MLB Player News

Smyly (2-9) allowed six runs, four of which were earned, on six hits and four walks while striking out eight to take the loss Friday against the Tigers.

Smyly held the Tigers in check for three innings before struggling to handle them the second time through the batting order. He's only been able to post one quality start over his last seven starts, and he now has a 5.33 ERA on the season. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Angels.

Stroman received a no-decision in Friday's 2-1, 19-inning loss to the Indians. He surrendered five hits, an earned run and a walk over 6.2 innings while striking out six.

After an extended stretch of mostly poor pitching, Stroman ironically got his act together against the hottest team in baseball. He threw 65 of 96 pitches for strikes, notched first-pitch strikes on 17 of 28 hitters, and induced 11 swings-and-misses. The 25-year-old finished June with a 1-3 record and 7.76 ERA over five outings with only one quality start during that span, so Friday's effort was certainly a sight for sore eyes in every sense. Stroman will attempt to continue steering the ship in the right direction next Wednesday versus the Royals.

Cobb (elbow) threw a two-inning, 35-pitch live batting practice session Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 28-year-old fired away at Steven Souza (hip) and Nick Franklin, and came away pleased with the results. Cobb threw 20 pitches during the first inning, and logged 15 more in the second and final frame. He's currently scheduled for a bullpen session Sunday, after which he'll be evaluated for a minor league rehab assignment.

Darvish (shoulder) will make a rehab start at Double-A Frisco on Monday.

After he threw a successful sim-game on Wednesday, the Rangers feel comfortable with sending Darvish out to begin his rehab assignment Monday. He's expected to throw roughly 45 pitches or three innings during his outing at Double-A Frisco. Given that pitch count, he'll likely need at least one more rehab start to push his pitch count up towards a more normal workload.

O'Sullivan is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Angels, Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald reports.

O'Sullivan, whose Triple-A start on Thursday was skipped in preparation for this move, made 11 starts for Triple-A Pawtucket this season and sparkled, posting a 6-2 record with a 2.79 ERA over 71 innings. He'll now have a chance to carry over his minor league production Sunday as he faces off against Matt Shoemaker and the Angels.

Walker, who pitched his first game Thursday after missing 10 days with a foot injury, said his right foot started aching after his first pitch, but he was able to pitch through it , the Seattle Times reports.

The injury likely prevented him from going deeper into the game. Walker threw 84 pitches in his 6.1 innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and no walks against the Orioles. He'll continue to pitch through the injury. "It's been better," Walker said. "But it's something I have to push through. There's nothing structurally wrong with it. So I can still use my legs."

Walker (4-6) gave up only four hits and an earned run over 6.1 innings in Thursday's 5-3 victory over the Orioles. He struck out five.

His foot issue was not a problem as he cooled off one of baseball's hotter teams with a highly efficient performance, one that saw him throw only 84 pitches over his six-plus innings. The 23-year-old has now tamed three dangerous offenses in his last four trips to the mound, as he'd shut out the Red Sox over five frames back on June 19, and did the same over eight innings to the Indians on June 8. Thursday, Walker managed to get 57 of his offerings across the strike zone, and notched first-pitch strikes on 14 of 22 hitters as well. He'll try to keep his momentum going when he takes on the Astros next Tuesday.

Kopech was placed on the disabled list retroactive to June 24 with a calf strain, Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com reports.

Kopech, who was set to make his debut at High-A Salem last Thursday, was a late scratch when he felt leg soreness while warming up prior to the game. The move to place him on the disabled list is precautionary and the right-hander is not expected to miss more than a start or two. The organization is eager to push Kopech, who had missed nearly a year of development after a 50-game suspension last year and a training-camp injury (fractured hand) that forced him to miss the first two-and-a-half months of 2016.

O'Sullivan's scheduled start for Triple-A Pawtucket was skipped Thursday, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports.

The Red Sox have been getting by with four starters during their most recent turn through the rotation, but will need a fifth starter Sunday and it looks like skipping O'Sullivan's start Thursday makes him an option. He had a brief turn earlier this season for Boston and was eminently hittable in two starts, giving up 19 hits and 10 runs (nine earned) in 11.1 innings. Aaron Wilkerson is also an option to be called up, however. After Sunday, scheduled days off and the looming All-Star break will allow Boston to get by without the need for a fifth starter until July 24.

Carrasco (4-2) shut down the Jays over 7.1 innings Thursday, allowing one run, three hits and two walks while striking out 14 in the win.

Between the sixth and eighth innings, Carrasco registered six consecutive strikeouts. Eight of the right-hander's 14 strikeouts came via his signature split-changeup. He fell one short of his career high of 15 strikeouts that came on Sept. 25 last year against the Royals. Since returning from the DL, Carrasco has been great, posting a 2.91 ERA and 1.21 WHIP while striking out 29 in 34 innings.