MLB Player News

Paxton's next scheduled start could be moved up a day to Thursday in the wake of Felix Hernandez's placement on the disabled list with a back injury, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

If he's indeed called on to start Thursday's series finale against the Angels in Anaheim, Paxton will have avoided Coors Field. The southpaw last took the hill Saturday at home against the Rockies, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and a walk over seven innings while also racking up nine strikeouts.

Stroman (2-6) tossed seven innings of one-run ball to get the win Tuesday against the Braves, allowing six hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Stroman was outstanding in a difficult matchup, throwing first-pitch strikes to 22 of 28 batters while inducing a whopping 15 groundball outs. The hosts manufactured a run with a bunt and an RBI single in the sixth, but Stroman lasted through the seventh and left with a win in hand. While his 5.90 ERA leaves a lot to be desired, the right-hander has begun to turn things around of late by allowing one earned run or fewer in three of his last four starts. He'll look to keep it up this weekend against the Red Sox.

Verlander struck out six in six scoreless innings Tuesday against the A's, allowing three hits and zero walks in a no-decision.

Verlander allowed a couple extra-base hits but otherwise shut down Oakland's offense on 110 pitches (74 for strikes) before the Astros' bullpen coughed up the lead. With the scoreless outing, Verlander's ERA now sits at 2.05 (second best in the majors), while his 0.83 WHIP leads all MLB starters and his .180 batting average against trails only Max Scherzer (.179). The veteran right-hander will look for his 10th win before the All-Star break in a matchup against the Tigers at home.

Boyd (4-8) took the loss Tuesday against the Rays, allowing five earned runs on four hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out eight.

Boyd actually pitched pretty well but he simply couldn't get out of trouble in the third inning, when all five Tampa Bay runs came across. A three-run home run by Wilson Ramos with two outs in the frame was the big blow. Boyd has allowed at least five earned runs in four of his last five starts, and he'll carry an uninspiring 4.76 ERA into his next outing, which should come in the first series back from the All-Star break.

Blackburn (elbow) underwent an MRI on Tuesday which revealed no structural damage, but he'll still be shut down for a couple weeks, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

The Athletics were hopeful earlier Tuesday that Blackburn would spend minimal time on the shelf, but it now appears as though a return in July is out of the window. Trevor Cahill (Achilles) and Daniel Mengden (foot) could return from the disabled list this week, which could leave Blackburn as the odd man out of the starting rotation once he's healthy. Blackburn has a 7.16 ERA and 1.41 WHIP.

McGuire was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

He fanned six in three innings in his start against the Dodgers over the weekend, but the Angels don't need him in the rotation before the All-Star break, so he was sent down. Michael Hermosillo was recalled in a corresponding move.

Perez (elbow) will start Saturday's game in Baltimore, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

We knew he'd be returning this weekend, and now we have the exact date. Perez logged a 0.52 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 19 strikeouts in 17.1 rehab innings across three starts at three minor-league levels. His 4.60 ERA in 124 MLB games is much less impressive. Assuming he can stay healthy, he should be given a pretty long leash in the second half, especially given the other options in the big-league rotation and the fact they could deal No. 1 starter Cole Hamels.

Boyd, who is starting Tuesday against the Rays, will start the Tigers' first game after the All-Star break, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

In leagues with lengthy lineup periods around the All-Star break, this at least should allow Boyd to log two starts. He has a 4.58 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 79 strikeouts in 92.1 innings this season.

Montas was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The A's won't need Montas to make another start until after the All-Star break, so they will take this opportunity to add Ryan Dull to the bullpen for the final six days of the first half. It is unclear if he will start for Nashville or if the A's will use this as an opportunity to shut him down for a week or 10 days. He could rejoin the rotation against the Giants or against the Rangers in the second half.

Cole was placed on the bereavement list Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Players on the bereavement list must miss between three and seven games. Cole isn't scheduled to pitch again until Saturday, so it's likely that he won't end up missing a start, though it's possible he misses one and returns after the All-Star break. Jake Marisnick was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move.