MLB Player News

Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish was not at his best on Friday, but came way with the win in his team's 6-4 victory over Cleveland. The right-hander yielded four runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out eight over seven inning of work, improving to 6-2 on the year.

Darvish allowed nine hits in a win for the first time since September of 2012. He owns a 2.36 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP through his first 11 starts (76 1/3 innings). He will make his next start Wednesday at home against Miami.

Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman looked sharp on Friday against the Cardinals, improving to 3-0 on the year. The right-hander yielded one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings of a 3-1 victory.

Over his last two starts covering 12 innings, Stroman has allowed two earned runs. He owns a 5.40 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP over 18 1/3 innings. He will look to keep rolling Wednesday at home against Minnesota.

Tigers starter Drew Smyly turned in a quality start on Friday against the Red Sox, scattering two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and one walk while striking out four in six innings of a 6-2 victory.

Smyly improved to 3-4 on the year. Over his last two starts covering 10 innings, Smyly has allowed four earned runs. He owns a 3.81 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP over 54 1/3 innings. He will look to keep things rolling Wednesday against the White Sox in Chicago.

I touched on it Thursday, but just to follow up now that it's official, Kevin Gausman's return to the Orioles rotation Saturday isn't a rush-to-the-waiver-wire type of event.

His numbers between the majors and minors the last two years suggest he's still very much a work in progress. Only once this season has he gone even six innings in nine starts at Triple-A Norfolk, and he ran out of steam in the fifth inning in his spot start against the Tigers earlier this season, allowing all five of his earned runs then.

He has a hard fastball and plenty of strikeout potential, but his lack of an effective third pitch has sabotaged him so far in the majors. It's why he was so much more effective in 15 relief appearances than five starts last year.

Maybe he'll have a breakthrough and become the ace the Orioles envision him being this time around, but if you're already feeling the roster crunch, no need to force the issue with him.

The Orioles have announced that right-hander Kevin Gausman will start Saturday against Oakland. He was recalled Friday due to an injury that will likely send Miguel Gonzalez to the disabled list.

Lloyd McClendon has announced that Mariners pitching prospect Taijuan Walker will make another rehab start Monday for Triple-A Tacoma.

Walker has been sidelined all season with a shoulder injury. There is no guarantee that he will assume a spot in the starting rotation upon his return to Seattle. He has been hit hard in two rehab outings.

Mariners pitching prospect James Paxton is set to resume a throwing program Monday after losing nearly the whole season to a shoulder injury. His rehab has already been pushed back due to inflammation after one rehab start.

Paxton has won all five of his decisions with Seattle in two seasons and owns a 1.75 career ERA.

The Orioles have apparently recalled premier pitching prospect Kevin Gausman from Triple-A Norfolk. He has joined the team, MASNsports.com has reported.

The 23-year-old Gausman, who could start Saturday against Oakland, struggled in his first stints with Baltimore in 2013 and 2014. He was rocked for five earned runs on six hits in four innings against Detroit in his lone outing this season.

Rays starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi continued to struggle in a Thursday afternoon loss to the Marlins, dropping to 2-6 on the year. The right-hander coughed up four runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out eight over five innings.

Over his last two starts covering 8 1/3 innings, Odorizzi has allowed nine earned runs. He has not won a decision since May 14 in Seattle. He will look to get back on track Tuesday at home against St. Louis.

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander continued to struggle on Thursday, dropping to 6-5 on the year, following a 7-3 home defeat to the Blue Jays. The right-hander coughed up six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits and four walks while striking out four in seven innings of work.

Home runs to Brett Lawrie and Juan Francisco in the sixth inning proved to be the big blow.

Verlander has permitted five-plus earned runs in four of his last five starts. He is 2-3 with a 6.75 ERA over that five-start stretch. He will look to get back on track Tuesday against the White Sox in Chicago.