MLB Player News

Rays starter Alex Cobb is not expected to travel with the club to Houston, where Tampa begins a four-game road series with the Astros Monday, MLB.com reports. Cobb will throw in Florida. 

Cobb began playing catch Friday for the first time since taking a line drive off the head. He's still waiting for headaches to subside and the fluid in his inner ear to drain. That said, Cobb said his condition is definitely improving a little each day. 

"The aggravating thing is I can feel good most of the day and once it gets to a couple positions I put my head in, it sets back a little bit," Cobb said Sunday. "There's no regression, it's just a reminder that I still have some fluid built up and my equilibrium is off a little bit."

He still does not have an established timetable to return to the Rays' rotation. 

Tigers starter Justin Verlander walked four for the second time in three starts and received a no-decision Saturday night against the Rays.

Verlander was unable to hang on to a three-run lead as he surrendered a solo home run to Luke Scott in the eighth to tie the game. The right-hander yielded three runs -- two earned -- on nine hits and four walks while striking out four over eight innings in a 4-3 loss in extras.

Verlander has not been himself as of late, allowing 11 runs combined over his last three starts (18 innings). He is 8-5 with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP through his first 17 starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Thursday at Toronto. He is 5-2 with a 3.46 ERA in nine starts away from Comerica Park.

Twins pitching prospect Kyle Gibson made his major-league debut Saturday, and he lived up to the hype in a 6-2 win over the Royals.

Gibson tossed six strong innings in the outing, earning his first major-league win easily thanks to some early run support. Gibson set the Royals down with ease in the top of the first, and by the time he took the mound again he had a 5-0 lead.

Gibson allowed two runs in six innings of work, on eight hits and no walks. He threw 64 of of 91 pitches for strikes in the outing. 

Gibson is set to make his next start Thursday against the Yankees.

Astros starting pitcher Jordan Lyles endured another rough outing as he lost back-to-back starts for the first time this season Saturday afternoon against the Angels.

Lyles (4-3) surrendered a two-run single to Alberto Callaspo and a two-run single to Erick Aybar in the fourth inning for his only damage of the day. The right-hander yielded four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one over four innings in a 7-2 defeat.

Lyles has allowed 12 runs -- nine earned -- combined over his last two starts (nine innings), after starting the season 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA over his first nine starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Thursday at home against Tampa Bay.

The Indians optioned Carlos Carrasco back to Triple-A Columbus following his start Friday. Carrasco received a no-decision but was knocked around by the White Sox.

He surrendered six runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out three in 5 2/3 innings pitched. 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.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana endured a rough outing but escaped with a no-decision in Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader against the Indians.

Quintana ran into trouble early on as he surrendered four runs in the opening frame. He settled down after a rough first inning but gave up a solo home run to Mark Reynolds in the sixth before his night was over. The left-hander yielded five runs -- four earned -- on five hits and three walks while striking out three over six innings pitched.

Quintana has not won a decision since May 21. He is scheduled to make his next start Thursday at home against the Orioles. He is 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA in eight starts at U.S. Cellular Field.

Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco was knocked around as he received a no-decision in Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader against the White Sox. Carrasco, who was called up from the minors before the game, surrendered six runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out three in 5 2/3 innings pitched.

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.

Rays pitcher Alex Cobb played catch Friday for the first time since suffering a scary head injury June 15 against Kansas City.

Cobb told MLB.com he still had a slight headache, but felt fine otherwise. The right-hander remains hopeful of returning before the season ends.

"It's great," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Anytime I walk by him, he tells me he's having a good day and that's good to hear. We'll just take our time with him and follow his lead. With guys that have been hurt like that, I don't like to consistently ask them how they're feeling. I avoid that."

Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez shined yet again Friday against the Reds, with six-plus shutout innings for his second win in a row.

Perez limited the Reds to just six singles in 6 2/3 innings, and he did not issue a walk until he faced Chris Heisey with runners on first and second and two outs in the seventh inning. His outing ended there, with reliever Jason Frasor working out of a bases-loaded jam to keep Perez's shutout intact.

Perez racked up 13 of his 20 outs via the groundball, while striking out three. He tossed 52 of 79 pitches for strikes en route to a 4-0 win. Perez is now 4-0 with a 2.37 ERA in three starts this season, though he has just eight strikeouts in 19 innings.

Perez will try to extend his winning streak to three in his next start, Thursday against the Mariners. 

Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman came out of the bullpen and earned his first win of his career Friday night against the Yankees.

Gausman (1-3) followed for starter T.J. McFarland in the third inning. He pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, yielding just three hits while striking out four in a 4-3 win. The right-hander lowered his ERA from 7.66 to 6.52 following Friday's win.