MLB Player News

Oakland Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt fell to 1-8 as he allowed six runs on eight hits and a walk over 3 2/3 innings Tuesday against the Angels. He also struck out four.

Bassit has now failed to complete five innings in each of his past three starts. Still, his brutal record isn't indicative of his performance this season, as he owns a solid 53:16 K:BB and a 3.63 ERA in 12 starts this year.

Bassitt threw over 100 pitches just four times this season, though, and he'll need to go deeper in games to earn wins.

Royals pitcher Johnny Cueto allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks in his seventh loss Tuesday against the White Sox. He also struck out two.

Cueto is improving, as he now has three consecutive quality starts, but he still has just a 4.95 ERA and has now allowed 10 home runs in 11 starts. His 45:11 K:BB is sharp, though, and Cueto has been good enough in the past that a rough stretch shouldn't be cause for too much alarm. His full season ERA sits at 3.48.

Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels won his sixth game as a Ranger despite allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He also struck out eight.

Hamels gave up four extra-base hits including two home runs, but he managed to keep the Rangers in what turned out to be a wild game.

His final three innings went scoreless with four strikeouts to clinch the victory, and Hamels deserves credit for lasting through a difficult opening three innings. He has lost just once for the Rangers.

Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco will start Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Twins, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Tuesday's game was postponed due to rain, and rather than just move Cody Anderson to start Game 1 of Wednesday's twin bill, the Indians have decided to flip its starters and start Carrasco in the matinee. Carrasco has posted a 4.24 ERA in eight daytime starts this season, compared to a 3.12 mark at night.

Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson will start Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Indians

The Twins will keep their starters in order following Tuesday's rainout, as will the Tribe, meaning Gibson will still oppose Cody Anderson. Mike Pelfrey and Carlos Carrasco will follow in Game 2.

Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson will not make his scheduled start Tuesday against the Indians, as the game has been postponed due to rain, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

After a 70-minute delay, the game was called and rescheduled as part of a Wednesday doubleheader. Cleveland will just move Cody Anderson back, and the Twins may very well do the same with Gibson, but they have not announced their starters for the twin bill.

Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman will not make his scheduled start Tuesday against Baltimore, as the game has been postponed due to rain, Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star reports.

The game has been rescheduled as part of a Wednesday doubleheader, with Stroman tabbed to start Game 1. With seven scoreless innings against the Yankees his last time out, Stroman lowered his ERA to 1.89 through three starts.

Astros pitcher Lance McCullers won his sixth game behind a quality start Monday against Seattle, as he allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings. He also struck out seven. 

Since a blowup against the Rangers to open August, McCullers has been lights out, with quality starts in six of his seven starts. He now has a 44:13 K:BB in that span.

Still, Monday marked McCullers's first victory since July 29 against the Angels, a much needed reprieve after a stint in which the Astros scored more than three runs for him just twice. His ERA is down to 3.21.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander won his fifth game of the season Monday against the Rangers, allowing just one run with five strikeouts and one walk in six innings. 

Aside from a solo homer and a double by Prince Fielder, Verlander limited the streaky Rangers offense to singles.

The veteran has been excellent since the start of August, with a 2.53 ERA in 10 starts, and he is starting to resemble the ace he was a couple of years ago. Verlander's final start of the season will come Sunday against the White Sox.

Red Sox rookie starter Eduardo Rodriguez won his 10th game Monday against the Yankees as he allowed just one run on seven hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.

Rodriguez scattered the seven hits by holding the Yankees to just one extra-base hit, a Jacoby Ellsbury double. Rodriguez hasn't allowed more than three earned runs since August 12, a seven-start stretch in which Rodriguez owns a 34:9 K:BB and has lowered his ERA from 4.83 to 3.85. This is why Rodriguez was a coveted prospect and a run that should lock him into a starting spot next season.