MLB Player News

Stroman (0-3) took the loss after allowing three runs (zero earned) on three hits and four walks while striking out five over four innings Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Stroman was saddled with the loss in the series finale, though he didn't give up a single earned run. The Rays scored a run in the third with help from a Toronto error and tacked on two more in the fourth after Stroman committed a throwing error. The 27-year-old struggled with his command throughout his start, issuing four free passes while racking up a high pitch count (91 pitches) after four frames. In Stroman's defense, he hasn't gotten a whole lot of run support in 2019 and sits with an 0-3 record despite a 1.99 ERA over 22.2 innings.

Morton allowed one run on four hits and three walks and struck out four over 4.2 innings in Sunday's no-decision against Toronto.

Morton surrendered the only run of his start in the first inning, but he managed to close out his day with 3.2 scoreless frames. Unfortunately, he was pulled from the game needing one more out to qualify for the victory. The 35-year-old right-hander hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his first four outings of 2019 and owns a 2.18 ERA with 25 strikeouts through 20.2 innings.

Cease (2-0) allowed two hits and one walk while striking out four over five scoreless innings for Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday against Indianapolis.

Cease's transition to Triple-A ball has been smooth. The right-hander has struck out nine and walked one over 10 scoreless innings.

Rodon (2-2) picked up the win after allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings Sunday against the Yankees.

Rodon surrendered a run in the first inning and another in the third, but he managed to settle down and toss three scoreless frames to close out his start. He fired 74 of 112 pitches for strikes and threw first-pitch strikes to 15 of the 23 batters he faced. The 26-year-old has posted a 3.27 ERA with 29 punchouts over 22 innings so far in 2019 and is slated to toe the rubber next against the Tigers on Friday.

Means (1-2) took the loss after surrendering one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings Sunday against Boston.

Means fared as well as can be expected against the defending world champions, giving up just one run in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly to center. The 25-year-old lefty owns a 1.98 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 13 strikeouts over 13.2 frames this season but is likely headed for a relief role moving forward with Alex Cobb (back) expected back from the injured list later this week.

Cobb (back) won't be activated from the 10-day injured list when first eligible Tuesday, but manager Brandon Hyde suggested the right-hander could be ready to rejoin the rotation for next weekend's series with the Twins, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.

The Orioles were pleased with how Cobb's back responded to playing catch off flat ground Saturday, but he'll need to complete a bullpen session before receiving the green light to return from the IL. Once Cobb is activated, John Means or Dan Straily would seemingly be most at risk of losing a rotation spot.

The Indians transferred Clevinger (back) to the 60-day injured list Sunday.

The transaction was merely a formality, as the Indians announced shortly after placing Clevinger on the 10-day IL on April 9 that he would be shut down from throwing for 6-to-8 weeks. Even once he begins a throwing program, Clevinger will likely require multiple weeks to build up to a starter's workload, making it unlikely that he'll be ready to return until at least June or July. With that timeline in mind, the Indians elected to move Clevinger to the 60-day IL in order to open up a 40-man roster spot for outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

Valdez will remain in a regimented bullpen role for the next two weeks at Triple-A Round Rock, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Valdez was sent down to Round Rock on Thursday after making the Astros' roster as a reliever. There weren't many opportunities in Houston for Valdez, a minor-league starter who is inexperienced as a reliever. Couple that Houston's starters are getting deep into games and Valdez was wasting away in the 'pen. "Most of that is on me, just not wanting to use him as a left-handed reliever until I'm a little more confident that he's going to bounce back," manager AJ Hinch said. "We've played so many close games, and he's been a long guy for us, because we've played so many long games, I've had to keep him out of games in case we had to get to extra innings. He wasn't pitching enough." For now, the Astros have moved Brad Peacock into the long-relief role in the bullpen and called up Reymin Guduan to serve as the lefty reliever capable of getting a couple of outs when needed. That gives the organization space to acclimate Valdez to a more traditional lefty-reliever role in the minors.

Verlander (2-0) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on two hits over six innings while striking out 11 in a 3-1 victory over the Mariners.

A Mitch Haniger solo shot in the fourth inning was the only blemish on Verlander's line, as he threw 76 of 105 pitches for strikes, including 16 swinging strikes. The right-hander now sports a 3.52 ERA and eye-popping 30:6 K:BB through 23 innings, and he'll look to keep rolling Friday on the road against the Rangers.

Snell threw six shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk with nine strikeouts in a no-decision against the Blue Jays on Saturday.

He left with a one-run lead, but the Rays bullpen couldn't hold this one. While that was disappointing, Snell was outstanding again, and he's allowed just one run in his last 19 frames. He also has 33 strikeouts during that stretch. Overall, he is 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 25 innings. His next scheduled start is home against the Red Sox on Friday.