MLB Player News

Cleveland starter Justin Masterson threw a 33-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and "looked good," MLB.com reports. Masterson is expected to throw a simulated game Monday or Tuesday which will determine his availability for the season's final week.

Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish earned his first win since Aug. 12 Thursday but walked six batters for the second time in his last four starts in his team's 8-2 win over the Rays. Darvish surrendered two earned runs on five hits and six walks while striking out four in five innings to move to 13-9.

Darvish also struck out just four batters while giving up five hits in his last six-walk outing earlier in September, but he managed to allow just two earned runs this time around after giving up five in that Sept. 4 game. He takes a 2.81 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 260:74 K:BB ratio into Tuesday's start against the Astros.

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel surrendered just one earned run on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven in seven innings Thursday but did not factor into the decision in his team's 2-1 loss to the Indians.

Keuchel pitched well enough to win but was denied the "W," one start after earning a win despite giving up six earned runs but recording a win. He takes a 6-9 record, 4.99 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 118:49 K:BB ratio into Wednesday's start against the Rangers.

Mariners pitcher James Paxton labored through five innings Thursday against the Tigers.

Paxton gave up three runs on five hits. He walked four batters and got three strikeouts. Paxton's ERA is 2.12 following the loss. 

Tigers starter Justin Verlander recorded a quality start Wednesday night at home against Seattle. Unfortunately, Hisashi Iwakuma was even better for the Mariners.

Verlander suffered the losing decision to fall to 13-12 on the season as he gave up three earned runs on four base hits -- including a Justin Smoak solo homer -- and three walks over seven innings. He threw 124 pitches and struck out six batters along the way. His ERA is now at 3.66.

The 30-year-old continues to have a sub-par season for his standards. He's gone just 1-4 over his last five decisions, though the Tigers continue to play winning baseball. Verlander next starts for Detroit on Monday at Minnesota.

Indians starter Justin Masterson completed long toss up to 120 feet Wednesday and also completed an aggressive flat-ground side session, MLB.com reports. Masterson is slated to throw off a mound on Friday. 

Masterson is working his way back from a strained left oblique muscle. He is 14-10 with a 3.52 ERA on the year for the Tribe. 

Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray turned in another impressive outing but did not receive enough run support as he settled for a no-decision Tuesday night against the Angels. The right-hander yielded one run on five hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings pitched.

Gray has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last four starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Sunday at home against the Twins. He allowed allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks over five innings in his previous start against Minnesota on Sept. 11.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana (8-6) collected his eighth win of the season Tuesday night against the Twins. The left-hander permitted one run on eight hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings of a 4-3 victory.

Quintana has allowed only one run over his last 13 innings pitched. He is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday at Cleveland. He is 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA in four starts against the Indians this season.

Astros starter Jordan Lyles (7-8) took a step back as he failed to make it past the fourth inning in a loss to the Reds Tuesday night. The right-hander allowed nine runs -- eight earned -- on nine hits and three walks over 3 1/3 innings of a 10-0 defeat.

Lyles has allowed 17 earned runs over his last 15 2/3 innings of work. He will look to bounce back Monday at Texas. He was touched up for eight runs over four innings in his previous start against the Rangers on May 12.

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber was not at his best as he failed to factor into the decision Tuesday night against the Royals. The right-hander permitted three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two over 4 2/3 innings of a 5-3 victory.

Kluber has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last four starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Sunday at home against Houston. He tossed four scoreless innings over his last start against Houston on April 20.