MLB Player News

Rays starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi got an early lead against the hapless Marlins Monday and looked like he might be on his way to an easy, first major-league victory, but he could not make it stand up.

Despite being gifted a 6-0 lead after two innings, Odorizzi earned a no-decision in the outing, as he surrendered six runs in just four innings of work before being pulled. He allowed eight hits and one walk, including a three-run home run. He struck out two batters, in a 10-6 win.

Odorizzi’s ERA now sits at 9.00 after two outings, with nine earned runs allowed on 13 hits and two walks in nine innings.

Odorizzi will try to bounce back for his first win in his next start, scheduled for Saturday in Cleveland.

Tigers starter Justin Verlander had a couple bumps in the road Monday at home against the Pirates. Once his offense got going behind him, however, it was smooth sailing for his sixth victory.

Verlander improved to 6-4 with a 3.68 ERA as he stuck out 13 batters over 110 pitches and seven innings. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits and two walks in the game.

Verlander has 23 strikeouts in his last two starts, both wins, as he's put a two-start losing streak far behind him. He'll look to keep rolling when he next takes the hill Saturday at Baltimore.

Orioles starter Jason Hammel went eight innings for the first time this season and first time since June 22, 2012 Monday in Washington. That game was also against the Nationals. 

Hammel was sharp as he allowed just two earned runs -- one in the second and one in the sixth -- on eight hits and no walks over his eight frames. He threw 107 pitches and struck out eight batters for the Orioles in the win. His record improved to 7-2 with a 4.98 ERA in the process. 

Hammel has allowed two earned runs in back-to-back wins to get his ERA under 5.00 again. He's also struck out 14 over his last 14 2/3 innings. Hammel will look to keep it rolling when he next takes the hill Saturday against Detroit. He's scheduled to be matched up with Justin Verlander in that outing. 

Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel was hurt by a five-run fourth inning during Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Athletics. The game was scoreless until Oakland sent nine batters to the plate in the fourth.

Keuchel was charged with six runs (four earned) on nine hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out four and allowed a home run.

Keuchel (1-2) will return to action Friday against the Angels. 

Rays starting pitcher Alex Cobb took a three-hit shutout into the ninth inning of Sunday's 8-3 rout of the Yankees. Cobb (6-2) lost his shutout bid when Brett Gardner homered leading off the ninth. 

"I had [fastball location] today, being able to go to both sides of the plate, and the fastball movement was good," Cobb said, per MLB.com. "When you have that, you're able to set up your other pitches. Kind of use one offspeed pitch the first half of the game and the other the other half, and then mix and match later in the game. It all starts with your fastball."

Cobb was charged with two runs on five hits in 8 1/3 innings, while striking out eight. He won his second-straight start and third-straight decision. Cobb hasn't lost in five starts and he's allowed no more than two runs in three-straight starts.

"The young man knows how to pitch," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He locates extremely well. He's got one of the best changes or split-change -- whatever you want to call it -- in the game. He's pitching."

The right-hander will start Friday at Cleveland. He beat Cleveland earlier this season with 7 1/3 scoreless innings and is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in three career starts against the Indians.

Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber struck out a career-high 10 batters Sunday against the Red Sox. But he lost the win when closer Chris Perez struggled in the ninth inning before exiting with a shoulder injury and Boston rallied for a 6-5 victory.

Kluber allowed a run on three hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings in the no-decision. He's had at least five strikeouts in five of his last six starts and has 18 strikeouts in his last two starts (13 innings).

The right-hander is winless in four of his last five starts (1-3). He next starts Friday against the Rays.

White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale, who missed his last start with a mild case of shoulder tendinitis, made it through a bullpen session Sunday unscathed and is on track to return to the rotation Tuesday against the Cubs, per MLB.com.

Sale is 4-0 with a 1.18 ERA and .153 opponents' batting average in his last five starts. He has struck out 38 batters in 38 innings in that span.

White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana has seen an increase in his fastball velocity in 2013. According to FanGraphs.com, Quintana's average fastball velocity has increased from 90.4 mph in 2012 to 91.3 mph this season.

"I didn't realize it right away," Quintana said through translator and White Sox coach Lino Diaz, per MLB.com. "But when I go and check the radar, which I don't like to do, I see the increasing velocity -- which is pretty good -- and I'm just trying to use that to my advantage."

Quintana said a strenuous offseason program has helped him find extra strength.

"I concentrated in the offseason [on] working on my legs and my back and the upper body," Quintana said. "I feel like continuing that work here with [White Sox director of conditioning Allen Thomas] helped me be where I'm at right now."

Twins management isn't ready to promote starting pitcher prospect Kyle Gibson to the majors, citing a need for more consistency before the right-hander is added to the major-league roster. Well, the way he's pitching at Triple-A Rochester, Gibson might force his way into the Twins' rotation sooner than expected.

Gibson ran his scoreless innings streak to 18 Saturday, tossing eight scoreless innings in a victory over Charlotte. Gibson held an opponent scoreless for the third time in four starts, winning all three of those outings.

"I wouldn't say I'm surprising myself. I've just had a pretty good plan in three of the past four starts and I executed the plan," he told MLB.com. "I'm just figuring out how to focus on advanced scouting reports."

Gibson is 4-5 with a 2.82 ERA and .221 opponents' batting average in 10 starts. He's managed 53 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings.

"As well as the fans know the game and with what [journalists] write about me, I'm trying not to focus on that too much," Gibson said about a potential promotion. "Whether fans doubt me or write things about me, I don't let it affect me too much because I know what I'm capable off. If I work hard ... I'm not too worried about it."

White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale played catch in the outfield before Saturday’s game and is scheduled to throw a full bullpen session Sunday, according to ESPN.

Sale, who was scratched from his previous start, has declared himself ready for Tuesday's start against the Cubs.

"Yeah, it went real well," Sale said. "It felt a lot better than I actually thought it would be. Everything is on track and be ready to go on Tuesday."