MLB Player News

Despaigne is no longer a candidate to start Wednesday after pitching in relief Tuesday against the Padres.

He was in the mix to start Wednesday's game but that is off the table now that he pitched Tuesday. Ubaldo Jimenez is the leading candidate to take the ball Wednesday, as the Orioles continue to struggle to find a reliable fifth starter.

Kluber (7-7) allowed just three hits and two walks and struck out nine in a complete game shutout victory Tuesday against the Rays.

There's the Cy Young-level performance people have come to expect from Kluber. This marks his second shutout of the season and his second complete game in his past three starts. Kluber's propensity for blowups this season makes him more unreliable than the game's true greats -- he has allowed five runs or more four times in 15 starts this year -- but Tuesday's effort proves he's still capable of the magic of his past two seasons, when he had a 2.95 ERA in 457.2 combined innings.

Snell (0-2) gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 6.2 innings in a loss Tuesday to Cleveland.

Snell was much improved over his first start, in which he lasted just 3.1 innings and gave up eight hits and five runs (but just one earned). He was a bit shaky with his control, as he threw just 13 first-pitch strikes to 29 batters and threw 57 strikes against 47 balls. Snell has issued seven walks already in 15 innings, and his 2.40 ERA will be heading north in a hurry if he can't rein it in.

Despaigne could start Wednesday's game against the Padres, the Baltimore Sun's Jon Meoli reports.

The Orioles don't have any good options to slot in for Wednesday's start, but Despaigne may have the best case to get that call. This is the spot in the rotation that Mike Wright vacated when he was optioned to Triple-A, and he can only be recalled to make Wednesday's start if the O's place someone on the disabled list. Ubaldo Jimenez is also an option, but he has been awful as a starter and as a reliever, so the team may want to reserve him for mop up duty for now. Jason Garcia and Jayson Aquino are also options at Double-A Bowie, as they are both on the 40-man roster. Despaigne actually has a better ERA as a starter (4.42) than as a reliever (6.52), although he's still a very low-upside option if he gets the nod Wednesday.

Walker (foot) will not make his scheduled start Friday but the team believes he can avoid a DL stint, the Tacoma News Tribune reports

An MRI on Tuesday revealed Walker's dealing with posterior tibial tendinitis, which is aggravated every time he pushes off the rubber while delivering a pitch. The issue has cut short Walker's last two outings, but the Mariners seem to think that with proper treatment, the right-hander will be able to return to the rotation early next week.

Walker was diagnosed with tendinitis in his right foot, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.

Walker underwent an MRI on Tuesday, and though there was no structural damage revealed, it sounds as though his status for his scheduled start Friday is in some jeopardy. After experiencing discomfort his last time out Sunday, the 23-year-old remains without a precise timetable, but a DL stint remains a possibility if he is forced to miss his next start.

Smyly didn't factor into the decision Monday in Cleveland, as he gave up four runs on eight hits over seven innings while striking out five without a walk.

Smyly has an incredible 17 strikeouts and no walks over his last two starts, yet hasn't picked up a win over that span. His 4.78 ERA isn't very impressive, but luck hasn't been on the 27-year-old's side as he has accrued an atrocious 2-7 record thus far. His strikeout potential (9.99 K/9) makes Smyly an interesting option, though his next projected matchup Sunday in Baltimore is far from ideal.

Gausman (0-5) surrendered four runs on nine hits and a walk with five strikeouts over five innings in a loss Monday to the Rangers.

Gausman hasn't been nearly as bad as his record suggests. His 4.37 ERA is actually five points better than the American League starter average, and he owns a slick 62:18 K:BB in 68 innings. Gausman's big velocity (94.8 mph average fastball) gives plenty to dream on, and if he can find a way to keep the ball in the yard (12 HR in as many starts), the 25-year-old has big upside.

Garrido has an 8.46 ERA and 1.99 WHIP in 27.2 innings for Double-A Erie. He's allowed 40 hits and 15 walks while striking out 29, mostly in relief.

Garrido is simply too hittable to be of any value in the Detroit system right now. And his minor-league WHIP is a salty 1.54 over nine seasons. At 26, he's just another journeyman minor-league reliever who's destined to ride smelly buses the rest of his baseball career.

Walker was sent to Seattle on Monday for an MRI on his injured right foot, Shannon Drayer of ESPN Radio reports.

Walker felt discomfort in his foot on his first pitch during his start at Boston on Sunday. He was removed from the game after 88 pitches despite a decent performance. Walker has posterior tibial tendinitis, the best remedy for which is rest.