MLB Player News

The Rangers announced Sunday starting pitcher Martin Perez, who had been on the disabled list since March 31 with a broken left wrist, was activated and optioned to Double-A Frisco. Perez had been on a rehab assignment with Frisco, going 0-1 with an 11.05 ERA in two starts.

Perez is expected to be transferred to Triple-A Round Rock later in the week.

Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez (forearm) had a brutal performance in his second rehab outing for Double-A Frisco Saturday. Perez lasted only 3 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks.

Perez, who allowed one run in four innings in his first rehab start, is 0-1 with an 11.05 ERA and .400 opponents' batting average through 7 1/3 innings. He has as many walks (two) as strikeouts.

The Orioles haven't yet made a decision as of Sunday afternoon about who will start Wednesday against the Padres. The two options are Jason Hammel and Freddy Garcia.

Hammel is coming off his worst start of the season Friday, allowing six runs on eight hits in four innings at Minnesota. He has won five times in eight starts, but he also has a 4.93 ERA and has yet to pitch at least seven innings.

Orioles starting pitcher prospect Kevin Gausman, who walked one batter in his first six starts, walked a season-high three batters amid rainy conditions Saturday for Double-A Bowie. Gausman allowed just one run on three hits, while striking out seven in 4 2/3 innings.

"For the conditions I felt pretty good," Gausman said. "I had a good grip on the ball and I never like to make excuses. I was kind of just jerking some pitches. I didn't throw very many changeups at all tonight. I was mostly throwing my slider as my secondary pitch. Early in the game I threw a few changeups and I didn't really have the feel I usually have for it so I went more to the slider. I was feeling really comfortable with it. That is huge for me in my development and I'm excited about that part of it."

Gausman is 1-4 with a 3.35 ERA and .255 opponents' batting average through seven starts. He has 39 strikeouts and three home runs allowed in 40 1/3 innings. Gausman is trying to stay focused in anticipation of a potential call-up in 2013.

"That is something they've been known to do (call-up pitchers from the minors)," he said. "It's exciting for every starter and really every pitcher in the organization. You feel like you have a chance. If you pitch well, you will move up. I think there is more incentive when you feel like you have a chance. That makes you want to pitch better. If you pitch well, people will take notice."

Twins pitcher Vance Worley (1-4) permitted five runs and 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings during Minnesota's 8-5 victory over Baltimore on Saturday night. Worley needed 111 pitches to complete his outing, but still earned his first win in 13 starts dating to Aug. 1, 2012.

He was tagged for three runs in the first inning before settling down and holding the Orioles to just a run over the following four innings. He tallied one strikeout and walked a batter.

"After that (first inning) I went out there and I wasn't thinking so much," he said. "I'm here for a reason. I got to the big leagues pitching and I don't need to think too much about what I need to do out there, just make my pitches."

Worley draws the Red Sox in his next projected start Friday. He allowed three runs in five innings during his previous outing against Boston this season.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (4-3) allowed four runs -- three earned -- and six hits over five uneasy innings during a 7-6 loss to Cleveland on Saturday night. He struck out seven batters and walked five -- the first time since Aug. 17, 2010 against the Yankees that he has issued five walks.

With temperatures hovering around the mid-50s, the 2011 Cy Young Award winner uncharacteristically labored and needed 110 pitches (69 strikes) to complete his outing, which matched his shortest of the season. His ERA stands at 1.93.

"My fastball control just wasn't good at all," Verlander said. "I was trying to get ahead with the fastball and then throw off-speed stuff, hoping I could grind out six innings, but I didn't even do that."

Verlander will attempt to secure his fifth win during his next scheduled start Thursday at Texas. He is 3-1 with a 1.08 ERA over four starts on the road this season.

White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana (2-0) allowed three runs -- two earned -- and five hits over six innings during a 3-2 loss to the Angels on Saturday night. He permitted all three runs in the first three innings as his winless streak reached three games following a two-game winning streak.

Quintana struck out five batters and walked one to improve his strikeout-to-walk ratio to 3-to-1 in 38 2/3 innings this year. His 117 pitches represented a season high as only 72 were called strikes.

Quintana will earn a rematch against Los Angeles in his next projected start Thursday on the road. In four starts away from home, the left-hander is 1-0 with a 2.66 ERA and is limiting opponents to a .220 batting average.

Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish was able to beat the Astros for the second time this year Saturday night. Darvish, who came within one out of throwing a perfect game the last time he faced Houston, allowed three runs on three hits over seven innings in an 8-7 win.

The right-hander retired the first seven batters he faced before Matt Dominguez belted a solo home run in the third. Dominguez also touched up Darvish for a two-run shot in the sixth, which was all the offense Houston could muster against the Texas starter.

Darvish, who is 3-0 with 33 Ks in three career starts against the Astros, was pulled after throwing 105 pitches and finished with eight strikeouts and three walks. With 301 career strikeouts, he joined Dwight Gooden (319) as the only pitchers in major league history to reach at least 300 in their first 37 major league starts.

Darvish (5-1) is slated to face the Tigers at home next Thursday. He is 3-0 with a 3.60 ERA in three career starts against Detroit.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Saturday that he would like to find a consistent position in the bullpen for pitcher Drew Smyly after fellow left-hander Phil Coke was activated from the disabled list. Smyly's workload has fluctuated since he earned a spot on the opening-day roster as a long reliever after losing the competition for the No. 5 starter job.

The hard-throwing south-paw tossed 1 2/3 innings for the second time in the past three games Saturday against Cleveland, just his third appearance this month. His two runs allowed matched his highest total of the season.

"We really have to get a situation ironed out as far as [Drew] Smyly is concerned," Leyland told MLB.com before the game. "He's doing a fantastic job, obviously. If you can have two of those lefties available each night, it's a good thing, but I also want him to pitch. So it's a little tricky."

Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel did not factor in the decision Friday against the Astros. Keuchel, who took Philip Humber's spot in the starting rotation, allowed two runs on five hits over six innings in the 4-2 defeat, including a solo home run off the bat of Nelson Cruz in the sixth.

He also walked in a run with the bases loaded in the third and was pulled after throwing 83 pitches -- 53 strikes -- with the score tied 2-2. The left-hander finished with three strikeouts and two walks while earning the no-decision.

Keuchel is slated to make his next start Wednesday at Detroit.