MLB Player News

The power is coming back for Justin Verlander and so are the strikeouts. The Tigers one-time ace, who has struggled mightily much of the season, has fanned a more characteristic 16 in his last two starts, covering 13 innings.

"I feel like I'm still a power pitcher with the work I'm putting in," Verlander told MLB.com. "It's going to come back."

Verlander and pitching Jeff Jones studied film of his most successful periods as opposed to his recent performances and came to the conclusion that Verlander was moving laterally on the mound rather than forward to maximize his velocity. The result has been two quality starts despite no-decisions and the increase in strikeouts.

"I felt like this was something we have to do to get back back to where he was," Brad Ausmus said. "As pitchers get older and more mature, they have to make adjustments because, physically, they're going to change."

Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman pitched well enough to earn a win Saturday against the White Sox.

Stroman went 6 2/3 innings, giving up just two hits and two walks. Stroman allowed two runs during the appearance. Stroman was cruising until the sixth inning. After giving up a double to Jose Abreu and a walk to Adam Dunn with two outs, Stroman was pulled in favor of Dustin McGowan.

On the first pitch he threw, McGowan allowed a three-run home run. The hit ensured Stroman would receive a no-decision. Stroman's next start is slated to come against the Athletics. 

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale struggled with his control during a 4-2 win over the Blue Jays.

Sale went seven innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs. Sale had a tough time with his command, allowing five walks during the outing. He struck out six hitters. 

While Sale put a fair amount of men on base, he only got beat by Toronto once. Following a two out walk to Colby Rasmus, Sale allowed a two-run shot to Darin Mastroianni. He settled in at that point, giving up just one more hit over the next three innings. 

The win brings Sale to 7-1 on the year. His next start is slated to come against the Mariners.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander tossed his second quality start in a row Friday, but took a no-decision in a 4-3 loss.

Verlander tossed six solid innings in the outing, allowing three runs on six hits. He walked just one batter and struck out eight, his second straight start reaching that number, after failing to do so for 12 straight starts.

Verlander is still winless over his last five starts, but has been much improved over his last two outings. He has a 6-7 record and 4.80 ERA heading into his next start, set for Wednesday against the Athletics. 

The Astros were forced to scratch pitcher Dallas Keuchel from his start against Detroit Saturday, due to swelling in his left wrist.

Keuchel came down with the ailment following his between-starts bullpen session, according to CSNHouston.com. The exact nature of the injury is not yet known, only that he will be unable to make his start Saturday. 

Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi struggled to get through five innings Friday, in a 4-1 loss to the Orioles.

Odorizzi allowed just one run in his outing, but was in pretty much constant trouble throughout. He surrendered six hits and walked four batters, his highest total in more than a month. Odorizzi also struck six batters out before leaving after 106 pitches.

Odorizzi settled for a no-decision in the game, and remains 3-7 with a 4.14 ERA heading into his start against the Yankees Wednesday.

Mariners pitcher James Paxton made it through his first bullpen session and did not report any issues Friday, according to MLB.com.

Paxton tossed 25 pitches in the bullpen, as he continues to work his way back from a lat injury. He will try to throw another session in three days, and is still expected to be out another three weeks.  

Indians pitcher T.J. House will start Sunday against the Mariners, according to a report from The Plain Dealer Friday.

House is set to start in Justin Masterson's spot in the rotation Sunday, with Masterson aiming to pitch Tuesday against the Dodgers. Masterson will throw a bullpen session to test his knee before the start. House might only get the one start, if Masterson's knee checks out OK.

House appeared in six games for the Indians earlier in the season, five of them starts. He had a 4.88 ERA in 27 2/3 innings. 

Those who criticized the Orioles for sending down Kevin Gausman after three excellent starts gained some justificiation when he struggled mightily Friday in his first outing since his recall.

Gausman gave up runs in all the even innings he pitched against Tampa Bay. He finished having yielded five earned runs on seven hits in five innings. His velocity was down as he walked four and fanned just one.

Gausman served as the 26th man for the doubleheader, and was sent back to Triple-A Norfolk shortly after the game. 

What was anticipated is now official: Kevin Gausman has been promoted from Triple-A Norfolk to start Game 1 of the Friday doubleheader for the Orioles against Tampa Bay.

Gausman, who was battered in a one-inning minor league stint Monday, had been lights-out in his last three starts with Baltimore. He was 3-0 with two runs allowed in 19 innings during that stretch.