MLB Player News

Rays starter Alex Cobb has been diagnosed with a mild concussion, according to MLB.com.

Tests came back normal for Cobb, who left Saturday's start against the Royals in the fifth inning after being struck in the head by a line drive. He is expected to remain in the hospital for further examinations. Cobb surrendered two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three in 4 1/3 innings of a no-decision before leaving the game on a stretcher.

Rays starter Alex Cobb was forced out of Saturday's start against the Royals in the fifth inning after being struck in the head by a line drive.

Cobb was hit by an Eric Hosmer line drive back, which struck him above the right ear on the side of his head. Cobb left the field on a stretcher and will be evaluated at a local hospital. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three in 4 1/3 innings before leaving.

Orioles starter Jason Hammel remained at home with an illness Saturday as Baltimore hosted the Red Sox at Camden Yards, the Baltimore Sun reports. Hammel expects to be back with the team Sunday. 

That said, Hammel is a slight question to make his next start Monday at Detroit. The team is optimistic, however. Hammel has gone 7-4 this season with a 5.24 ERA. He is 0-2 in June over three outings with an even uglier 6.32 ERA. 

White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale struck out a season-high 14 batters in a complete-game effort Friday night against the Astros, but he took the loss after allowing two runs (zero earned) on five hits and one walk in eight innings.

Sale lowered his ERA to 2.43 with the complete game, and he owns a 86:19 K:BB ratio in 85 1/3 innings this season. He'll face the Twins in Minnesota Wednesday.

Indians starting pitcher Justin Masterson allowed just one earned run on two hits and four walks in seven innings against the Nationals Friday, striking out 10 but not factoring into the decision.

Masterson recorded double-digit strikeouts for the second time in the season while lowering his ERA to 3.52. He'll take on the Royals at home Wednesday.

Orioles pitching prospect Kevin Gausman is in the minors now. That's an indisputable fact. But how long he'll be there is a matter of debate.

The Baltimore Sun says it won't be long, suggesting that the only reason the Orioles sent him down was to get an extra bullpen arm following a 13-inning marathon Thursday. With Miguel Gonzalez expected to go on paternity leave soon, the Orioles could override the 10-day window normally required for a player sent to the minors and bring back Gausman for his next turn.

In other words, if you picked up Gausman as much for his upside as what he's doing in the here and now, don't use this demotion as an excuse to drop him.

Now, if you want to drop him because three of his five starts have been awful and the other two merely OK, that's a different story. And in some cases -- ones where Dan Straily, Rick Porcello or Jarrod Parker were available -- I'd be right there with you.

The Orioles have optioned pitcher Kevin Gausman down to Triple-A Norfolk following Thursday's 13-inning marathon against the Red Sox.

Gausman, who made his big-league debut on May 23, went 0-3 with a 7.66 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP in five starts in the majors. He posted a 2.38 ERA in two starts at home before his demotion. The Orioles are expected to make a corresponding move before Friday's game.

Rays starter Alex Cobb has been activated from the bereavement list after spending some time away from the team to attend a family matter.

Cobb is scheduled to start Saturday against the Royals. He has a 2.95 ERA over 12 starts. He is 3-0 with a 3.27 ERA in his last seven starts.

The Rays optioned starter Jake Odorizzi to Triple-A Durham following Thursday's 10-1 loss to the Royals.

Odorizzi surrendered two runs in 3 1/3 innings of relief against the Royals on Thursday. He has an 8.03 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP in 12 1/3 innings of work in the majors. He is expected to rejoin the starting rotation at Triple-A.

Rangers starter Yu Darvish turned in another solid performance without factoring in the decision Thursday night against the Blue Jays.

Darvish allowed a run-scoring single to Melky Cabrera in the third for his only damage of the night. The right-hander yielded one run on three hits and two walks while striking out nine in seven innings of work in a 3-1 loss.

Darvish has settled for a no-decision in his last four starts. He has allowed seven runs combined over that span (28 2/3 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday at home against the A's. He has allowed just one run or fewer in each of his last three starts at home.