MLB Player News

Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish had a night to forget Saturday, giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits and four walks in four-plus innings while striking out seven in his team's 8-3 loss to the Astros.

Darvish (10-7) allowed a pair of runs in a first inning that featured two walks and two singles, and he continued to rack up pitches over the next few innings before falling apart in the fifth, giving up four hits and a walk in the inning before being removed without recording an out. He finished the game with 113 pitches despite only posting four innings of work. Darvish owns a 3.06 ERA and 182:49 K:BB ratio in 144 1/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Rays Thursday.

Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi earned a win Saturday, giving up just three hits in six scoreless innings and striking out nine in his team's 4-0 victory over the Cubs.

Odorizzi (8-9) endured a rough outing his last go-round but dominated the opposition Saturday, striking out five consecutive batters in the first and second innings. He owns a 3.89 ERA and 139:45 K:BB ratio in 122 1/3 innings. Odorizzi is scheduled to face the Rangers Thursday.

Indians torrid right-hander Corey Kluber continued to pitch himself into the Cy Young Award conversation with another brilliant performance Saturday, this time against the host Yankees.

Kluber pitched shutout ball on four hits in six innings, walking one and fanning 10. He allowed back-to-back singles in the sixth before striking out the side. He has allowed just one run in his last four starts covering 31 1/3 innings. Kluber has won six straight decisions in raising his record to 13-6.

He will try to remain on a roll when the team opens a weekend series Friday night against Baltimore.

Only a two-run double by Detroit hitting machine Victor Martinez probably prevented Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman from snagging his fourth win in five decisions.

Stroman yielded the hit in the sixth inning after pitching shutout ball. He finished with a career-high nine innings pitched and four hits allowed with three walks and four strikeouts. The outing served as a bounce-back from a poor performance in his last start.

The rookie, who lowered his ERA to 3.34 with the no-decision, is set to pitch again Friday against the host White Sox.

Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson took a loss Friday, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and five walks in five innings while striking out three in his team's 6-5 defeat against the A's.

Gibson (10-9) had walked just five batters in 36 1/3 innings over his last six starts combined before matching that total in one outing Friday. He owns a 4.13 ERA and 70:37 K:BB ratio in 126 1/3 innings. Gibson is scheduled to face the Astros Wednesday.

White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana was stuck with a loss Friday, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings while striking out four in his team's 4-1 defeat against the Mariners.

Quintana (6-8) gave up a home run during a four-run fifth inning, making it the first time he surrendered a home run since June 24. He threw 93 pitches Friday, which gave him his first start with less than 100 pitches since June 8. Quintana owns a 3.04 ERA and 129:44 K:BB ratio in 148 innings despite his mediocre record. He's scheduled to face the Blue Jays next Friday.

The White Sox might be willing to call up 2014 first-round pick Carlos Rodon to make his major-league debut this month, though manager Robin Ventura told MLB.com they are not ready to make that call.

"I'm not even going down that far," Ventura said. "We are concerned about what's going on right here. If they say he's pitching well enough to come up, then the more the merrier at this point."

Rodon, who was the No. 3 overall pick and is currently pitching at Class A Winston-Salem, would likely come up during September roster expansion. That would put him on a similar development path as current ace Chris Sale. Rodon would be expected to pitch out of the bullpen, in order to manage his workload.

Rodon has appeared in five games in the minors since signing his first contract, striking out 13 batters and walking four in nine innings of work. 

Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco will earn a start on Sunday against the Yankees, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The move could be temporary, since the Indians have two off days next week. Carrasco has made four starts this season. He owns a 3.88 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP over 65 innings of work.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander was stuck with a loss Wednesday, giving up two earned runs on five hits and one walk in seven innings and striking out five in his team's 5-1 defeat against the Yankees.

Verlander (10-10) was victimized by the long ball Wednesday, serving up solo home runs in the fifth and seventh inning but still turning in his fourth straight quality start. Verlander owns a 4.57 ERA and 115:53 K:BB ratio in 157 2/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Pirates Monday.

Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray couldn't escape the fifth inning in Wednesday's loss, giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits and four walks in 4 1/3 innings and striking out three in his team's 7-3 defeat against the Rays.

Gray (12-5) came into the outing having given up a total of five earned runs in his previous six games combined, so Wednesday's dud was truly out of left field. Both the seven earned runs and the 10 hits were season highs for Gray, who has walked four batters in two of his last three starts. He owns a 2.93 ERA and 131:53 K:BB ratio in 150 1/3 innings. Gray is set to do battle with the Royals Monday.