MLB Player News

Starting pitcher Martin Perez will be recalled to start one of the Rangers' two games Monday, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Manager Ron Washington previously said that the team wanted to be sure Perez had the stamina to pitch without limitations after Tuesday's minor-league start.

Perez is 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB ratio in 19 1/3 innings in the minors. He's made two starts at Double-A and two starts at Triple-A, posting better numbers at the higher level.

Indians starting pitcher Justin Masterson struggled through six innings against the Red Sox Friday, allowing five earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five in the 8-1 loss.

Masterson (7-3) has a 3.20 ERA heading into Wednesday's home start against the Reds.

Normally, when a pitcher allows four earned runs over five innings, it's reason to look the other way in Fantasy. But don't let Kevin Gausman's lackluster debut sour you on his potential. Both managers raved about his performance after the game, and the Orioles have given every indication they plan to stick with him.

Really, no pitcher should be judged by his major-league debut. The culmination of a lifelong dream is such an emotional experience that you can't expect anyone to have his usual composure on the mound. Gausman even talked about how he wasn't able to sleep leading up to it. Plus, thinking more practically, he's facing the best hitters he's ever faced, one right after the other, so he's allowed an adjustment period.

He still has a killer arsenal and an ace pedigree, getting selected first among all pitchers in last year's draft. If you don't mind settling for middle-of-the-road, feel free to drop him for Jose Quintana or whomever else. But if you want a shot at a real difference-maker, stick with Gausman.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan said inconsistency is why the club decisided to call up Samuel Deduno and P.J. Walters ahead of top prospect Kyle Gibson, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Gibson has a 3.25 ERA and 3.3 K/BB over nine starts (52 2/3 innings) at Triple-A Rochester. But he has yet to have consecutive quality starts. His last three starts have seen a complete game shutout, a three-inning disaster (seven hits, four earned runs) and another complete game shutout. 

"Every start for him is important, and so far he’s been good, bad, good, bad, good, bad. He’s close, but he’s not quite there yet. We’re looking for him to string together four or five of those good one. That would give us confidence that it’s time for him to come up here," Ryan said.

Gibson can pitch well enough to make his way to Minnesota this season, but if he needs to make three or four consecutive sharp starts, he's at least a few weeks away.

The Indians are considering recalling pitcher Carlos Carrasco, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Carrasco has been dominant at Triple-A Columbus, as he owns a 1.36 ERA and 4.6 K/BB over seven starts (39 2/3 innings). The only hitch for the Indians is the eight-game suspension he was tagged with in April for hitting Kevin Youkilis with a pitch in his only major-league start of the year.

Carrasco has appealed the suspension. He may be able to come up for a start while MLB rules on the appeal -- likely July 10 against Toronto -- and then serve his appeal around the All-Star break, giving the Indians a chance to rearrange their rotation in such a way that Carrasco isn't just dead weight on the 25-man roster. 

However they decide to solve it, the Indians have been impressed with Carrasco's performance in the minor leagues, and they expect to find some way to bring him up this season.

Orioles rookie Kevin Gausman made his major-league debut Thursday night at Toronto.

Gausman, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft, struck out three through his first two innings and did not surrender a run until the fourth.

He allowed an RBI double to J.P. Arencibia and a sacrifice fly in the fourth. He then gave up a two-run home run to Arencibia in the fifth. The right-hander was charged with four runs and seven hits over five innings as he took the loss. He struck out five and walked two on 89 pitches.

Gausman, who went 2-4 with a 3.11 ERA at Double-A, is scheduled to start Tuesday at Washington.

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters said it will be his job to keep rookie pitcher Kevin Gausman from getting too amped during his major-league debut Thursday against the Blue Jays, according to MASNsports.com.

"It's kind of my job every night, to try to get those pitchers in the mindset to where they can have the most success, especially with a young guy coming up," Wieters said. "Just make him feel like, don't worry about the results at the end of the game. Just go about your business and go pitch by pitch, and that's the best way to get through the game. And then you can sit down and think about it after the game's over."

Wieters also provided a scouting report on Gausman, who is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.

"He's a kid who's got great stuff," Wieters said. "He's able to mix in his offspeed stuff, which, for a young guy to have secondary pitches he can throw for strikes is big for him. On top of that, being able to locate his fastball is going to be key. He'll have adrenaline going, but the big thing is just being able to harness it. And once you get through that first inning, it's just back to settling down and pitching."

Tigers starter Justin Verlander was given a 2-0 lead to begin the game in Cleveland Wednesday night. By the end of the second inning he gave it back.

Detroit then scored four times for him in the third inning and three more in the fifth for a 9-2 lead. Verlander uncharacteristically gave back some of those runs. He allowed an RBI single to Michael Brantley in the fifth followed by a Carlos Santana two-run homer before the game went into a rain delay.

Verlander came back after the delay to get the final two outs of the fifth inning to qualify for the win and improve to 5-4. The ace gave up five runs on 10 hits and a walk in five innings with nine strikeouts over 110 pitches. His ERA is 3.66.

Verlander has back-to-back poor starts and is 1-2 in his last three outings. He's given up 16 runs over a span of 12 2/3 innings in his last three starts. He next starts Monday against Pittsburgh.

Astros starter Jordan Lyles allowed one run on six hits and a walk over six innings and 96 pitches of a 3-1 win at home Wednesday against the Royals. He struck out three and the bullpen actually did its job.

Lyles (2-1) has had back-to-back solid outings to lower his ERA to 5.40. He's allowed two runs over his last two starts spanning 11 innings with seven Ks. His next start is Tuesday against Colorado. 

Orioles starter Jason Hammel appeared to finally figure out his command issues at home Wednesday against the Yankees after back-to-back poor starts in which he gave up 13 runs over a span of 8 2/3 innings.

Hammel (6-2) allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out six, to get the win Wednesday. He threw 109 pitches and was removed with two outs in the seventh inning with the only Yankees' player to do anything against him coming up. Curtis Granderson was 3 for 3 with a homer for the Yankees with Hammel in the game, so manager Buck Showalter removed him just before Granderson's fourth at-bat.

Hammel, who's ERA is 5.37, will make his next scheduled start Monday at Washington.