MLB Player News

McCullers (4-1) allowed two hits while walking none and striking out seven across seven scoreless innings to earn the win Saturday against the Athletics.

McCullers delivered his third consecutive strong start Saturday, pitching efficiently while also racking up strikeouts. He has been excellent by nearly any measure through six starts this season -- even with a disastrous eight-run outing factored in -- and his 21.6 K-BB% effectively captures how dominant he has been. If he can remain healthy, this season appears to have the components to be a breakout campaign for McCullers.

Oaks was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Saturday.

As expected, Oaks will head back to the minors after making a spot start in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader as the designated 26th man. He was knocked around for five runs on 12 hits across five innings in a loss to the White Sox. Oaks will now rejoin the Storm Chasers' rotation.

Blackburn (forearm) has progressed to throwing from 90 feet, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Blackburn has been dealing with a right forearm strain since mid-March and has been progressing slowly but surely. The 24-year-old could begin throwing off the mound when the Athletics return to Oakland next weekend, and a return in late May from the 60-day disabled list remains possible.

Chirinos gave up three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three over two innings in a no-decision against the Red Sox on Saturday.

Chirinos wasn't sharp at all in this one -- he also uncorked two wild pitches -- but the bullpen picked him up in a 12-6 Rays win. It was his third time facing the Red Sox already this season, and even with some regression Chirinos still has a very respectable 3.71 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB in 26.2 innings. Chirinos, who was recently named to the rotation officially, should have an easier go of it next weekend at home in his first career start against the Blue Jays.

Carrasco (4-1) exited Saturday's game against the Mariners after three innings with back stiffness, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. He earned his first loss of the season by allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and one walk, recording four strikeouts.

Carrasco said his back stiffened up after slipping on a step heading out of the dugout prior to the third inning, and the Indians, trailing 5-1 at the time, felt no need to push things after he already threw 64 pitches. The injury doesn't appear overly severe at this point, and hopefully the 31-year-old will be ready for his next scheduled start, currently slated to come in Thursday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays.

Oaks (0-1) allowed five runs on 12 hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings in a loss to the White Sox in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Only two of the 12 hits went for extra bases, but that's not much of a silver lining for Oaks in his big-league debut. It was a fairly predictable result, as Oaks was giving up a ton of contact at Triple-A to begin the year, striking out just 11 batters in 23.1 innings with Omaha. As the designated 26th man for the twin bill, he will be headed back down shortly.

Odorizzi (2-2) allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings in a win over the Reds on Saturday.

The lone blemish came on a hanging first-pitch breaking ball, which Scott Schebler deposited in the right-field seats. Otherwise Odorizzi was strong, inducing 11 swinging strikes and a slew of weak popups on 91 pitches. He's a heavy flyball pitcher and more flyballs will leave the yard against better lineups -- the Yankees and Indians combined for five homers in 9.2 innings against Odorizzi his last two times out -- but the 28-year-old has appeal as a streamer in certain matchups. Next up: the White Sox in Chicago next week.

Oaks was recalled to start Game 1 of the doubleheader against the White Sox on Saturday.

He is the 26th man for the twin bill and will presumably be sent back to Triple-A Omaha after the doubleheader, as the Royals will be able to move back to a five-man rotation. The former Dodgers farmhand has a 3.09 ERA through 23.1 innings (four starts) with Omaha, but he has a mediocre 11:6 K:BB over that span, good for an atrocious 11.8 percent strikeout rate. There is some blow-up potential in this outing, and his inability to miss bats at even an average clip limits his upside.

Keuchel (1-4) allowed six runs on seven hits in a loss to Oakland on Friday, striking out three and walking zero in seven innings.

Keuchel was cruising through four innings, and then things unraveled and he gave up six runs over the next three innings of work. The long ball was the issue Friday, as he surrendered two two-run homers and a solo shot. Keuchel has now given up six home runs on the year and has achieved quality starts in three of his six starts. A bright point is that he didn't walk anyone, as he had allowed 12 walks in 29 innings going into this start. The lefty will carry a 4.00 ERA into his next start at home against the Yankees.

Kluber (4-1) struck out 10 and walked three across 8.2 innings Friday in a win over the Mariners, giving up three runs on four hits.

Kluber has thrown at least six innings while giving up three runs or fewer in all six starts. He was one out away from a complete game Friday, but was taken out at 116 pitches after giving up a single to Kyle Seager. This was the second time this season that Kluber has reached double-digit strikeouts, and he now has 47 strikeouts in 45.1 innings. The next start for the right-hander will be a matchup at home against the Rangers.