MLB Player News

Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco was hit hard Thursday, in a 6-4 loss to the Twins.

The Angels got to Nolasco early in the game, tagging him for two runs in each of the first and third innings. He was ultimately charged with six runs on 11 hits in six innings of work, while striking out six batters and walking one in 107 pitches in the loss.

Nolasco's winless streak stretched to four starts with the loss, as he fell to 4-6. He has a 5.74 ERA in 95 2/3 innings heading into his next start, set for Tuesday against the Royals. 

By now, assuming you're the type who consumes every piece of Fantasy content shoved down your throat, you've probably read my take on Taijuan Walker -- the inevitability of his promotion, the potential he offers for Fantasy owners, etc. -- in this week's Prospect Report.

Since then, the Mariners have sent down Erasmo Ramirez, leaving a gaping hole in their starting rotation for Monday's game at Houston.

Uh-huh. I think we can all see where this is going.

Walker is about as good as it gets among pitching prospects. Everyone else to get the call this year is small potatoes by comparison. Baseball America ranked him ahead of Kevin Gausman, Yordano Ventura and Marcus Stroman coming into the year and behind only Masahiro Tanaka and Archie Bradley among starting pitchers. You don't wait until the official promotion and all the pomp and circumstance that goes along with it to add a player of that caliber.

Since the news of Ramirez's demotion, Walker's ownership rate has risen only 4 percent, so he's still flying under the radar, relatively speaking. But in the 24 percent of leagues where he remains unowned, you want to beat the rush.

Indians sidearming right-hander Justin Masterson is off-again in 2014 in his propensity for trading on-again, off-again seasons. Soreness in his right knee, which has been plaguing him since the second start of the season, could be used as a legitimate excuse.

The ailment will prevent Masterson from making his scheduled start Sunday in Seattle. It has also prevented him from gaining any semblance of consistency this season, as his 5.03 ERA (highest among any Cleveland starter) can attest. His velocity has dropped several miles per hour this year. Masterson was asked if the knee soreness has been responsible for that.

"I don't know," he replied to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "It's just been a little nagging. Maybe it's taken (away) a little of the power and consistency."

Masterson has not reached the fifth inning in two of his last three starts.

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber was dominant in a win Wednesday, giving up just four hits and one walk in seven scoreless innings while striking out eight in his team's 6-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Kluber (7-5) hadn't earned a win in any of his previous four starts in June before shutting down Arizona Wednesday. With another big strikeout performance, the Indians pitcher ranks third in the American League in the category with 122 strikeouts. He also owns a 3.09 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 110 2/3 innings. Kluber is slated to take on the Dodgers Monday.

Indians pitcher Justin Masterson will have his next start pushed back two days due to a right knee issue, FOXSportsArizona.com reports.

Masterson was initially set to start Sunday against the Mariners, but now he'll be looking at a July 1 start against the Dodgers. The Indians have yet to name a replacement starter for Sunday's game.

Mariners pitching prospect Taijuan Walker "is in the discussion" to fill the vacated rotation spot caused by Erasmo Ramirez's demotion and start Monday's game against the Astros, MLB.com reports.

Walker is coming off a complete-game shutout with Triple-A Tacoma Tuesday and looks to be ready to make his 2014 Mariners debut after dealing with shoulder issues over the first few months of the season.

"His starts have been fine," manager Lloyd McClendon said Wednesday. "The one before [the shutout], he had some ups and downs, but all pitchers do. From a health standpoint, he’s feeling better, he’s throwing, he‘s answering the bell every five days. The velocity is up and he’s building, so that’s encouraging."

Walker owns a 4.11 ERA and 20:10 K:BB ratio in 30 2/3 innings with Tacoma in six starts.

Mariners starting pitcher Taijuan Walker turned in a dominant performance for Triple-A Tacoma Tuesday. The right-hander threw his first complete-game shutout, allowing four hits and one walk, while striking out eight.

It was the second time in his career he pitched a complete game.

"I've had games where I've had better stuff, but my curveball was the best it's been in a long time," Walker said, per MLB.com. "I was throwing it for first-pitch strikes a lot. I was bouncing it when I needed to for strikeouts. Getting ground balls with it.

"But other than that, my fastball was good. I used my fastball a lot. And I just kind of pitched to contact and got the strikeouts when I needed them."

Walker lowered his ERA from 5.82 to 4.11. He rebounded in a big way after giving up seven runs (six earned) in his previous outing.

"It definitely helps after coming off last game," Walker said. "I only went five and kind of struggled the last game. Having this game right here after that, it definitely helps, definitely kind of shows that I can put that game behind me, bust my butt for the four days and then come out here and turn it around for the next start."

Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi will start Game 2 of the team's Friday double-header, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Odorizzi has posted a 4.29 ERA over 77 2/3 innings. Alex Colome is expected to start Game 1 Friday.

Indians starter Justin Masterson struggled yet again Tuesday, though the offense and bullpen helped bail him out as the game went into extra innings.

Masterson lasted just four innings in the game, as he struggled with his control, throwing just 45 of his 91 pitches for strikes. He walked four batters and struck out six, while allowing five runs on seven hits in his four innings of works en route to a no-decision.

Despite plenty of early help, Masterson was gone from the game long before it was decided, as it went into extras. He remains winless over his last three outings, and is 4-5 with a 5.03 ERA overall. His next start is set for Sunday in Seattle.  

Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson's scoreless innings streak came to an end in a hurry Tuesday, in an 8-6 loss to the Angels.

Gibson, who had tossed seven scoreless innings in his previous three starts, was tagged immediately for five runs in the first inning. He ended up allowing seven runs in just two innings of work, on four hits and two walks, while striking out just one batter on 50 pitches in the loss.

Gibson fell back to .500 with the loss, as his record dropped to 6-6. His ERA also ballooned to 3.92, and he will try to get back on track in his next outing, set for Sunday in Texas.