MLB Player News

Because he isn't a big strikeout pitcher, Jordan Lyles won't be confused with any of the starters that you would typically use in standard mixed leagues. Still, the Astro is showing that he has some value in deeper mixed and AL-only leagues, but he's largely underappreciated in those formats.

Over his last four starts, Lyles has a 1.90 ERA, and if that sounds like he's pitching over his head, well, he is. But he is getting his fair share of ground balls, pitching with decent command and for the first time in his major league career, he's stranding baserunners at a normal rate. The first two developments mirror his recent minor-league trends, and the third provides hope that a low strand rate won't be a chronic problem.

That may not be something to get excited about, but Lyles deserves to be owned in more than six percent of the leagues on CBSSports.com.

White Sox starter Chris Sale turned in a solid outing but lost Sunday to the A's. Sale (5-3) limited Oakland to a run on four hits and a walk while striking out five in six innings of a 2-0  defeat.

Sale has allowed two runs combined in his last four starts (30 innings). He will get another crack at the A's Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field. He is 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA in four starts at home.

Astros starting pitcher Jordan Lyles earned his third win in Sunday's 5-4 victory over the the Angels. Lyles (3-1) surrendered two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings.

Lyles has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last four starts. He has a 1.90 ERA during that stretch. He is scheduled to make his next start Friday at Kansas City. He has a 1.80 ERA on the road.

Rangers starter Yu Darvish, who allowed four runs his last time out, bounced back with a dominant outing but did not factor in the decision Sunday against the Royals. Darvish limited the Royals to three hits and two walks while striking out six in seven scoreless innings of a 3-1 win.

Darvish has allowed five runs combined in his last three starts (20 2/3 innings). He is scheduled to make his next start Saturday at Toronto. He is 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA in five road starts.

Orioles starter Kevin Gausman took a no decision despite an excellent start Sunday against Detroit.

Gausman allowed one run on five hits and no walks over six innings. He struck out four and induced a tremendous 12 ground balls against just two fly balls. Gausman showed why the Orioles are giving him a chance after he had two brutal outings in his first two starts (11 runs in nine combined innings).

Rays starter Alex Cobb will get an extra day between starts and will make his next start Wednesday against Detroit, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Cobb is getting the extra day to let a fingernail injury heal completely.

After giving up three straight home runs to the Tiger Saturday, Orioles starting pitcher Jason Hammel hit Matt Tuiasosopo with a pitch, but stressed after the game that it was not intentional.

"I'm not going to make a big deal of it. I hit him with a slider," Hammel said. "Zero intent there to hit him. Obviously I give up three home runs, but I'm not the guy that answers getting hit around with hitting somebody. That's bush league if you ask me. It was a mistake. A slider that got away."

After the game, crew chief Jerry Layne admitted that he felt he had to toss Hammel given the circumstances. 

"In this particular situation, everything's kind of played into what this looks like," he said. "They claim there was no intent. Three home runs and a guy gets hit, you're an umpire, what do you do?"

Tigers manager Jim Leyland believed Hammel's side of the story.

"In my heart, I do not think he was throwing at him," Leyland said.

White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana was more hittable than usual Saturday against the A's, as he failed to finish six innings for the first time in five starts.

Quintana allowed at least two hits in four innings, and was tagged for a single run in each of the first, second and fifth innings. He was pulled with one out in the sixth, after giving up a double to Jed Lowrie. 

Quintana was charged with three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings on 10 hits and three walks, while striking out four. He exited the game in line for a loss, but the White Sox battled back to tie the game and send it into extra innings.

He earned a no-decision in a 4-3 loss.

Quintana will make his next start Thursday at home against the A's. 

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander allowed two home runs for the first time since last July Saturday against the Orioles, but he still earned his third win in a row. 

Verlander allowed a pair of solo home runs to J.J. Hardy, one in the third and another in the fifth, but held the Orioles to just three runs on eight hits overall in seven innings of work. Verlander walked one and struck out five, his lowest total in three starts. 

Verlander threw 73 of 112 pitches for strikes, as his ERA rose slightly to 3.70. He is now 7-4 on the season after the 10-3 win. 

Verlander will go for his fourth win in a row in his next start, Friday against the Indians. 

Orioles starting pitcher Jason Hammel was ejected Saturday against the Tigers for throwing at outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo's head in the fourth inning.

Hammel allowed three straight home runs to open the fourth inning and then hit Tuiasosopo with what appeared to be a slider, and home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ejected him  immediately.

Hammel allowed five runs on five hits in three innings while walking three. He threw 32 of 63 pitches for strikes, as he struggled with his control.

Hammel's ERA rose to 5.43, and he exited the game in line for the loss. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Rays in Tampa.