MLB Player News

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale was denied a win Tuesday despite giving up four hits and two walks in eight scoreless innings and striking out 12 in his team's 3-2, 10-inning victory over the Giants.

Sale continued his dominance Tuesday, posting 12 strikeouts for the third time in his last seven starts. It was his second time in four starts delivering eight scoreless innings, but the bullpen blew the lead in the ninth. Sale owns a 2.01 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 150:24 K:BB ratio in 130 innings. He's slated to face the Blue Jays Sunday.

Tigers pitcher Robbie Ray took a loss Tuesday, allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks in five-plus innings and striking out five in his team's 4-2 defeat against the Pirates.

Ray (1-2) was making his first start with the Tigers since May, and he got into trouble in the second inning, giving up two runs on three doubles. The Pirates tacked on another run in the third after a leadoff double. Ray didn't allow any runs in the fourth and fifth but walked the leadoff batter in the sixth before being removed, with the runner eventually scoring. He owns a 5.31 ERA and 14:8 K:BB ratio in 20 1/3 innings. Ray is scheduled to face the Rays next Tuesday, but he could be bumped up to Sunday depending on the status of Justin Verlander.

Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco is scheduled to come off the disabled list Friday to open a four-game series against the Royals, MLB.com reports.

"I would image we would probable keep him to 80, 85 [pitches] his next time out," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "But his arm feels great, everything's strong. I'm sure he'll probably fight the whole system because I think he feels he's really ready to go. We'll look to start at 80 and work our way up from there. Depends on how it goes, if it's hard innings or easy innings."

The Twins aren't expected to go to a six-man rotation, which means rookie Trevor May could be heading back to the minors. Nolasco has been sidelined since early July with elbow soreness.

After disappointing up to that point, Justin Verlander turned it on about this time last season, compiling a 2.27 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings over his final six starts. OK, so it was more like a couple weeks from now, but you get the idea: It was late.

And if you've stuck with him all this time in Fantasy, it's because you've hoped for a similar turnaround this season -- maybe something a little sooner, but just as definitive. Given the latest turn of events, though, I'm not holding my breath.

Verlander's shoulder hurts. It hurt before Monday's game at Pittsburgh, and it hurt during it. And if those four earned runs in one inning of work are any indication, it hurt bad. But here's the interesting part: It didn't affect his average fastball velocity, which was about the same as in his previous start.

Of course, it's been down all year, and even more so recently, which makes me wonder if his shoulder has been at less than full strength all along. The Tigers say it's only inflammation, but isn't that more of a symptom than an injury? Granted, in most cases of inflammation in a shoulder, it ends up being just that, but given Verlander's downfall, I can't help but wonder if something else is at work there.

In my latest post to the Fantsay Baseball Today blog, I discussed the possibility of releasing Verlander, and though I'd tend to shy away from it, I don't think it's the craziest move you could make.

In the aftermath of Tuesday's postponed game, the Orioles were able to shuffle their rotation a bit, MLB.com reports. 

Tuesday's starter, Wei-Yin Chen, has been given a few extra days of rest, as his next start has been pushed back to Friday against the Indians. Chris Tillman will remain on schedule to pitch Wednesday against the Yankees, while Ubaldo Jimenez and Kevin Gausman will follow to close out the weekend series against the Indians. 

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander has been diagnosed with inflammation in his right shoulder, but is not expected to go on the disabled list, manager Brad Ausmus told reporters Tuesday.

Verlander had an MRI taken on the shoulder Thursday, which revealed the inflammation, but with no structural damage with it. Verlander will likely have to miss Sunday's start, but the team is hopeful he can make his next turn in the rotation.

Robbie Ray is likely to fill in for Verlander, who made it through just one inning in his latest start.  

Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco will remain in the rotation moving forward, after shining in his start against the Yankees Sunday.  

Carrasco, who tossed five scoreless innings in his last outing, will start Saturday's game against the Orioles. Carrasco was considered a candidate to be skipped due to the team having two off days this week, but will be kept on turn. 

Rays pitcher Drew Smyly bounced back with a gem Monday night against the Rangers, improving to 7-10 on the season. The right-hander permitted three hits and three walks while striking out nine over 7 2/3 scoreless innings of a 7-0 victory.

Over his first two starts with the Rays covering 13 innings, Smyly has allowed only three earned runs. He owns a 3.73 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP over 118 1/3 innings. He will make his next start Saturday at home against the Yankees.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander will undergo an MRI Tuesday in Detroit after exiting Monday's start after just one inning with shoulder soreness, the Detroit Free-Press reports.

Verlander said after the start that the issue had been "lingering for a while," but he didn't specify a timeframe on how long he's been pitching with the bum shoulder. The team lost the former Cy Young award winner to injury on the same day they slipped into second place in the division. Verlander owns a 4.76 ERA and 118:55 K:BB ratio in 158 2/3 innings.

Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray put together a quality start but was pegged with a tough-luck loss Monday night against the Royals, dropping to 12-6 on the year. The right-hander permitted three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and three walks while striking out two over seven innings of a 3-2 defeat.

Over his last two starts covering 11 1/3 innings, Gray has allowed eight earned runs. He owns a 2.86 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP over 24 starts (157 1/3 innings). His next start will come Saturday at Atlanta.