MLB Player News

Indians pitcher Justin Masterson twirled a gem on Monday against the Red Sox, scattering three hits in seven scoreless innings to improve to 3-4 on the season.

Masterson struck out 10 and walked four, improving his ERA to 5.21 to 4.72. Of his 105 pitches, 67 were strikes. At one point he threw 25 straight strikes and retried eight in a row before issuing a ball and a single to David Ortiz in the sixth inning.

Following the 3-2 home win, Masterson will look to keep things rolling Sunday at Texas.

The single-season record for fewest hits per nine innings for a pitcher with at least 150 innings is 5.3, set by Nolan Ryan in 1972. Right now, Chris Sale is at 3.8.

He's allowed just 19 hits in 45 1/3 innings this season and four (four!) in his last four starts.

Granted, one of those starts was shortened by rain, but still, working backward, that's two hits in nine innings, no hits in three innings, one hit in six innings and one hit in seven innings. And he spent time on the DL with an elbow injury during part of that stretch.

I don't have much to add in terms of Fantasy analysis. I just know we rarely get a chance to talk about players of Sale's caliber and wanted to make sure numbers like those got the attention they deserve. Sale is awesome -- everybody knows that -- but he may be even better than some of us realized.

I can think of only five starting pitchers I'd take over him in Fantasy right now: Clayton Kershaw, Adam Wainwright, Yu Darvish, Max Scherzer and Felix Hernandez.

Marcus Stroman didn't make a good impression in five relief appearances earlier this season, allowing four earned runs in each of his final two before returning to Triple-A Buffalo.

So perhaps his start Saturday, the first of his big-league career, caught Fantasy owners by surprise. In six innings, he allowed just one run on five hits with no walks and six strikeouts.

Given Stroman's stuff and his pedigree, though, it really shouldn't. In the first 20 starts of his professional career at Double-A New Hampshire last year, he went 9-5 with 3.30 ERA and 1.13 WHIP -- good enough numbers in their own right, but his strikeout-to-walk ratio showed the full extent of his dominance. He averaged 10.4 strikeouts compared to 2.2 walks per nine innings.

And he was just as effective in seven starts at Triple-A Buffalo this year. Combined with Saturday's start, it's enough to suggest he may not have been completely comfortable breaking into the big leagues in an unfamiliar role. It's not like they eased him into it or anything. He went from suddenly starting to suddenly relieving.

Considering the Blue Jays sent down a surprisingly effective Liam Hendriks to clear a rotation spot for Stroman, they must think the 23-year-old is ready. Right now, he has the perfect combination of job security and upside, making him a sleeper in all formats.

Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker will make a rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Tacoma, reports The Tacoma News Tribune. He's getting closer to making his season debut following a shoulder injury.

Orioles prospect Kevin Gausman is 1-2 with a 2.93 ERA in his past three starts at Triple A-Norfolk as he states his case to return to the major-league rotation, reports the Baltimore Sun. Gausman made one start in the majors this year, allowing five earned runs in four innings May 14 against the Tigers.

The Angels optioned pitcher Jarrett Grube to Triple-A Salt Lake following Sunday's 6-3 loss to the A's in Oakland, the team announced. Grube allowed one run in two-thirds of an inning while in the majors.

Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray (6-1) bounced back with a win in a quality start, scattering three earned runs on seven hits and three walk in 6 2/3 innings while striking out five in his team's 6-3 victory over the Angels on Sunday.

Over his last four starts covering 26 2/3 innings, Gray has permitted nine earned runs. He owns a 2.45 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP through his first 12 starts (80 2/3 innings). He will look to keep rolling Saturday at Baltimore.

Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish dominated the Nationals on Sunday, matching a season high with 12 strikeouts in a shutout to improve to 5-2 on the year.

Darvish scattered five hits in eight shutout frames. He walked two and improved his ERA to 2.08 on the year following Sunday's gem. Of his 102 pitches, 70 were strikes.

Over his four starts covering 31 2/3 innings, Darvish has allowed only four earned runs while recording 41 over that span. He will make his next start Saturday at home against Cleveland.

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale tossed a complete game shutout against the Padres Sunday.

Sale ran into trouble in the fifth. He allowed a leadoff solo shot to Chase Headley, and immediately followed that up with a single. Sale worked out of the inning without giving up any other runs. That was all he gave up during the start. Sale faced just one batter over the minimum during the performance. He allowed one run on two hits over nine innings. Sale did not issue a walk and struck out nine. The win brings him to 5-0.

Sale's next start is scheduled to come against the Angels. 

Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman will start Friday against the Cardinals.

Stroman earned himself another start after Saturday's performance. The club optioned Liam Hendriks to the minors following Sunday's game, freeing up a rotation spot for Stroman. In 12 1/3 innings, Stroman has posted a 7.30 ERA.