MLB Player News

Indians starter Carlos Carrasco has been suspended eight games for throwing at Kevin Youkilis on Tuesday, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reported Friday.

Carrasco already has served a five-game suspension this year, one that dated back to an incident in 2011. He was unable to serve the suspension until this season due to Tommy John surgery. 

Carrasco isn't expected to appeal the suspension. He was sent down to Triple-A following the start. 

After being rocked in his season debut last week, Orioles pitching prospect Kevin Gausman displayed improved sharpness with his slider Thursday to secure his first professional win with Double-A Bowie. Gausman, ranked the club's second-best prospect by MLB.com, reached the high-90s with his fastball and struck out five batters while walking nine.

"I felt good, I felt comfortable out there," Gausman told MASNsports after yielding just one run and two hits over six innings. "I felt like I was on top of the hitters and that is always a good feeling when you're a pitcher. Overall, I thought my stuff was probably the best it's been."

For the second straight day, the Yankees and Indians were postponed by rain, cutting a four-game series in half. The inclement weather also forced Cleveland to adjust its starting rotation to the following order: Justin Masterson (Friday against the White Sox), Zach McAllister (Saturday), Brett Myers (Sunday) and Ubaldo Jimenez (Tuesday against Boston).

The game between the Indians and Yankees in Cleveland Wednesday was postponed due to rain and that helps the Tribe's rotation, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Corey Kluber had been called up to make an emergency start, but Zach McAllister, Thursday's starter, will keep that start following the rainout.  

Kluber will be available to pitch in relief in Thursday's game after coming up from Triple-A Columbus Wednesday. 

Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish is still on track to start Friday against the Mariners after leaving his last start with a blister on his pitching hand.

"It's doing well," Darvish said through an interpreter, per MLB.com.

Manager Ron Washington isn't concerned about Darvish.

"I looked at [Darvish's] hand, and he was smiling," Washington said. "It's amazing how skin heals."

The Indians optioned starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco to Triple-A Columbus Wednesday to clear a roster spot for Corey Kluber, who was promoted to start Wednesday's game against the Yankees.

Carrasco was ejected from Tuesday's start after hitting Kevin Youkilis with a pitch following a Robinson Cano home run. Carrasco took the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits (two home runs) and two walks in 3 2/3 innings.

The Indians announced pitcher Corey Kluber will be promoted from Triple-A Columbus to start Wednesday's game vs. N.Y. Yankees. 

Kluber is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in one start for Cleveland this season. He was 2-5 with a 5.14 ERA in 12 starts last season for the Indians.

Rangers pitcher Martin Perez, on the 15-day disabled list, threw long toss on Tuesday and could progress to a bullpen session Thursday.

The left-hander is likely a month away from returning from a broken left forearm, MLB.com reports.

Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco, who made his first appearance since serving a five-game suspension for intentionally drilling a batter in 2011, could be facing another one after being tossed for hitting Kevin Youkilis with a pitch following a Robinson Cano home run in Tuesday's game against the Yankees.

Carrasco served up a two-run home run to Cano in the fourth inning and immediately drilled Youkilis in the shoulder with a fast ball on the very next pitch.

The right-hander, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, was charged with seven runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. He also struck out two and walked two in 67 pitches, 39 strikes.

Brett Myers, who was scheduled to start Wednesday, took over for Carrasco in the fourth.

Rays pitcher prospect Jake Odorizzi was outstanding in his season debut for Triple-A Durham Monday. Odorizzi struck out eight in 6 2/3 scoreless innings, while allowing just two walks and four hits.

"I was happy today, everything was working," Odorizzi said, per MLB.com. "I had good control, good command of every pitch. My off-speed stuff was good. I was mixing speeds, and that helped me out later on in the game, getting out of some jams, especially in the sixth."