MLB Player News

Struggling Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander expressed both frustration and hopefulness after his latest setback, a loss Wednesday in which he gave up seven runs.

"God, it's really frustrating," he told CSNChicago.com. "I feel like I'm right there, and there's been a bunch of games where I feel like it's been right there and then a couple of walks and it turns in to a big inning. But the stuff is there, just execute a little better then repeat."

Verlander has seen his ERA rise nearly two full points in his last five starts.

The surprising slide of one-time Tigers ace Justin Verlander continued Wednesday against the White Sox.

Verlander failed to record a quality start for the fifth time in his last six outings despite giving up only a solo home run to Jose Abreu in the first five innings. He collapsed in the sixth, giving up five singles and two walks as Chicago exploded for seven runs, all of which fell onto his ledger. He finished with four walks and six strikeouts.

The right-hander has now given up 31 runs on 49 hits and 18 walks in his last 37 2/3 innings as his record has evened at 6-6 and his ERA has skyrocketed from 2.67 to 4.61.

Verlander will seek to reverse his fortunes Monday against Kansas City.

Rangers ace Yu Darvish had achieved just about everything this season aside from a complete-game shutout. And Wednesday he did that as well.

Darvish yielded just six hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts in blanking Miami. He has recorded double-digit strikeout totals in four of his last six starts and has seven quality starts in a row. His 2.11 ERA ranks third in the American League among starters.

He now owns a 7-2 record. He will try to make it 8-2 when he pitches Tuesday night in Oakland.

Astros ace Dallas Keuchel continued to pitch like an all-star Wednesday against Arizona. He lowered his ERA to a sparkling 2.38 and raised his record to 8-3 with eight brilliant innings.

Keuchel yielded just one run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts. His lone mistake was slugged over the fence by Aaron Hill in the fourth inning.

The left-hander owns six consecutive quality starts. He will try to make it seven Tuesday in Washington.

The Tuesday rainout has forced the Tigers to alter their rotation for the weekend series against the Twins. Drew Smyly has been pushed back to Friday with Anibal Sanchez set to start Saturday.

You may not be able to stash him in an "injured" spot anymore now that he's been removed from the DL and optioned to the minors, but Taijuan Walker is still worth stashing in most Fantasy leagues. In fact, I'd say he's the most stashable prospect in baseball right now.

Let's not forgot the debate over "best pitching prospect" coming into the season came down to him and Archie Bradley, and of the two, he's still the closer to breaking through even with this demotion. Bradley is, of course, still working his way back from an elbow injury while Walker already has five starts under his belt.

Granted, not all of those starts were good. His last three -- the only three at Triple-A, in fact -- are probably what convinced the Mariners to hold off on him now, but considering he was expected to claim a rotation spot before hurting his shoulder this spring, it won't take much for him to win them over. Maybe just one great start with only Erasmo Ramirez standing in his way.

He looked plenty prepared for the role in three starts last September, making him less of a mystery than Andrew Heaney. With hitters like Gregory Polanco, Oscar Taveras and Jon Singleton already up, there really isn't prospect more deserving of a roster spot. If any minor-leaguer is worth stashing in your league, it's Walker.

Judging by his 2-7 record, 4.85 ERA and 1.42 WHIP this season, Jake Odorizzi looks every bit like a pitcher you don't want in Fantasy.

But what those numbers conceal is a 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings in his last seven starts. Make those seven his first seven, and he's owned in more than twice as many leagues as he is right now.

Of course, his most recent start Tuesday against the Cardinals helped bring down those numbers a good bit. No doubt, a steadier stretch would have attracted more attention in Fantasy. But the point is the good starts for Odorizzi have been frequent enough that he deserves to be on your radar in mixed leagues despite the 2-7 record.

Obviously, he'll have to win at a better rate to contribute anything worthwhile, but I suspect we've seen the worst of the Rays so far. Doesn't mean you have to add him just yet, but keep an eye on him.

Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman lost for the first time in his career Wednesday, as he fell to the Twins, 7-2.

Despite the ugly final score, Stroman still notched his third quality start in as many trips to the mound, as he allowed three runs in six innings. He did so despite scattering nine hits In his six innings of work, thanks to four strikeouts and no walks on 96 pitches.

Stroman is 3-1 on the season, and 2-1 win since becoming a starter. He has allowed just five runs in 18 innings over his three starts, and will try to keep his solid run up when he takes on the Yankees Tuesday. 

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber was saddled with a loss Tuesday, giving up six runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks in five innings while striking out five in his team's 9-5 loss to the Royals.

Kluber (6-4) was knocked around for four runs in the third inning and gave up another two on a fifth-inning home run. His loss was the first since April 29. Kluber owns a 3.35 ERA and 104:22 K:BB ratio in 91 1/3 innings. He's scheduled to face the Red Sox Sunday.

Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi was hung with a loss Tuesday, giving up just one earned run on three hits and one walk in 7 1/3 innings while striking out five in his team's 1-0 defeat against the Cardinals.

Odorizzi (2-7) took his third straight loss Tuesday but deserved better, surrendering only a sixth-inning solo home run but getting outdueled by Adam Wainwright. Odorizzi owns a 4.85 ERA and 76:26 K:BB ratio in 65 innings. He's scheduled to face the Orioles Monday.