MLB Player News

White Sox starter Chris Sale allowed four earned runs, tied for the second-highest he's given up in a game this season, Wednesday night in Minnesota. 

Sale allowed eight hits and two walks over five innings in the 7-4 loss. He is 5-6 with a 2.69 ERA. He struck out five but surrendered a three-run homer to Brian Dozier in the second inning. 

Sale is 0-4 in his last four starts, allowing nine runs over 26 1/3 innings with 30 Ks. He does have 91 Ks over 90 1/3 innings. Sale's next start is Tuesday against the Mets. 

Indians ace Justin Masterson outlasted Luis Mendoza and the Royals Wednesday night despite trailing 2-0 through five innings. The Indians rallied for a rin in the fifth and three in the sixth to help Masterson improve to 9-5 with a 3.48 ERA. 

Masterson, who had lost his previous two decisions, allowed the two earned runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out eight in 115 pitches. He has allowed three runs with 18 Ks over his last 13 1/3 innings and has 110 Ks over 108 2/3 innings on the year.

Masterson's next start will likely be Tuesday at Baltimore. 

Orioles pitching prospect Kevin Gausman made his first start with Triple-A Norfolk Wednesday night and it did not go as planned, MASNSports.com reports. 

Gausman allowed seven earned runs and 10 hits over six innings with a walk, four strikeouts and a wild pitch. He allowed a three-run homer in the sixth inning to Indianapolis outfielder Andrew Lambo. 

Manager Buck Showalter said Gausman would need to earn another promotion after he was demoted last week and he certainly didn't look too sharp Wednesday. He was 2-4 with a 3.11 over eight starts with Double-A Bowie before the promotion to the majors and went 0-3 with a 7.66 ERA over five starts with the Orioles. 

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said after Wednesday's game against the Tigers starting pitcher Jason Hammel, who has been battling a stomach virus, will return to the rotation Friday at Toronto. Hammel has not pitched since taking a no-decision June 12 against the Angels.

Astros starting pitcher Jordan Lyles improved to 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA in his last seven starts following Tuesday's 10-1 rout of the Brewers. Lyles hasn't allowed more than two runs in seven straight starts, lowering his ERA from 8.36 to 3.22.

"I'm the same guy," Lyles said, per MLB.com, "just different results. I don't know what to say about me. Just making quality pitches."

Lyles has gone seven innings in three straight starts and four times in his last five appearances.

"I tell you, he's had some impressive outings," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "I was actually even more impressed with him being able to go seven innings, and it didn't look from the dugout like he had his best stuff. That was a great example of the maturity taking place with Jordan Lyles. He grinded his way through seven innings, which is good to see."

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander dropped to 4-3 with a 5.91 ERA in his last eight starts after Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Orioles, in which he allowed five runs in five innings. Like the rest of the baseball world, Verlander is well aware he's not pitching up to standards.

"It’s been a battle so far," Verlander said, per MLB.com. "Obviously, you have that stretch of three or four starts where it was pretty frustrating. You know, I guess I’m always trying to get better, and I feel like I’ve made adjustments to get to that point.

"I feel like I’ve been getting better, better, and better. That’s not necessarily going to work towards a perfect game, but you’re not going to get better every time. There’s ups and downs, peaks and valleys, (Tuesday) was just one of those nights where two long balls hurt me. You know who knows what happens if I’m able to execute those pitches a little bit better. I’m not saying that I regressed, it’s just one of those games. This is Major League Baseball, you’re not going to be perfect every time."

Astros starter Jordan Lyles enjoyed another stellar outing as he picked up his fourth win of the season Tuesday night against the Brewers.

Lyles surrendered a run-scoring single to Scooter Gennett in the third for his only damage of the night. He yielded one run on seven hits while striking out five in seven innings in a 10-1 victory.

Lyles has permitted two runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts. He has lowered his ERA from 6.63 to 3.22 over that span. He is scheduled to make his next start Sunday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Rangers starter Yu Darvish struck out 10 but was hit hard as he suffered his third loss of the season against the A's Tuesday night. Darvish (7-3) surrendered home runs to John Jaso and Brandon Moss. He was charged with five runs -- four earned -- on six hits and two walks in six innings in a 6-2 defeat.

Darvish has allowed seven earned runs over his last three starts (20 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Sunday at St. Louis. He is 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA in six starts away from home.

The Rays called upon Jake Odorizzi to start Tuesday's doubleheader nightcap in Boston. Odorizzi certainly did a fine job before getting optioned back to Triple-A Durham after the game.

He gave up only one run on five hits and no walks over 5 2/3 innings and was losing 1-0 when he left the game. The Rays ended up losing in the bottom of the ninth on a walk-off homer by Jonny Gomes.

Odorizzi struck out two and threw 96 pitches on the outing, as his ERA now at 6.00 after his third start. He's yet to factor into a decision and doesn't have another start scheduled for now.

Tigers starter Justin Verlander suffered his shortest career outing against the Baltimore franchise Tuesday night at home. Baltimore battered Verlander over just five innings as the starter took the loss.

Verlander, who falls to 8-5 with the defeat, allowed five earned runs on seven hits and four walks over his five innings. He needed 102 pitches and struck out five batters. Verlander was hurt in the fourth inning by a J.J. Hardy two-run homer. He gave up a three-run blast to Adam Jones in the fifth.

He had won his previous four consecutive decisions over five solid outings before losing Tuesday. He has 106 strikeouts over 92 innings and should be able to bounce right back on Sunday against Boston.