MLB Player News

Boyd (2-3) earned the win Saturday against the Mariners, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six across six innings.

Boyd got the ball for Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader after his Friday start was postponed. The southpaw retired the first eight batters he saw and made it through four scoreless innings before allowing a run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly. Having tossed six strong innings, Boyd attempted to head back out for the seventh frame but was yanked after allowing the first two batters he faced to reach base. Both inherited baserunners came around to score on Buck Farmer, adding the final two runs to Boyd's line, though he still walked away with his fifth quality start of the season. He'll carry a solid 3.21 ERA and 1.05 WHIP into his next start, which will come on the road against the Mariners.

Clevinger (3-0) picked up the win Saturday against the Royals, allowing two runs on eight hits and zero walks across 7.2 innings. He struck out five.

Clevinger continued his strong start to the season Saturday, pitching into the eighth inning for a second straight start while recording his fourth quality start in his past five outings. While he allowed eight hits, the 27-year-old was able to limit the damage to only a pair of runs. Clevinger now owns a shiny 2.70 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 44:14 K:BB through eight starts (53.1 innings) this season. He'll look to keep things rolling in his next outing, which will be a tough matchup on the road against the Astros.

Morton (5-0) picked up the win over the Rangers on Saturday, giving up one run on four hits over seven innings while striking out a career-high 14.

Aside from a Ronald Guzman solo shot in the third inning, Morton completely dominated the Rangers lineup, generating 23 swinging strikes among his 105 pitches. The right-hander will take a 2.03 ERA and eye-popping 62:17 K:BB through 48.2 innings into his next outing Friday at home against Cleveland.

Blackburn (forearm) will throw live batting practice at High-A Stockton on May 21, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The fact the announcement comes a full nine days prior to the date is a bit unusual, but it was made directly by manager Bob Melvin. In the interim, Blackburn will presumably continue to throw periodic bullpen sessions the likes of which he completed last Sunday.

Cobb (0-5) took the loss in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rays, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits over 5.2 innings while striking out five.

The right-hander allowed runs in each of his first four innings, with two of those runs coming on solo shots by C.J. Cron and Brad Miller, before getting the hook after throwing only 69 pitches (45 strikes). Cobb actually lowered his ERA to 7.06 with this performance, making him an extremely risky play in his next outing Thursday on the road against the Red Sox.

Eovaldi (elbow) is slated to make the third of his four scheduled rehab starts for Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The news is particularly notable from the standpoint that Eovaldi will see a jump in quality of competition from High-A ball, where he logged his first pair of rehab appearances. The veteran fireballer worked up to 32 pitches in his most recent outing, allowing one earned run on two hits over two innings against Fort Myers.

German had a poor showing Saturday against the Athletics, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks and striking out just one. He did not factor into the decision.

German failed to come anywhere close to the effectiveness he showed the last time out, when he struck out six over six hitless innings against the Indians. He started out well again this time, facing the minimum through three innings, but was tagged for five runs in the fourth inning, three of which came on a Khris Davis homer. His ERA now sits at 4.26 on the season, with 28 strikeouts and 12 walks in 25.1 innings. It's an unremarkable profile but it's good enough for him to hold onto a temporary role at the back of the Yankees' rotation. The Yankees have off days on both Monday and Thursday, so if they choose to skip their fifth starter German may not be called upon until May 22 against the Rangers.

Faedo allowed eight earned runs in two innings in a losing effort Friday for High-A Lakeland, bumping his ERA up to 4.17.

It had been smooth sailing for Faedo before Friday, as he came into the game with a 2.34 ERA with 27 strikeouts across his first 34.2 innings. The 22-year-old is getting his first taste of professional baseball this year, so some hiccups are to be expected, but he remains arguably Detroit's top pitching prospect.

Sale didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 5-3 extra-innings loss to the Blue Jays, allowing three runs on six hits over nine innings while striking out a season-high 15.

The left-hander was his typical dominant self, firing 85 of 116 pitches for strikes and generating a massive 26 swinging strikes, but Luke Maile's solo homer in the seventh inning denied Sale his fourth win of the year. The 29-year-old hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his nine starts so far, and his 78 strikeouts puts him third in the majors behind Max Scherzer (91) and Gerrit Cole (86). Sale will take a sparkling 2.17 ERA into his next outing Wednesday at home against the A's.

Verlander (4-2) struck out seven and walked two in a loss to the Rangers on Friday, allowing one run on three hits in six innings.

Verlander got saddled with a tough-luck loss Friday, getting outdueled by Cole Hamels. The only run he gave up came on a sacrifice fly surrendered by reliever Chris Devenski. Only one time this year has Verlander allowed more than two runs in a start, and he's holding onto an excellent 77:13 K:BB as well as a .146 batting average against. His next start will come against the Angels in Los Angeles.