MLB Player News

White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale ended his winless streak at three games Thursday by downing the Rays, 5-2.

Sale tossed seven solid innings, limiting the Rays to just two runs on four hits, one of which was a home run. He struggled a bit with his control, walking four, but he also struck out seven batters, matching his season high. Sale threw 67 of 104 pitches for a strike, while earning his second win of the season.

Sale is 2-2 in five starts, and has gone at least seven innings in four of his starts. He has a 4.09 ERA, however eight of his 15 runs allowed came in a single start. Sale has 30 strikeouts and 10 walks in 33 innings, along with a 1.15 WHIP.

He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday against the Rangers. 

Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco was helped off the field in his start for Triple-A Columbus Thursday after being hit by a line drive. According to the Scranton Times-Tribune, Carrasco was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, but the extent of the injury is not yet known.

Carrasco was sent down to Triple-A after making just one start at the major-league level.

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander decided to exit Thursday's start against the Royals after seven innings so the blister on his right thumb wouldn't get worse.

"It developed a little in my last start. Started getting a little bit worse after the fifth, and I started to notice it," Verlander said. "I didn't want to risk it becoming something that I might have to deal with in my next start and the start after that, and then it turns into a month. This way, it isn't an issue. That's why I got out of there."

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said the blister on Justin Verlander's thumb is near the fingernail and won't impact his next start Tuesday against the Twins, according to MLB.com. Verlander left Thursday's start against the Royals after seven innings with what was originally diagnosed as cracked skin on his right thumb.

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander left Thursday's start vs. Kansas City because of cracked skin on his right thumb. He is considered day to day.

Verlander allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits and one walk in seven innings before Bruce Rondon replaced him in the eighth inning. Verlander struck out four and threw 59 of 95 pitches for strikes. He left with a 3-2 lead before Kansas City tied the game in the eighth inning.

Verlander's next scheduled start is Tuesday against the Twins. Verlander is 13-7 with a 3.11 ERA in 24 career starts against Minnesota. He beat the Twins in his season debut April 1, tossing five scoreless innings.

Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish had all his pitches working in Wednesday's win over the Angels, scattering three hits over six scoreless innings while walking two and striking out 11.

The impressive performance included fastballs of speeds up to 98 mph, 67-mph curveballs that froze batters for strike three, and swing-and-miss strikeouts on nasty sliders.

Darvish lowered his ERA to 1.65 while moving to 4-1. He'll get the White Sox at home on Tuesday.

Rays starter Alex Cobb almost went the distance as he pitched into the ninth inning Wednesday night against the Yankees. He settled for 8 1/3 shutout innings in a 3-0 win. 

Cobb put a runner on base in the ninth and was removed with one out in the inning. Fernando Rodney got the job done for the save. Cobb surrendered just three base hits, walked one and struck out seven. He threw 106 pitches and improved to 3-1. 

Cobb has pitched into at least the eighth inning in three of his four starts this season and has pitched into the seventh in all of them. He has already made two starts without allowing a run and has given up just six over 29 2/3 innings for a 1.82 ERA with 22 Ks. 

The 25-year-old has won two straight outings and will look to make it three straight when he next takes the ball Tuesday at Kansas City. 

White Sox starter Jose Quintana eased some of the tension swirling around the Chicago clubhouse with his second victory Wednesday against the Indians. Chicago had lost four straight and 10 of 13 entering Wednesday as Quintana got them back on track. 

Quintana (2-0) allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks over five solid innings and 92 pitches for the 3-2 win. He struck out three and his ERA is now at 2.78. 

The 24-year-old has won back-to-back outings and has given up just two runs over his last three starts spanning 18 2/3 innings. He's surrendered just 10 hits over that stretch with four walks and 17 Ks. 

After starting the year off poorly against Seattle, Quintana has been masterful in his last three starts. With a solid 1.06 WHIP, Quintana will look to earn his third straight win when he next takes the ball Tuesday at Texas. 

The White Sox moved their rotation back one day following Tuesday's rainout. Chris Sale is scheduled to open a four-game weekend set against the Rays Thursday night.

Sale, who is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts, went 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP last season against the Rays.

The White Sox moved their rotation back one day, according to MLB.com. Jose Quintana, who had his start rained out Tuesday, will close out a three-game set against the Indians Wednesday.

Quintana went 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA in 12 1/3 innings of work against the Indians last season.