MLB Player News

Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman is owned in only 72 percent of leagues. That's the same as Dillon Gee, who hasn't started a game since May 10 and wasn't exactly Cy Young material before then. It's 15 percent less than Wily Peralta, 12 percent less than Dan Haren, 11 percent less than Shelby Miller, 8 percent less than R.A. Dickey and 1 percent less than Hiroki Kuroda. Together, those five have combined for a 3.97 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 6.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Upside certainly doesn't explain the descrepancy. The only one with anywhere close to Stroman's is Miller, and he hasn't actually shown his since last June. Stroman, meanwhile, has a 2.08 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings in seven starts, pitching at least six innings in six of them. And while that ERA is obviously too good to be true, one right around 3.00 is perfectly reasonable for what he's doing peripherally, which is perfectly in line with what he did in his minor-league career.

So what are you waiting for?

The Orioles optioned pitcher Kevin Gausman to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for reliever Julio DePaula. Gausman pitched well in a no-decision Sunday, allowing one run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Red Sox.

Orioles starter Kevin Gausman took a no-decision Sunday afternoon against the Red Sox in Boston. The right-hander permitted one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven over 5 1/3 innings of a 7-6 win in extras.

Gausman was called up to make the start on Sunday, and it remains to be seen if he'll remain in the rotation moving forward.

On Sunday, Major League Baseball revealed the American League starting lineup for the 2014 All-Star Game, which will be held on July 15 at Target Field in Minneapolis. Orioles catcher Matt Wieters was voted as a starter, but Royals catcher Salvador Perez will take his place behind the plate for the game. Other injured players will likely be replaced on the roster moving forward.

The following players were selected as starters by the fans:

OF Jose Bautista, Blue Jays (leading vote-getter)
OF Mike Trout, Angels
OF Adam Jones, Orioles
1B Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
2B Robinson Cano, Mariners
SS Derek Jeter, Yankees
3B Josh Donaldson, Athletics
C Matt Wieters, Orioles
DH Nelson Cruz, Orioles

RHP Yu Darvish, Rangers
RHP Max Scherzer, Tigers
RHP Felix Hernandez, Mariners
RHP Masahiro Tanaka, Yankees
LHP Jon Lester, Red Sox
LHP David Price, Rays
LHP Scott Kazmir, Athletics
LHP Mark Buehrle, Blue Jays
LHP Sean Doolittle, Athletics
RHP Greg Holland, Royals
LHP Glen Perkins, Twins
RHP Dellin Betances, Yankees

Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco lasted only two innings in an abysmal outing Sunday afternoon for the loss against the Yankees. After the start, manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters that he's weighing all options moving forward for Nolasco, including a potential move to the bullpen, MLB.com reports.

The right-hander permitted six runs on seven hits and one walk while failing to record a strikeout over two innings of a 9-7 defeat. Of his 42 pitches, only 25 were strikes.

Nolasco has allowed four-plus earned runs in four of his last nine starts. He owns a 5.90 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP over 18 starts (103 2/3 innings). He is tentatively scheduled to make his next start Friday at Colorado.

Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker was limited to just four innings in a loss to the White Sox in Chicago on Sunday. The right-hander permitted one run on two hits and five walks while striking out three over four innings of a 1-0 defeat.

Over his first two starts covering 10 innings, Walker has permitted only four earned runs. He has not logged more than 94 pitches in a start this season for the Mariners. He will make his next start Saturday at home against Oakland.

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber pitched 8 1/3 strong innings in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Royals, striking out 10 and allowing four hits and a walk. Kluber (8-6) allowed only a solo homer to Mike Moustakas. It marked the fifth straight start in which Kluber yielded two or fewer runs.

Kluber threw 75 of 109 pitches for strikes and now boasts a 2.86 ERA. He'll face the White Sox at home Friday.

White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana wasn't a factor in Saturday's decision despite giving up just four hits and one walk in 7 2/3 scoreless innings and striking out 10 in his team's 3-2, 14-inning loss to the Mariners.

Quintana matched his season high in strikeouts while keeping the Mariners offense off the board, but he still departed in the eighth inning with the score tied 0-0. It was his second straight scoreless outing and his fourth straight quality start, giving up just three runs during that stretch. Quintana owns a 3.20 ERA and 100:32 K:BB ratio in 112 1/3 innings. He's slated to take on the Red Sox Thursday.

The Cubs and Athletics have completed a mega-deal which will send pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to Oakland for shortstop Addison Russell .

The two sides reached a deal Friday night, but waited to officially announce the move Saturday. Samardzija and Hammel will slot into the team's rotation, though it's unclear how soon they'll make their first start with their new club.

Russell joins the Cubs' solid collection of prospects. Chicago will also receive outfield prospect Billy McKinney, pitcher Dan Straily and a player to be named later. Of the bunch, only Straily is expected to play a role with the major-league club this season.  

A second straight terrible start by Tigers left-hander Drew Smyly does not have Brad Ausmus on the verge of removing him from the rotation, MLB.com has reported.

Smyly yielded five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings Friday night in a loss to Tampa Bay. He has given up nine runs in 7 2/3 innings in his last two appearances combined.

An open date Monday would give Ausmus the option of at least skipping his next start, but he declared that each of his starters would simply be given an extra day of rest. Smyly is slated to pitch Thursday against Kansas City.