MLB Player News

After having Tuesday's game postponed due to rain, the Tigers will start Tuesday's scheduled starter Justin Verlander Wednesday and Max Scherzer Thursday. With the new alignment, Drew Smyly will be skipped this turn through the rotation.

Although Mariners pitcher James Paxton has begun to play catch, he won't begin throwing off mound "anytime soon," the Tacoma News-Tribune reports.

Paxton hit the disabled list after just two April starts with a lat injury. He remains without a clear timetable to rejoin the Mariners.

After the team's game against the Tigers was rained out Tuesday, the White Sox have altered their rotation for the remainder of the week, with Tuesday's scheduled starter John Danks pitching Wednesday.

Andre Rienzo will have his scheduled start against the Tigers skipped, and Chris Sale will be on the mound for Thursday's series finale. Jose Quintana, Hector Noesi and Rienzo will face the Royals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Tuesday's game between the White Sox and Tigers has been postponed due to rain.

No makeup date has been set for the postponed game, but it won't come during the current series. The White Sox and Tigers were due to send John Danks and Justin Verlander to the hill, respectively. It's possible both of Tuesday's scheduled starters will be pushed back one day to Wednesday.

The Mariners activated pitcher Taijuan Walker (shoulder) from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Tacoma. Walker made his third rehab start Monday, giving up two runs over five innings.

Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker (shoulder) was "decent" in his third rehab start Monday for Triple-A Tacoma, reports the Seattle Times. He pitched five innings, giving up two runs on four hits with a walk and a hit by pitch. Both runs scored on solo homers.

The paper said it's unclear if Walker did enough to displace Erasmo Ramirez from the rotation.

Twins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco was hit hard again on Monday against the Blue Jays in Toronto, but escaped his outing with a no-decision. The right-hander permitted four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six over 5 2/3 innings of a 5-4 defeat.

Over his last two starts covering 12 2/3 innings, Nolasco has yielded eight earned runs. He owns a 5.70 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP through 13 starts (79 innings). He will make his next start Sunday at Detroit.

Equipped with a 98 mph fastball and boasting the pedigree of a top draft pick, Kevin Gausman is as talented as any pitcher who will come up to the big leagues this year. And if you want to own him for no other reason than that, I wouldn't fault you for it.

But even after his gem against the Athletics Saturday, I have my doubts about his major-league readiness.

His problem is more or less the same as Tony Cingrani's: He's lacking a third pitch. And when he's extended deep into games, it shows. That's why he dominated the Tigers for four innings in his first start this year before falling apart in the fifth. It's also why he was so much more effective as a reliever than a starter during his time in the majors last year.

And judging by how manager Buck Showalter described Saturday's start, saying Gausman "got enough breaking balls over to show a third pitch," the 23-year-old's arsenal is still a work in progress.

Maybe his stuff will be good enough to minimize his growing pains, but based on what we've seen from him so far in his career, I have my doubts.

Here's what we know: So far as a starting pitcher, Marcus Stroman has a 1.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He followed up his first gem May 31 with another quality start Sunday against the Cardinals. Given his minor-league track record -- in particular, his 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.4 walks per nine innings -- what he's done in those two starts is in no way a surprise.

Here's what we don't know: Why he struggled so much in five relief appearances prior to those two starts, allowing four earned runs in each of his last two to earn a brief trip back to the minors.

He may have simply been unaccustomed to the role. The Blue Jays thrust him into it without transitioning him at Triple-A first, forcing him to adjust on the fly. And adjusting on the fly while facing major-league hitters for the first time is a recipe for disaster.

Stroman's overall numbers are still inflated from his time in the bullpen, but given his upside, I say he's earned his place on mixed-league rosters with his first two starts. After all, that's the first we've seen of him in his intended role.

Mariners pitcher James Paxton (strained lat muscle) is just starting to throw again, "meaning he's likely at least several weeks from rejoining the Mariners if all goes well," reports MLB.com. "He's throwing, progressing, getting better," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "We'll get an update when we get home and see where he is."

Paxton was transferred to the 60-day DL, but it's merely a procedural move; he's already been out 60 days so he can return when ready.