MLB Player News

Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray will be pushed back to Thursday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. 

The club will start Drew Pomeranz Wednesday in order to line up its best pitchers for an upcoming series with the Angels. With the move, Gray will start Game 1 against Los Angeles. Gray has a 3.00 ERA over 171 innings. 

Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray nearly went the distance and still picked up his 13th win of the season Friday night against the Angels. The right-hander permitted three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five over 8 1/3 innings of a 5-3 victory.

Over his last three starts covering 20 2/3 innings, Gray has allowed nine earned runs. He owns a 3.00 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP over 26 starts (171 innings). He will make his next start Wednesday at Houston.

Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco turned in a fine start Friday against the Astros.

Carrasco gave up one run on two hits over six innings. He struck out eight and walked two during the outing. The only blemish against Carrasco during the start was a solo home run. In the top of the fifth, Marwin Gonzalez managed to take Carrasco out to right to start the scoring. Other than that, Carrasco was excellent against Houston. He was pulled after throwing 90 pitches. He left with the game tied, earning the no-decision.

Carrasco will take on the White Sox in his next start. 

Rays pitcher Drew Smyly threw a two-hitter Friday against the Blue Jays.

Smyly allowed just two hits over nine scoreless innings. He struck out four and did not issue any walks. Smyly threw 105 pitches during the outing. Smyly gave up a hit to the first batter he faced during the contest. He quickly erased that hit with a double-play. The only other hit against Smyly came in the third inning. He was able to work around the hit without giving up a run. Smyly faced just one batter over the minimum throughout the start. 

With the win, Smyly improved to 8-10. He'll take on the Orioles in his next start. 

Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman had a tough start Friday against the Rays.

Stroman allowed four runs, three earned, on 10 hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked three during the outing. The Rays slowly chipped away at Stroman each inning. An Evan Longoria solo shot started the scoring in the second inning. After a scoreless third inning, Stroman gave up a run in each of the next three frames. A walk and double brought in a run in the fourth, a double and force out brought in a run in the fifth and three singles plated a run in the sixth.

With the loss, Stroman dropped to 7-5. He’ll take on the Red Sox in his next start.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander will start Game 2 of the team's Saturday doubleheader, according to the Detroit Free Press. 

Verlander has been sidelined since August 11 due to a shoulder injury. Verlander has been able to get through his bullpen sessions without any issues, and is ready to make his return. He has a 4.76 ERA over 158 2/3 innings. 

Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman fell short of a quality start Friday, in a 4-1 loss to the Cubs.

Gausman opened the outing with three scoreless innings, but the Cubs jumped on him for two runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth. He was charged with three runs on six hits over five innings of work, while striking out seven batters on 101 pitches in the loss.

Gausman fell to 7-5 in 14 starts with the loss, while his ERA rose slightly, to 3.81 in 78 innings of work. His next outing is set for Wednesday against the Rays. 

Rays pitcher Alex Cobb got the best of former teammate David Price Thursday, as he came out ahead in a 1-0 win over the Tigers.

Cobb was at the top of his game in the pitcher's duel, as he tossed seven shutout innings in the win. He allowed just two hits and a pair of walks, while striking out six batters on 101 pitches.

Cobb opened the season with losses in three of his first four decisions, but is unbeaten since June 13. He is 9-6 with a 3.01 ERA overall, heading into his start Tuesday against the Orioles. 

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber stumbled just a bit Thursday against the Twins, and it led to him dropping his first decision since late June in a 4-1 loss.

Kluber still came away from the outing with a quality start, his seventh in a row, but struggled with his command a bit. Kluber walked four batters and allowed six hits en route to three runs allowed over seven innings, though he also struck out eight batters in the loss.

Kluber falls to 13-7 as his six-decision winning streak came to an end, while his ERA rose slightly to 2.46. He still ranks third in the American League in ERA heading into his next start, set for Wednesday against the White Sox. 

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel threw the ball well Thursday, but came out on the wrong side of a pitcher's duel in a 3-0 loss to the Yankees.

Keuchel tossed an eight-inning complete game in the start, and had trouble in just one inning, as he allowed three runs in the third. He was charged with three earned runs on seven hits overall, while striking out five batters and throwing 65 of 96 pitches for strikes in the loss.

Keuchel is now winless in his last four starts, despite tossing three quality starts in that time. He heads into his next start, set for Tuesday against the A's, with a 10-9 record and 3.12 ERA on the season.