MLB Player News

Stroman (2-7) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out four across five innings as he took the loss Sunday against the Red Sox.

Boston got to Stroman in the first inning for two runs and added two more in the fifth before the 27-year-old was lifted. Stroman has been inconsistent over his last four starts, collecting a 2-2 record with 11 earned runs and 15 strikeouts over 23.2 innings. He'll look to turn around a subpar first half, heading into the All-Star break with a 5.86 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 52 strikeouts over 66 innings.

Verlander (9-5) threw six innings Sunday, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits while striking out 12 and taking the loss against the Tigers. He struck out 12 and allowed four home runs.

John Hicks got things started with a two-run shot off Verlander in the second inning. Verlander would allow three solo homers as the game progressed. On the bright side, the 35-year-old's 12 strikeouts marked the second-best performance he's produced this season, and he's fanned 28 batters in just three July starts. He'll carry his 2.29 ERA to Coors Field against the Rockies next Wednesday.

Giolito (6-8) fired 6.1 scoreless innings Sunday, yielding three walks and two hits while striking out six and earning the win in the 10-1 victory over Kansas City.

Giolito has walked at least three batters in his last four outings, but Sunday was his first scoreless start of 2018. His ERA is still an unsightly 6.18, but that's the lowest it's been since his second start of the season. The 24-year-old has a 63:60 K:BB in 103.1 innings, including a 12:9 across 18.2 innings in July. If the White Sox keep their rotation in the same alignment after the All-Star break, Giolito will take on the Angels next Tuesday.

Rodriguez was diagnosed with ligament damage in his right ankle after being evaluated by team doctors Sunday, Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com reports. He won't require surgery to address the injury but will be confined to walking boot for two weeks before being re-evaluated.

It's yet another troubling setback for the skilled southpaw, whose maturation into a top-of-rotation talent has been derailed by persistent lower-body injuries the past three seasons. Rodriguez's 2018 debut was delayed until April 8 while he recovered from reconstructive surgery on his right knee, and the ankle sprain he sustained in Saturday's start against the Rangers may be related. Red Sox manager Alex Cora is optimistic that Rodriguez will be able to pitch again this season, but a target date for the 25-year-old's return probably won't be established until he's cleared to resume a throwing program. Rodriguez's injury will keep a spot in the rotation open for Brian Johnson coming out of the All-Star break and could prompt the Red Sox to swing a deal for a starting pitcher ahead of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Kopech allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out 11 over six innings for Triple-A Charlotte in Saturday's win over Durham.

Kopech was in command from the start, a rarity for the flame-throwing right-hander. He recorded a strike on 70 of his 96 pitches, and the one walk matched a season low. He's been up and down all season but has three quality starts in his last four outings. Charlotte pitching coach Steve McCatty told Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune that Kopech didn't overthrow, which helped keep him in the zone. "When you're trying to throw 100 all the time, other things get out of whack," McCatty said. Kopech's fastball lived in the 95-97 mph range and topped out at 99.

Rodriguez was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday with a right ankle sprain, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports.

Rodriguez was forced to leave Saturday's start after 5.1 scoreless innings when he sustained the injury during a collision while covering first base. The 25-year-old finished the first half with a 3.44 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 110:32 K:BB over 104.2 innings, and he will be eligible to return to the Red Sox on June 25, although it remains unclear if he's expected to be sidelined longer.

Heaney didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Dodgers, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk over 6.1 innings while striking out six.

The left-hander threw 61 of 101 pitches for strikes en route to his third straight quality start and 11th of the year. Heaney will take a 3.78 ERA and 102:30 K:BB through 102.1 innings into the All-Star break.

Clevinger (7-5) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight across six innings to take the loss Saturday against the Yankees.

Clevinger allowed a three-run homer to Didi Gregorius in the first inning but settled in from there with the only other earned run coming on a solo shot by Greg Bird. This effort marked only the second time that Clevinger has allowed multiple home runs in a start this season as well as the second time that he has surrendered at least one home run in consecutive starts. Considering Clevinger has already thrown 116 innings -- he threw 121.2 in the major leagues and 155.2 across all levels last season -- the All-Star break may offer him some needed rest.

Perez (2-4) took the loss Saturday as the Rangers dropped a 1-0 decision to the Orioles, giving up the game's lone run on five hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out four.

The southpaw had been out since the end of April due to elbow trouble, but Perez was impressive in his return to the Rangers' rotation, throwing 61 of 91 pitches for strikes en route to his second quality start of the season. The 27-year-old has yet to post particularly useful numbers over a full season in the majors, but the team will still give him a regular turn in the second half given its lack of alternatives.

McGuire will start the Angels' game Sunday against the Dodgers, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles reports.

McGuire returned to the big-league roster Wednesday and made a one-inning relief appearance the same day. Though he'll technically pitch on only three days' rest, McGuire shouldn't face any strict limitations after having previously made 10 starts between the majors and minors this season. He'll assume the rotation spot of Garrett Richards (elbow), who was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday and will soon be slated for season-ending Tommy John surgery.