MLB Player News

While the strikeouts continue to pile up for White Sox pitcher Chris Sale, the young left-hander has started earning comparisons to another southpaw who had a penchant for missing opponents' bats: Randy Johnson.

Sale has fanned 23 batters -- ninth-most in the American league -- over 26 innings during his first four starts of the season.

"He's filthy; he's a true number one guy who can go out there and dominate, strike out 10-plus a game," said Blue Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle, who was a teammate with Sale on the White Sox. "You can see comparisons between him and Randy Johnson. When you're that filthy ... you can get away with a lot more than some other guys can."

White Sox pitching coordinator Curt Hasler agreed with Buehrle's assessment, as Sale consistently reaches the mid-90s with his fastball and buckled hitters with a sharp slider and changeup.

"That would be a great comparison, and I trust Buehrle," Hasler told MLB.com. "[Johnson and Sale] have plus-plus stuff -- plus breaking balls -- and they're horses. Randy Johnson was a No. 1 for a lot years, and Chris can be that as well."

White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale posted a quality start over seven innings for the third time in four starts Thursday against the Blue Jays, but he earned his second loss in a row thanks to poor offensive support.

Sale allowed three runs  -- two earned -- in his seven innings, but that was enough to earn him his second loss of the season. He allowed one run in the first inning, and then two more in the fifth, in a 3-1 loss. He allowed just four hits and a walk in the game, while striking out six.

Sale is now 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts. He has struck out 23 and walked just six in 26 innings, however he has surrendered four home runs. Eight of his 13 earned runs allowed came in his previous start against the Indians. Sale will face the Indians in his next start, Tuesday. 

Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander was terrific for most of Thursday's start against the Mariners, but his teammates failed to provide him with adequate support, in a 2-0 loss.

Verlander struck out 12 batters over seven innings of work, and was locked into a scoreless duel until the seventh inning. Verlander struck out the first two batters of the seventh, before allowing three straight hits to bring in two runs, which would be enough to earn him his second loss of the season.

Verlander was tagged for two earned runs on nine hits, with one walk in the outing. He is now 2-2, with a 2.13 ERA and 1.22 WHIP through four starts. Verlander has struck out 29 batters in 25 1/3 innings, with just eight walks allowed. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday against the Royals. Verlander went 2-0 with a 4.11 ERA in four starts against the Royals a year ago. 

White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana is off to a strong start after a promising rookie season. Through three starts, Quintana has a 2.55 ERA and a 2.75 FIP. He's also managed to strikeout out nearly a batter per inning, with 17 in 17 2/3 innings.

Quintana has relied more on his four-seam fastball this season, particularly in two-strike counts. Against lefties, he's used the pitch 61 percent of the time in those situations. It's 63 percent against right-handers. Though his strikeout rate with the pitch has increased, it's not at an elite level.

White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper has had success turning around a number of pitchers in recent seasons, making Quintana's early success a little more intriguing for Fantasy owners.

Indians starter Justin Masterson was beaten by his former team Wednesday night as he suffered a loss to the Boston Red Sox. Masterson also saw a lengthy streak come to an end.

The Cleveland ace saw his three-game winning streak halted and also snapped a streak of 19 consecutive scoreless innings pitched when he allowed three runs in the first inning. In all, Masterson gave up four earned runs on 11 hits and a walk over five frames. Things could have been much worse as he was able to work out of some jams.

Masterson, who struck out five, threw 101 pitches and fell to 3-1. He entered the start against the Red Sox having allowed just one run over 22 innings with the 19-inning scoreless streak. He'll look to start a new streak when he next takes the hill Monday in Chicago against the White Sox.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana has been fantastic after struggling in his first start this season. On Wednesday in Toronto, he picked up his first win.

Quintana (1-0) has thrown 13 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings as he went 6 2/3 shutout frames Wednesday against the Blue Jays. The starter gave up just five base hits and walked two with seven strikeouts. He threw 104 pitches.

Quintana, who lowered his ERA to 2.55, has given up just six hits in his last two starts with two walks and 14 Ks. He's come on strong since allowing five runs over four frames in the opener against Seattle.

The 24-year-old will make his next start for Chicago on Monday against Cleveland and will look to keep his scoreless innings streak alive.

The Minnesota Twins had to push back their rotation Wednesday as the game against the Angels was postponed due to inclement weather, MLB.com reports. Vance Worley, expected to pitch Wednesday, will move back to Friday against Chicago after Thursday's off day. 

The rotation will follow with Scott Diamond going Saturday against the White Sox and Kevin Correia on Sunday to close out the series. Mike Pelfrey should open the two-game series against Miami Monday followed by Pedro Hernandez against the Marlins. 

Twins starter Vance Worley was supposed to start Wednesday at home against the Angels but the game was postponed due to bad weather. Worley will be pushed back to Friday in Chicago against the White Sox with the entire rotation getting pushed back a day, FOX Sports North reports. The Twins are off on Thursday. 

Worley only lasted one inning his last time out against the Mets, but still threw 57 pitches as he was rocked for nine runs -- seven earned -- on seven hits and two walks with a strikeout. 

The 25-year-old will look to turn things around as he's started the year 0-2 with 14 earned runs allowed over 12 innings. 

Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish indicated that his right ring finger, which has suffered from blisters early this season, is "perfect," according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Darvish is scheduled to pitch Friday against the Mariners and seems to be past his early blister problems.

The Indians recalled pitcher Corey Kluber from Triple-A Columbus Wednesday after placing Michael Bourn (finger) on the 15-day disabled list. Kluber will be available out of the bullpen.