MLB Player News

Orioles starter Jason Hammel was locked in a pitching duel with Chicago starter John Danks for most of Tuesday night. Hammel eventually flinched first and took the loss.

Hammel, who hasn't won a start since May 27 against the Nationals, gave up a solo homer to Conor Gillaspie in the sixth inning to give Chicago a 2-1 lead. Adam Dunn's two-run shot off him in the seventh made it 5-1. Hammel fell to 7-5 and his ERA is 5.19.

Hammel allowed five earned runs on nine hits and a walk with seven strikeouts over seven frames. He continues to give Baltimore innings, but he's making too many mistakes during his outings. The Orioles have lost his last six consecutive starts. Hammel will look to buck that trend when he starts Sunday at the Yankees.

Rays starter Alex Cobb, who took a line drive off the head and has been out ever since, is making steady progress, the Tampa Bay Times reports Tuesday. 

Cobb played catch from 90 feet Tuesday. He also used the elliptical machine for the first time. He still does not have an established timetable to return to the Rays' rotation. 

The Indians are expected to recall starter Carlos Carrasco from Triple-A Columbus to take the hill for an outing Saturday against Detroit, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Tuesday. The start will come at Progressive Field in Cleveland. 

Carrasco was optioned back to Triple-A following his start last Friday. He received a no-decision against the White Sox, but allowed six runs on 10 hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings.

Carrasco has allowed five runs or more in three of his six big-league starts this season. He has an 8.17 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP in 25 1/3 innings.

Mariners starting pitcher prospect Taijuan Walker won his second straight game Monday for Triple-A Tacoma and ran his scoreless streak to 11 innings since his promotion from Double-A Jackson. Yet, Walker was a very harsh critic about his performance Monday after allowing just two hits and two walks in five scoreless innings, while striking out eight.

"I didn't think I did that great, my stuff wasn't all there tonight," Walker said, per MLB.com. "I just wasn't using my legs. When that happens, I get out of my mechanics and try to use all arm. But I fought through it and got through five innings and gave my team a chance to win."

Walker has allowed just five hits and four walks in two starts since his promotion, while striking out 12. He is 6-7 with a 2.18 ERA and .188 opponents' batting average in 16 starts this season.

"I have an advantage being new. Triple-A hitters haven't seen me pitch too much and I haven't seen them either, so I can just go out and attack them," Walker said. "My catcher [Brandon Bantz] called a great game. I just didn't execute, but it was a great team win overall. The defense made plays, the offense scored runs and the bullpen came in and shut it down."

Astros starter Dallas Keuchel did not have a solid performance on the mound Monday night at home against the Rays. Tampa Bay touched him for five runs over just 4 2/3 innings.

Keuchel took the loss to fall to 4-5, as he surrendered a two-run homer to Ryan Roberts as part of a three-run third-inning. He gave up five earned runs on eight hits and five walks over 108 pitches and struck out four. His ERA is 4.65.

This is two poor outings in a row for Keuchel, who has given up seven runs over his last 7 1/3 innings. He's lost his last two decisions but will get a chance to get back on track when he next starts Saturday at Texas.

Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish put an end to his seven-game winless streak Sunday against the Reds by relying heavily on his fastball. Of his 117 pitches in 6 2/3 scoreless innings, Darvish threw his fastball 47 times, his cutter 22 times and his splitter seven times, according to BrooksBaseball.net.

"I just wanted to shut up all the people who were talking about my fastball," Darvish said through an interpreter in his postgame press conference, per ESPN. "I had really good control and a lot of power so overall it was pretty good."

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander took a step in the right direction Saturday at Tampa Bay toward fixing his command problems. Verlander said he made an adjustment with his shoulder angle, which helped him pitch past five innings for the first time in three starts.

"It’s not major," Verlander said, per the Detroit Free Press. "My fastball command was a lot better. We saw that when I was going to the plate (in recent starts), the angle of my shoulders was very tilted and I couldn’t see where I was throwing the ball."

Manager Jim Leyland also gave Verlander high marks for his performance Saturday.

"I thought he got good as the game went along," Leyland said Sunday. "That’s the best he’s thrown for a while. He was throwing firmer, and I think that helped his curve and changeup."

Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish ended his seven-game winless streak Sunday with 6 2/3 shutout innings in a 3-2 win over the Reds.

Darvish did walk four, but he limited the Reds to four singles. He did not allow a run and was pulled in the top of the seventh after 117 pitches.

Davish struck out eight while improving to 8-3. It was his first win since May 16, though he pitched well in that stretch, posting a 2.56 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 18 walks in 52 2/3 innings.

Darvish's next start is scheduled for Saturday against the Astros. 

Chicago starter Chris Sale had to be close to perfect to come away a winner Sunday at home against the Indians. With Justin Masterson cruising, Sale suffered the tough-luck defeat.

Sale threw 123 pitches over eight innings. He clearly recorded a quality start as he allowed just three earned runs and seven hits with one walk. He even struck out 10 batters. In the end, however, the White Sox just couldn't put up any runs for him.

Sale's record falls to 5-7 with a solid 2.79 ERA. The 24-year-old has clearly been better than his record would suggest. He's lost his last five consecutive decisions and hasn't won since May 17 despite continuously pitching well.

Despite the record, Sale has 114 strikeouts over 106 1/3 innings and is in the top 10 in the American League at mowing down batters. He's also among the best in innings and will look to earn that elusive victory when he next starts Saturday at Tampa Bay.

Indians ace Justin Masterson was as sharp as his name would suggest Sunday during a shutout win in Chicago. In fact, Masterson went the distance as he recorded his second complete-game shutout victory of the season. 

Masterson threw 112 pitches as he went nine shutout innings with just six hits and one walk. He struck out eight batters and improved to 10-6 on the year with the win. His ERA is 3.48. 

The 28-year-old rebounded from his last outing when he lost to Baltimore. That said, he was flirting with a no-hitter in that start before coming undone late. He's had some hiccups, but Masterson has been excellent for the most part on the year. 

He is among the best in the American League in wins and strikeouts and is leading in innings pitched and complete games. Masterson will make his next start Saturday against Detroit.