MLB Player News

Orioles starter Kevin Gausman, who was recently demoted but expected back in the major league rotation shortly, had his Triple-A debut with Norfolk rained out Tuesday, MLB.com reports. 

He'll make his Triple-A debut Wednesday unless something changes and he's summoned by the big club. 

Tigers reliever Drew Smyly, who earned a three-inning save Monday against the Orioles, has pitched well in different bullpen roles. That said, Smyly is still a future starter for the Tigers, the Detroit News reports. 

For now, however, Detroit is very happy with the production Smyly is giving them out of the bullpen.

"To be honest with you," said manager Jim Leyland, "this is a kind of nice year for Smyly. He’s getting another year under his belt without a lot of pressure. It hasn’t been perfect, by any means, but I think it’s been pretty good."

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that Jason Hammel (illness) and Miguel Gonzalez (paternity leave) will likely start Friday and Saturday, MLB.com reports. The order is not set in stone, but Gonzalez is currently scheduled for Saturday's game at Toronto. 

Hammel has been pushed back due to a stomach illness. He was originally expected to pitch Monday against Detroit and has already been pushed back twice. Gonzalez left the team late Monday night to go on paternity leave. 

Going back as far as Class A ball, Corey Kluber has put up some nice strikeout-to-walk ratios, but they didn't always translate into low ERAs. As Chris Cwik pointed out in an analysis earlier this month, a high BABIP rate has put a damper on Kluber's surface stats for the Indians, but in just over a month's time, Kluber has shaved more than two runs off his ERA.

Not only has Kluber been getting more outs on balls in play, compiling a .303 BABIP over his last seven starts, but overall this season, he has been stranding more of his baserunners. Kluber has a long history of subpar strand rates (established mostly in the minors), but this year his rate is a very normal-looking 73 percent.

Low strand rates are usually signs of better luck to come, but some pitchers, like Rick Porcello and Jeff Francis, have been mired in them for years. If Kluber can stay on his current course and keep a decent proportion of his runners from scoring, he is going to be able to help owners in standard mixed leagues over the rest of this season.

Rays pitcher Alex Cobb still has no timetable, according to the Tampa Bay Times. 

Rays manager Joe Maddon spoke to Cobb recently, and said the pitcher was doing better. But admitted there's still no timetable for Cobb's recovery. Maddon added that he couldn't say for sure whether Cobb would pitch again this year. 

Cobb has a 3.01 ERA and a 3.54 FIP in 83 2/3 innings.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he'll mix-and-match his ninth-inning reliever, according to the Detroit Free Press. 

Drew Smyly saved Monday's game, but he shouldn't be viewed as the full-time closer. Leyland admitted he would use Jose Valverde, Phil Coke and Joaquin Benoit in the role depending on the game situation. He reiterated that Rick Porcello would not be used in the role. 

The Tigers' bullpen is responsible for nine blown saves this season. 

White Sox starter Jose Quintana was disappointing Monday night at Houston. Quintana needed 104 pitches to go just 4 2/3 innings and didn't qualify for a victory, despite the Sox winning 4-2.

Chicago took a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning, but Quintana already was gone by that time and took a no-decision. He gave up just two earned runs on five hits but walked three and struck out five to raise his pitch count. His ERA is 3.86. 

Quintana hasn't won a start since May 21 against Boston, but he's continued to at least give the White Sox decent chances to win. He should get deeper next time out Saturday at Kansas City. 

Tigers reliever Drew Smyly recorded a three-inning save Monday at home against Baltimore. Smyly closed out Max Scherzer's gem with three shutout frames for his second save. 

The reliever struck out three batters over three perfect innings. He needed 33 pitches and threw 22 strikes, lowering his ERA to 1.94 in the process. 

Smyly has gone 2-0 this year over 24 relief appearances and 41 2/3 innings. He has a solid ERA, a 1.01 WHIP and 42 strikeouts over that span. 

Indians starter Carlos Carrasco came off a suspension and pitched extremely well Monday at home against Kansas City. He dramatically lowered his ERA in the process.

Carrasco took a no-decision as he allowed just one earned run on four hits and a walk over 7 1/3 solid innings. He threw just 90 pitches before being removed from the game after four strikeouts.

Unfortunately, James Shields was just as good and both pitchers left with the score tied at one run apiece. Carrasco lowered his ERA from 15.26 to 8.40 with the outing.

After having allowed 13 runs over his first two starts spanning 7 2/3 innings, Carrasco was much improved Monday. He'll look to keep improving in his next start scheduled for Sunday against Minnesota.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Monday starting pitcher Jason Hammel, who was scratched from Monday's start against the Tigers because of an illness, will not start Tuesday. Zach Britton is expected to be promoted from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Hammel, who is 0-2 with a 6.32 ERA in three June starts.