MLB Player News

Blue Jays reliever Aaron Loup picked up a save in long relief Thursday, in a 7-3 win over the Royals.

Loup pitched two-plus innings for the save, but didn't have to work too hard for it. He sat down each Royal he faced over 2 1/3 innings of work, requiring just 22 pitches to do so. He struck out one batter, while picking up three groundball outs otherwise.

Loup had not pitched in five days, so the team opted to stretch him out, with how well he was throwing. He now has a 3.38 ERA in 13 1/3 innings, with just three hits allowed, though he has walked eight batters to go with nine strikeouts.  

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney worked his way around a base hit to Ichiro Suzuki and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning, securing a 4-2 win and his sixth save of the season. Rodney  owns a 3.48 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP over 10 1/3 innings pitched.

First thing's first: I don't believe in Collin McHugh. He's a 26-year-old journeyman who, based on his minor-league track record and the way he's been passed from organization to organization, profiles as little more than a spot starter in the big leagues. I feel confident saying four out of five Fantasy owners could do better than him off the waiver wire, and at least one out of two agree with me, given his 49 percent ownership rate.

But I have to admit something's different about him this time around.

You've already read about it if you've spent any time on his player page. According to Pitch F/X data, he's ditched the sinker and become more of a power pitcher, emphasizing his fastball and slider.

Maybe the change has simply caught teams by surprise -- both of his opponents so far have suggested as much -- but the results are noteworthy, particularly the hit and strikeout rates. And the pitch selection isn't all that's changed. He's also throwing his fastball harder than before, averaging 92.2 miles per hour on it, which is about on the level of Scott Kazmir and Francisco Liriano.

McHugh will be facing the Mariners for a second time this weekend, so the surprise factor will no longer apply. Let's see how he does without it.

The Rays recalled pitcher Brad Boxberger from Triple-A Durham prior to the second game of a doubleheader Thursday night against the Red Sox, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Boxberger has posted a 1.93 ERA over 9 1/3 innings pitched in the minors this season.

Athletics pitcher Jesse Chavez continued his fantastic start to the season in Wednesday's win, giving up just one hit and one walk in seven scoreless innings as his team rolled over the Rangers, 12-1.

Chavez (2-0) surrendered a first-inning single with two outs before striking out the next batter. He then erased a fourth-inning walk with a groundball double play. That was all the Rangers could muster against the Oakland starter. Chavez owns a 1.89 ERA and 41:8 K:BB ratio in 38 innings over six starts. He'll square off with the Mariners Tuesday.

The Astros announced the starting pitchers for this weekend's series against the Mariners, with Brad Peacock taking the mound Friday, followed by Dallas Keuchel Saturday and Collin McHugh Sunday.

Scott Feldman will throw a simulated game Sunday before the team decide where to insert him in the rotation, so all three probable starters this weekend will get at least one more shot to make a case to remain in the rotation.

Astros reliever Josh Fields was able to pitch for the first time in four days Tuesday against the Nationals, after overcoming quad tightness.

Unfortunately, his return to action did not go as planned, as Fields' struggles continued. He surrendered one run pitching in the ninth inning of a tied game, and was charged with the loss as a result. He allowed the run on one hit and a pair of walks, as the Nationals won, 4-3.

Fields is now 0-3, and has earned the loss in each of his last three outings. His ERA stands at 9.58 though 12 appearances on the season.  

White Sox starting pitcher Scott Carroll said he will make another start Saturday against Indians, per CSN Chicago. Manager Robin Ventura seemed to confirm that when he said there was a "slim" chance Chris Sale (arm) returns from the disabled list this weekend.

The Athletics reinstated pitcher Fernando Rodriguez (elbow) from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. He was then optioned to Triple-A Sacramento, where he was on a rehab assignment.

Astros starting pitcher Collin McHugh has been nothing short of outstanding in his first two starts. Astros pitching coach Brent Strom said McHugh isn't the same pitcher he saw this spring, per The Houston Chronicle.

"He's a different guy than I saw in spring," Strom said. "I didn't know much about him. He was sinking everything. Big sinker … trying to induce ground balls, and he was a high groundball pitcher."

McHugh has recorded 46 outs in his first two starts, but only six have come on groundballs. McHugh has been thriving thanks to his ability to work high up in the strike zone.

"The use of the four-seam fastball has been big for him, especially up in the zone, 'cause it sets up his bigger breaking ball and his little cutter," Strom said. "So he pitched to the plan really well and was very aggressive with this club (vs. Oakland). This is a very difficult team to pitch to because of their discipline, and he forced them to have to make decisions on pitches that looked alike."