MLB Player News

Angels pitcher Hector Santiago struck out eight against the Rangers Thursday.

Santiago gave up four runs, three earned, on five hits over six innings. Santiago displayed strong control, giving up one walk against eight strikeouts. He threw 101 pitches during the outing. 

Santiago found himself in trouble early, as he gave up a two-run double in the first inning. He settled in until the fourth, when an error led to an unearned run being scored. Santiago gave up his final run in the sixth on a solo shot by Adrian Beltre.

The win moved Santiago to 1-7 on the year. His next start should come shortly after the All-Star break.

Astros starting pitcher Collin McHugh (finger) has pushed back his bullpen session to Friday, which indicates he will not pitch Saturday against the Red Sox, according to The Houston Chronicle. However, McHugh still could be an option to start Sunday.

Yankees closer David Robertson picked up his 22nd save Wednesday against the Indians.

Robertson had to wait some time to get into the game, as both teams went deep into extra innings. After a Jacoby Ellsbury put the Yankees on top, Robertson came in to finish things out in the bottom of the frame. He gave up one hit during the inning, but also managed a strikeout. Robertson lowered his ERA to 2.84 following the appearance. 

Rays reliever Joel Peralta and Kirby Yates combined to blow the game Wednesday against the Royals.

Peralta was called upon for the save situation, but struggled to record outs. Jarrod Dyson led of the inning with a single, and managed to steal both second and third. Peralta was able to record an out before walking Eric Hosmer.

Peralta was removed for Kirby Yates, who stepped on the mound to face Salvador Perez. Perez smacked a three-run go-ahead home run during the at-bat. Peralta was charged with two of the three runs, while Yates was tagged with the loss. 

Astros pitcher Collin McHugh will be re-evaluated Thursday, according to MLB.com.

McHugh is slated to throw bullpen session Thursday. That session will determine whether McHugh will make his Saturday start against the Red Sox. McHugh was pulled from Sunday's start after just four innings due to a finger injury. Manager Bo Porter said the club would wait until after the bullpen session to make a ruling on the start.

Red Sox pitcher Rubby De La Rosa lasted five innings Wednesday against the White Sox.

De La Rosa allowed three runs on six hits over those five innings. He did not issue any walks and struck out three hitters. Home runs were an issue for De La Rosa. Jose Abreu hit a solo shot off De La Rosa in the first inning, and Conor Gillaspie followed that up with another solo shot the following inning. Gillaspie then scored again on an error the following inning, accounting for the third run.

De La Rosa did not factor into the decision, as the Red Sox came back to win late. It’s unclear where he will slot into the rotation coming out of the All-Star break. 

The Angels have pushed Hector Santiago to start Thursday's game against the Rangers according to MLB.com, after Matt Shoemaker was pressed into emergency relief duty Monday.

Santiago was expected to start Friday, but has been available in the bullpen Tuesday if needed. He will be followed by Garrett Richards, Jered Weaver and Tyler Skaggs to close out the Rangers series, while Shoemaker is not expected to start  before the break. 

Red Sox pitcher Rubby De La Rosa was recalled after Tuesday's game, and he'll be the starting pitcher for Wednesday's matchup with the White Sox.

De La Rosa delivered a five performance in five starts with the Red Sox earlier this season, posting a 2.51 ERA and 30:8 K:BB ratio in 32 1/3 innings. He owns a 3.45 ERA and 57:25 K:BB ratio in 60 innings with Triple-A Pawtucket.

Astros pitcher Collin McHugh is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, the Houston Chronicle reports.

McHugh was removed from Sunday's start after just four innings due to a finger injury, which was termed a "right middle fingernal avulsion," with his fingernail being pulled away from the skin of his finger. His status for Saturday's scheduled start is up in the air until he has a chance to pitch Wednesday.

Clearly, you're not cutting Jesse Chavez in Fantasy, particularly if you play in a league where his relief pitcher eligibility means something to you, but his nine-strikeout performance Monday against the Giants really brought into focus just how much his stock has fallen over the last couple months. It wouldn't have been a big deal in April, when he recorded more than a strikeout per inning with regularity, but in the eight starts leading up to Monday's, he averaged just 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

And it's not like his walk rate (3.3 per nine) during that stretch was so hot either. He seems to be losing steam after his out-of-nowhere success to begin the season, and while this current version of him is still useful, it may have its limits. Chavez spent most of last season in the bullpen, remember, and as a result, accumulated just 87 1/3 innings between the majors and minors. He's at 109 innings now.

True, he's had other seasons when he started enough to eclipse 130 innings, or at least come close, so I'm not saying 150 or 160 is out of his reach. But 180 may be. I'm guessing it's a big reason why the Athletics felt they had to acquire two arms in the Cubs trade even with Tommy Milone pitching well and Drew Pomeranz recovering from injury.

I'm thinking Chavez cedes his rotation spot to one of those two before the end of August.