MLB Player News

White Sox rookie starter Carlos Rodon allowed two runs on five hits, walking five and striking out four over six innings of a 5-2 victory against the Yankees on Friday night.

Rodon (9-6, 3.75 ERA) has strung together eight consecutive quality starts as he works to establish himself as a reliable starting pitcher. He still loses his release point at times - note the five walks in this one - but the young southpaw has the stuff to escape many of the jams he stumbles into. He features a very high ceiling, and will only improve as his command sharpens.

Rays starter Jake Odorizzi allowed four runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out four over five innings of a 5-3 loss to Toronto on Friday night.

Odorizzi (8-9, 3.49 ERA) needed 111 pitches (67 for strikes) to cover five innings, and couldn't keep the Blue Jays off the scoreboard in three of those five innings. He allowed a pair of home runs in what would be considered a mediocre outing against any team other than Toronto and their high-powered offense. He's working on a solid season and should be a good middle-of-the-rotation option in 2016.

Twins starter Tommy Milone (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, according to Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

A bout of shoulder fatigue kept Milone off the mound Wednesday, and Paul Molitor said Friday that the left-hander has been slow to respond to treatment, adding that "there's deadness" in the shoulder.

The bullpen session might be Milone's last chance to make a case for another start before the season ends, but the Twins certainly won't chance it if they remain in the playoff race.

The Twins have reinstated pitcher Ricky Nolasco from the 60-day disabled list, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.

There had been skepticism that Nolasco would return to the mound in 2015, but he'll make his comeback with 10 games left in the season.

Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press reports that Twins manager Paul Molitor doesn't see a start for the veteran happening, so it will likely be a long relief and emergency starter role for him.

White Sox left-hander Chris Sale (12-11) made it four straight losses and six consecutive starts without a win Thursday. He allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight Yankees across seven innings.

His one hiccup came on a Carlos Beltran three-run bomb that ultimately led to the defeat. The 12-11 record is unfair to Sale, as he is easily one of the best pitchers in baseball. His .326 BABIP and 2.61 xFIP indicate that he's been unlucky this season and he's a great candidate to bounce back next year. His 1.10 WHIP with 267 strikeouts are no slouch numbers.

After a slow start to his American League career, Rangers starter Cole Hamels continued to prove himself a worthy pickup with an easy win Thursday. He went six shutout innings while allowing four hits and three walks in a 9-1 victory over Oakland.

The Rangers have now won eight straight games in which Hamels has started and it's clear that trade really catapulted this impressive run that will likely win them their division.

Over his last six starts, Hamels has a 2.57 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 39 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched. The length is what the Rangers appreciate most though, as he's gone at least six innings in every outing with his new team.

Athletics starter Chris Bassitt (1-7) didn't last long Thursday, as he allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over three innings in a loss to Texas.

Bassitt threw just 73 pitches as his record continues to look terrible despite respectable peripherals. In 76 1/3 innings this season, he has maintained a 3.07 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Those numbers are trustworthy in standard mixed formats, but it's hard to trust him in general, considering he doesn't go deep into games and can't get run support from a meager Oakland offense.

Red Sox starter Wade Miley (11-11) gave up four runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings in a loss to the Rays on Thursday. He struck out three and walked one.

After three consecutive quality starts, Miley returned to normality in this one, delivering the sort of mediocrity fantasy owners have come to expect from him. He's improved his control a bit this year, but it's come at the cost of strikeouts, and the lefty's high-WHIP ways don't do him any favors. If the Boston rotation stays on schedule, he'll make two more starts this season.

Mariners starter James Paxton left Thursday's game against the Royals after just 1 1/3 innings with a torn fingernail.

Paxton allowed two runs on five hits in the start, but won't add to the statline because of the issue. He had another issue with a finger that cause him to go to the disabled list earlier in season, and it wouldn't be surprising if he's made his last start of the season. If not, his next scheduled start would come Tuesday against the Astros.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan indicated Thursday that left-hander Tommy Milone will throw again "in a day or two," and hasn't ruled out another start before the season ends, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Milone missed his most recent scheduled start Wednesday because of the issue, but it sounds as though he could pitch again this season. There's no guarantee, however, so it's worth monitoring his progression.