MLB Player News

Rangers ace Yu Darvish set season highs for runs and hits allowed but managed to earn a victory Tuesday night at home against the White Sox.

Darvish (5-1) gave up four earned runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings, but the Texas offense scored six runs in the sixth inning. Darvish struck out nine over 108 pitches and has 58 Ks in 38 2/3 innings to lead the majors.

His next start is Sunday against Boston.

Rays starter Alex Cobb, who entered Tuesday's outing with a 3-1 record and 1.82 ERA, cruised through the first five innings in Kansas City. And then came the sixth.

Cobb allowed four hits through the first five innings then gave up six straight in the sixth. He couldn't finish the inning and finished with four earned runs on 10 hits and no walks over 5 2/3 innings. Cobb struck out five and threw 88 pitches.

Cobb went 8 1/3 shutout innings in his last start against the Yankees and had a 14-inning scoreless streak before unraveling in the sixth Tuesday. His next start is Sunday at Colorado.

The Rangers expect rehabbing pitcher Martin Perez (forearm) to throw three innings during an extended spring training game Wednesday, FOX Sports Southwest reports. 

Perez threw two innings Saturday. Coming back from a fractured left forearm, Perez could return for the Rangers by the end of May. 

Perez made 12 appearances and six starts for the Rangers last year as a 21-year-old. He went 1-4 with a 5.45 ERA but did strike out 25 over 38 innings. He had a couple of solid performances in June and July before struggling down the stretch. 

The Astros have made a change to their starting rotation. Manager Bo Porter has removed Brad Peacock and sent him to the bullpen. The team hasn't decided who will replace him Thursday against Detroit, though CBS Sports Baseball Insider Danny Knobler has some thoughts on the matter. 

Houston's best possibility to replace Peacock comes in Jordan Lyles, who would be on normal rest for Thursday if called up. He is 2-2 with a 5.32 ERA over six games and five starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City. 

Jarred Cosart is another option. He has better numbers than Lyles. He is 2-0 with a 2.86 ERA over five appearances and four starts with the RedHawks, including 23 Ks over 22 innings. 

The last options could come from the bullpen in long men Paul Clemens or Jose Cisnero. Through 25 games, the Astros' starters have the highest ERA in the majors at 6.34 and have pitched the fewest number of innings per start at 4.6. 

Orioles starting pitcher prospect Kevin Gausman tied a season-high with eight strikeouts Sunday for Double-A Bowie. Gausman has managed 29 strikeouts to one walk in 28 2/3 innings.

Gausman has a 1-3 record, 3.77 ERA and .270 opponents' batting average. Although, MASNsports.com points out Gausman has had much better numbers when Brian Ward has caught him as opposed to Luis Martinez. 

Gausman has a 1.45 ERA in the three starts Ward has been behind the plate, holding the opposition to a .194 batting average. In the two starts Martinez has been behind the plate, Gausman has a 8.10 ERA and .375 opponents' batting average.

White Sox starting pitcher Jose Quintana has been so good this season, he's even drawing rave reviews from the opposition. Indians manager Terry Francona wasn't shy to speak up after Quintana beat his club Wednesday.

Quintana is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 0.58 WHIP in two starts against Cleveland this season.

"He's real confident right now," Francona said, per The Plain Dealer. "He does a lot of everything. He changes speeds, uses the whole plate. He goes up, down, soft, hard. He pitches. Then you get in situations where you can do some damage, he tries to get you overaggressive."

Quintana's next start is Tuesday at Texas and he will be opposed by Rangers ace Yu Darvish. Quintana won his lone start against Texas last season, allowing one run on two hits and one walk in eight innings. He struck out eight. 

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber picked up his first win as a starter Sunday against the Royals. Kluber, who made his first start, allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings in the 10-3 win in the second game of a doubleheader.

Both runs he surrendered came in the fourth inning on a two-run bloop single off the bat of Chris Getz.

Kluber settled down after that as the right-hander retired the final 10 batters he faced before being pulled after throwing 97 pitches -- 65 strikes. He finished with six strikeouts and did not issue a walk, while improving to 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA.

After posting a 1.85 ERA over his first five starts, Indians pitcher Justin Masterson did not have the same success in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Royals. He allowed seven runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings in the 9-0 loss.

The right-hander was tagged with a two-spot in the second before Kansas City pushed across a run in both the fourth and fifth. Then in the seventh, Masterson gave up two runs before being pulled for Matt Albers, who allowed an inherited runner to score.

The 28-year-old also struck out nine and walked four while taking his second loss. His ERA rose to 3.12 on the outing.

Masterson is scheduled to pitch next on Sunday against the Twins. He went 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in four starts against Minnesota last season.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Sunday he pays close attention to how Minnesota's minor-league teams are faring. Gardenhire said he receives daily reports on each of the team's minor-league squads, talks to the minor-league managers and tries to watch as much video as he can, per MLB.com.

Gardenhire said he watched pitching prospect Kyle Gibson throw Saturday for Triple-A Rochester and came away impressed. Gibson tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings, improving to 1-3 with a 3.33 ERA in five starts.

"I read reports, stats and a few articles, and if I want to I can watch some video," Gardenhire said. "But I do always try to catch a little bit of a game, especially our Triple-A team."

Indians pitcher Justin Masterson will go for his fifth win in his sixth start Sunday against the Royals. Masterson has been a standout arm for Cleveland and manager Terry Francona pins his success on the right-hander's willingness to mix his pitches.

Masterson would often rely heavily on his sinking fastball during a down year in 2012.

"He's got the two fastballs -- the two-seamer and the four-seamer, and they kind of do different things," Francona said, per MLB.com. "He elevates. His breaking ball at times has been just outstanding, and he's even mixed in a changeup from time to time. I think the biggest thing is, when things start to [go bad], or he gets behind in the count, he doesn't just have to keep throwing one pitch. Last year, when you look at the video, there were times when he'd throw pitch after pitch after pitch, and kind of get in a rut. He's got different ways to kind of reel it back in."