturday's win.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander had a tough start Saturday against the Twins.

Verlander allowed four runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked three during the outing. Verlander was tagged relatively early by Minnesota. Though he was able to get through the first inning without allowing a run, he was tagged in the second. Kurt Suzuki was able to plate a run on a single with two outs. Verlander would work his way out of the inning without giving up any additional runs. The third inning proved to be troublesome. Verlander put the first two men to open the frame. Joe Mauer then drove in a run on a double. After picking up two strikeouts, Verlander gave up another double, this time bringing two runs home. 

The Tigers managed to give Verlander some run support, giving him a win. Verlander improved to 11-11. He’ll take on the White Sox in his next start.

Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish has not started a throwing program yet, according to FoxSports.com.

Darvish will not travel with the club on the upcoming road trip. It's starting to look like he won't return until September. Darvish had a 3.06 ERA over 144 1/3 innings.