MLB Player News

Verlander did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's loss to the Mariners, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out nine.

Verlander got off to a great start, hurling 1-2-3 innings in three of the first four frames before surrendering a solo homer to Dominic Canzone in the fifth. The veteran right-hander would only allow a walk from that point on and managed to go seven innings for the third time in his last six starts. Verlander also matched his season high with nine strikeouts, which he also recorded in his previous start against the Athletics.

Alexander won't start Thursday's game against the Athletics but is expected to be deployed in bulk relief behind opener Shawn Armstrong.

Though he was roughed up for eight earned runs over five innings while working behind Armstrong in his last turn through the rotation May 24 versus the Royals, Alexander won't be used as a traditional starter Thursday and will instead enter the game after Armstrong once again. Despite the poor showing his last time out, Alexander has generally been reliable this season at the back end of the Tampa Bay rotation. In his seven outings prior to the blowup against the Royals, Alexander delivered a 4.30 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across 37.2 innings.

Kirby did not factor into the decision in a win over the Astros on Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits over six innings while striking out eight.

Kirby retired the first eight batters he faced to open the contest and didn't allow an extra-base hit over his six innings of work. The right-hander induced 15 swings and misses on the night en route to posting his highest strikeout total in his last six starts. He's now gone six or more innings in four consecutive outings, though he's posted quality starts in only two of those appearances. Kirby has also walked only two batters over six starts in May.

The Pirates optioned Jefferies to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Jefferies was up as the 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader in Detroit but didn't make an appearance. The right-hander will rejoin the rotation at Indianapolis, where he's allowed six runs with a 4:4 K:BB over six innings covering two starts since being acquired via trade from the Giants.

Anderson (5-5) got stuck with the loss against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and six walks over five innings. He struck out four.

Anderson allowed three batters to reach base in each of the first two frames but somehow managed to pitch his way around it and avoid sustaining any damage. However, the lefty would finally cough up a run in the fourth after leaving a sinker up in the zone, which Alex Verdugo proceeded to crush over the wall in right field. Anderson issued a season-high six free passes on the night and has now walked multiple batters in three consecutive starts. Even with those walks, it was also the third straight outing in which he allowed only one run.

Gil (7-1) picked up the win Wednesday over the Angels, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out nine over eight frames.

Gil continued his fantastic start to the campaign Wednesday, allowing just one hit over the first six innings before surrendering a solo home run to Logan O'Hoppe in the seventh. The right-hander produced 15 whiffs on the night while posting at least eight strikeouts for the third consecutive outing. Gil has now logged six quality starts in a row and improved to 6-0 in May after the win over Los Angeles. Over that stretch, he carries a ridiculous 0.70 ERA to go along with a 44:12 K:BB. Wednesday also marked his longest outing of the season.

Blach (2-2) earned the win over the Guardians on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out five.

Th lefty got touched for two runs in the first inning, but was fortunate to receive plenty of run support early after the Rockies got to Logan Allen for seven runs over the first two frames. Blach would not allow another run after the first and produced three 1-2-3 innings en route to posting his second win of the season. He struck out a season-high five batters in the contest while also going seven innings for the first time in the campaign. He's now logged back-to-back quality starts and has won two of his last three decisions (spanning four outings).

Allen (6-3) took the loss against the Rockies on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on six hits and two walks over 1.2 innings while striking out one.

Allen gave up one run on an infield single in the opening frame before getting obliterated in the second inning, beginning with a single from Elehuris Montero and ending with an RBI double from Elias Diaz. The lefty was then relieved by Eli Morgan with just two outs in the frame, marking his shortest outing of the season. It was actually Allen's second time this month in which he allowed seven runs in a start, while the loss also snapped a streak of three consecutive wins for the second-year pitcher.

Schwellenbach (0-1) took the loss against Washington on Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five batters over five innings.

Schwellenbach got his first big-league opportunity despite having not pitched above the Double-A level in the minors. The right-hander was locked in through four scoreless frames, but had to settle for a so-so debut after Lane Thomas tagged him for a three-run homer in the fifth. Schwellenbach did show some positive traits with 60 of 88 pitches thrown for strikes and 11 whiffs, and there's a good chance he fared well enough to earn at least one more turn in the rotation.

Gore (4-4) earned the win over Atlanta on Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and no walks while striking out 10 batters over 5.1 innings.

Gore flustered Atlanta throughout the outing, and his 10 strikeouts marked his second-highest total of the season. The southpaw couldn't extend a three-game quality-start streak, but he did push his stretch of appearances allowing two or fewer earned runs to seven. Gore is in the midst of a breakout campaign, posting a 2.91 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 72:17 K:BB through 58.2 innings.