MLB Player News

Rays pitcher Alex Cobb will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, according to the Tampa Bay Times. 

Cobb will pitch for the Class A Stone Crabs. He's expected to make at least two rehab starts at Class A. He'll likely be limited to four innings, or 60 pitches during his first start. Cobb had a 3.01 ERA in 83 2/3 innings prior to being hit in the head with a line drive. He has not pitched in the majors since June 15. 

Houston starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel took a no-decision despite pitching well enough to win Monday night at home against the Oakland A's. Keuchel gave up just one run but watched as his bullpen washed his lead away.

Keuchel gave up just a sacrifice fly to center over six solid innings before the Astros' bullpen coughed up a two-run lead. He allowed five hits, walked four and struck out five over 88 pitches. Keuchel's ERA is now at 4.42 on the season.

The 25-year-old starter hasn't won a game since June 16 and his record remains 4-5 for the Astros. He'll make his next starting appearance Saturday at Toronto.

White Sox starter Chris Sale went eight innings Monday night but lost to Max Scherzer and the Tigers.

Sale is 6-9 with a 2.81 ERA as the All-Star surrendered four runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and three walks. He struck out 11 over 119 pitches.

Despite his ERA and a WHIP around 1.00, Sale is 1-7 over his last nine starts. His next start is Saturday against the Royals.

Texas starter Yu Darvish came off the disabled list to start against the Yankees Monday night from Arlington. He pitched the Rangers to a 3-0 victory.

Darvish went 6 1/3 innings and threw 90 pitches as he allowed two hits and two walks to improve to 9-4 with a 2.86 ERA. Darvish struck out four.

It was his first start since July 6 when he lost to the Astros. Darvish will likely slowly be worked back to full strength on the mound. His next scheduled start should come Saturday at Cleveland.

Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson will work on his efficiency during the second half, according to the Pioneer Press. 

The Twins stress a "two out of three" approach, which focuses on pitchers being ahead in the count three pitches into an at-bat. Getting ahead of the hitter not only increases Gibson's chances at success, but it also allows him to go deeper into games.

"Your pitch count is going to be pretty low, probably," Gibson said, describing the approach. "If they're putting the ball in play in three pitches or less or you're getting to two strikes in three pitches or less, you're probably controlling the at-bat for the most part."

Gibson has a 6.45 ERA in four starts in the majors. 

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander found a flaw while watching tape, and is working to correct it, according to the Detroit Free Press. 

Verlander and pitching coach Jeff Jones found the issue, but would not divulge what Verlander would attempt to fix. They said they compared video of Verlander this season with starts from last year. Verlander will show whether he's figured things out during his start against the White Sox Thursday.

Verlander has a 3.69 ERA in 131 2/3 innings. 

Rangers starter Martin Perez (3-3) suffered his third loss Sunday night against the Orioles. The left-hander allowed four runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out five over 6 1/3 innings of a 4-2 defeat.

Perez has allowed 11 earned runs over his past three starts (18 innings). He's scheduled to make his next start Friday at Cleveland. He's 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts away from home.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana allowed one run to earn his fifth win Sunday afternoon against the Braves.

Quintana (5-2) yielded a run-scoring single to Evan Gattis in the fifth inning. The left-hander gave up nine hits and three walks while striking out four over 5 2/3 innings of a 3-1 win.

Quintana has allowed seven earned runs over his past four starts (26 2/3 innings). He's scheduled to make his next start Friday at home against the Royals. He has a 4.35 ERA in two starts against Kansas City this season.

Astros starting pitcher Jordan Lyles had his worst start of the season and suffered the loss in his first start back from the All-Star break Sunday against the Mariners.

Lyles (4-4) gave up 10 runs -- nine earned -- on eight hits and two walks while striking out three over four innings of a 12-5 loss.

Lyles has allowed 24 earned runs over his past five starts (26 innings). He's scheduled to make his next start Friday at Toronto. He's 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA in six road starts.

Indians starting pitcher Justin Masterson took a no-hitter into the seventh inning of Sunday's 7-1 victory over the Twins. Masterson (11-7) faced the minimum through six innings, allowing only a hit batter, when Brian Dozier led off the seventh with a broken-bat blooper to center field that dunked in under the glove of a sliding Drew Stubbs for a double.

Masterson finished the seventh before being pulled after 91 pitches for right-hander C.C. Lee. Masterson, selected to his first All-Star team this year, was charged with an earned run on one hit and struck out eight in his first victory since June 30 against the White Sox. He lowered his ERA to 3.60.

Masterson is expected to pitch Saturday against the Rangers, but he could be moved to Friday if Corey Kluber (hip) can't start.