MLB Player News

Mariners pitcher James Paxton made it through a bullpen session without issue Friday, a good first step in his return from a lat injury.

Paxton threw 25 pitches off the mound for the first time since early April, and reported no setbacks. He told MLB.com he felt great, and will throw 40 pitches in his next session, Sunday. 

The Astros announced their upcoming rotation plans Friday, after leaving their probable pitchers blank past this weekend's series in Baltimore.

The Houston Chronicle reports Brad Peacock will take his scheduled turn Monday against the Rangers and will be followed by Dallas Keuchel Tuesday, before the rotation turns over again.  

Dallas Keuchel averaged 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings over his minor-league career and 4.9 per nine innings in 2012, when he last played extensively there, which is part of the reason I ignored him up until now. He had stretches last year when he looked pretty good as well, but he still finished with a 5.15 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. He wouldn't keep it up.

Except he has now for a full seven starts, the latest coming against a red-hot Tigers lineup. Considering his 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.3 walks per nine innings, nothing about his 3.68 ERA or 1.18 WHIP so far strikes me as unsustainable. Which leads me to believe, for reasons beyond my understanding, he's simply gotten better. Last year, he showed glimpses of it. This year, he's arrived.

It's not another Tom Koehler situation where all the supporting numbers point to regression in the near future. The results are good, and the peripherals are better. Now, we could argue about how valuable an Astros pitcher with a 3.68 ERA and 1.18 WHIP is in today's game, where quality pitchers abound, but in most of my mixed leagues, I could find someone to drop for him.

Not Josh Beckett or Tyler Skaggs, probably, but Dan Straily? Tim Lincecum? Koehler himself? Sure.

Indians ace Justin Masterson still can't find the mid-90s velocity that helped him thrive in 2013, but he has learned to adapt. Another strong performance Thursday proved it despite a fastball that peaked at around 90 mph.

Masterson threw five one-hit innings against Minnesota before weakening, but he finished having yielded just two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings and got the win. He has four quality starts in his last five and owns an ERA just under 3.00 during that stretch with 33 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings.

"I'm not letting the velocity get in the way," Masterson told MLB.com. "It will come when it's supposed to come, if it's going to come. And [in the meantime], we'll just pitch and make it work."

Masterson is set for free agency after this season, though both sides have left open the possibility he will sign before he reaches that point.

Rays right-hander Alex Cobb is scheduled for a 45-pitch simulated game Friday before progressing to a four-inning, 60-pitch stint Monday as part of his recovery from an oblique injury, per the Tampa Bay Times.

If all goes well, Cobb would then embark on a minor league rehab assignment. The Rays are targeting a late May return for Cobb.

The Mariners have pitcher James Paxton (lat) scheduled for a bullpen session on Friday and pitcher Taijuan Walker (shoulder) scheduled for one on Sunday, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale is likely to get a more comprehensive rehab plan in the coming days, assuming he makes it through one more bullpen session without issue.

Sale, who is dealing with a strained flexor tendon, will throw one more bullpen session Saturday, according to CSNChicago.com. If he makes it through that without incident, the team is likely to map out a rehab assignment plan for him after that. 

Tigers pitcher Drew Smyly was tagged for his second loss Thursday.

Smyly looked strong early, getting through the first four innings without any major issues. He began to unravel in the fifth. Smyly allowed a solo shot to George Springer, but was able to record two outs. At that point, he allowed a walk, a single and a double to the next three Astro hitters. The double drove in two more runs. Smyly managed to escape the inning following a mound visit, but didn't last much longer on the day.

After allowing a single and walk to two consecutive batters in the sixth, Smyly's day was over. He allowed three runs on on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Smyly struck out two and walked three during the appearance. The loss dropped him to 2-2. Smyly's next start will come against the Orioles. 

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel tossed a gem against the Tigers Thursday.

Keuchel ran into trouble just twice against the powerful Tigers' lineup. Nick Castellanos clubbed an RBI double in the second inning, and Victor Martinez managed a solo shot in the fourth. In the first, third, fifth and sixth innings, Keuchel faced the minimum amount of hitters. 

Keuchel ran into some trouble in the seventh, allowing two base-runners, but managed to strike out Torii Hunter to get out of the inning. After giving up a single with two outs in the eighth, Keuchel was replaced by Anthony Bass.

Keuchel gave up two runs on six hits over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out seven hitters and did not issue any walks. The win brought Keuchel's record to 3-2. His next start will come against the Rangers.

Indians sidearming ace Justin Masterson cruised for five innings Thursday before falling apart, but he lasted long enough to earn his second straight win.

Masterson held Minnesota to just one hit in and 5 2/3 innings before yielding a run in the sixth and two-run double to Danny Santana in the seventh. He finishing having surrendered four earned - two earned - on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

The right-hander has given up 11 earned runs in his last 33 1/3 innings in lowering his ERA to 3.86. He will try to take his momentum and run with it next Wednesday in Toronto.