MLB Player News

Giolito allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three in a no-decision Monday against the Royals.

Giolito pitched from behind a lot, throwing first-pitch balls to 16 of 28 batters, but had his sinker working and induced 13 groundball outs to post the fifth quality start in his last six outings. It was a nice bounce-back performance for Giolito, who failed to get out of the second inning in his previous start. The right-hander will look for his first win in four starts Sunday at Baltimore.

Gibson (7-13) allowed one run on four hits and four walks across 5.2 innings Monday to take the loss against the Yankees. He struck out five.

Gibson threw just 53 percent of his pitches for strikes while tying his second-highest walk total of the season. He induced eight groundball outs as he kept the visitors at bay through the first five innings, but a solo home run from Gary Sanchez in the sixth was enough to put him on the hook for his 13th loss. Gibson was coming off a quality start in which he lost to the Astros and has now allowed just three earned runs over his last 12.2 innings. He'll take a respectable 3.67 ERA into this weekend's matchup with the Royals.

Kluber allowed four runs on five hits and one walk across 1.2 innings in a no-decision Monday against the Rays. He struck out four.

Kluber breezed through the first inning before running into trouble in the second, when he allowed four runs on five hits, a walk and a hit batsman before his removal with two outs. The Indians mounted a comeback to get him off the hook for a loss, though they ultimately fell in walkoff fashion. It was the second uncharacteristically poor start for Kluber in his last four, as he was also touched up for five runs across 5.1 innings against the Royals in late August. He still holds a 2.91 ERA for the season and will look to bounce back this weekend against the Tigers.

Verlander (15-9) allowed two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out 10 over seven innings, picking up the win Monday against Detroit.

Verlander looked sharp yet again, surrendering a run in the second and another in the sixth prior to leaving the ballgame with a one-run lead. Following Monday's outing, he's recorded 10 or more strikeouts on 10 separate occasions in 2018. The 35-year-old sports a 2.72 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with 258 punchouts through 195 frames this year.

Bridwell (elbow) will likely be recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake before the regular season ends, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Bridwell underwent surgery in July to remove bone spurs in his pitching elbow, and although it was thought that his season was over, manager Mike Scioscia stated there's a good chance he'll pitch in the big leagues in 2018. Bridwell appeared just once for the Angels this season, and he was rocked for six runs on seven hits across 1.2 innings in a spot start.

McKenzie will not pitch in the minor-league playoffs due to general fatigue, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

The Indians understandably don't want to push one of their top prospects, so McKenzie will be unavailable to pitch in the postseason for Double-A Akron after compiling a shiny 2.68 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 87:28 K:BB across 16 starts (90.2 innings) for the RubberDucks during the regular season. He'll now turn his focus to the offseason. After impressing with Double-A, the 21-year-old McKenzie will have a chance to reach the majors in 2019 if he pitches well in his first taste of Triple-A.

Turnbull will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Turnbull and fellow minor-league pitcher Matt Hall will join the Tigers for the stretch run after impressing on the farm. The 25-year-old righty posted a 3.92 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 133:46 K:BB across 23 starts across multiple minor-league levels. The Tigers are expected to transition to a six-man rotation for the final few weeks of the season, with either Turnbull or Hall entering the rotation.

Valdez will start Tuesday's game against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch indicated early in the weekend that he may take a series-by-series approach when it comes to deciding his fifth starter, but for now, Valdez will retain a rotation spot over Josh James. While Valdez has shown some control issues of late with three walks allowed in each of his last three outings, he has submitted a tidy 1.37 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 19.2 innings in the majors. Valdez should have a good chance at coming away with his fourth win Tuesday while opposing Jordan Zimmermann and a Tigers squad on pace for a season of 90-plus losses.

Chirinos (4-5) allowed three earned runs on seven hits over 6.1 innings in a win over the Orioles on Sunday. He struck out six.

Chirinos was utilized in his usual "bullpen day" long-relief capacity and turned in the equivalent of a quality start, getting through his six-plus frames on an efficient 94 pitches. The 24-year-old right-hander has generated mixed results since assuming his current role, but he's been sharper of late -- factoring in Sunday's line, Chirinos has allowed four earned runs over 13.1 innings while generating an 11:3 K:BB over his last two trips to the mound.

Nicasio is in the early stages of recovering from a clean-up procedure on his knee and is expected to be ready for spring training, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The veteran reliever battled bone chips and swelling in his right knee on two separate occasions this season, finally opting for surgery to address the issue in late August. Nicasio flashed excellent strikeout upside and control in 2018 on his way to a 53:5 K:BB, but a trio of relief outings in which he allowed at least three earned runs helped lead to a 6.00 ERA.