MLB Player News

Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker could be done for the season with Vidal Nino set to start Friday for the Mariners, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. 

While there hasn't been any formal news regarding Walker's status, he's struggled this season - posting a 4.56 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 169 2/3 innings.

There was a bit of optimism recently surrounding Walker however, as the 23-year-old posted arguably his best line of the season against the Angels Sept. 14, giving up just one run on four hits while striking out seven batters through seven innings, but the Mariners clearly want to give some of their other young arms a chance to start.

Fantasy owners should stay tuned for more information coming in the following days.

Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (8-15) lasted only 3 2/3 innings Wednesday, giving up four earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six in a 4-2 loss to the Twins.

The Indians ace was pummeled in a nightmarish fourth inning, giving up a solo homer to Brian Dozier only to be yanked after giving up RBI hits to Trevor Plouffe and Eduardo Escobar. Kluber hasn't been particularly sharp since returning from the disabled list, failing to exceed four innings in each of his two starts. The reigning Cy Young Award winner will next take the mound Monday against the Twins.

Rays starting pitcher Drew Smyly (4-2) struck out seven over 6 1/3 shutout innings against Boston on Wednesday, allowing five hits and three walks in a 6-2 victory.

Smyly's bizarrely alternated dominant outings and blowups since returning from the shoulder injury that stole much of his season. In his eight August and September outings, he's given up five runs, then zero, then four, zero, four, zero, five and now another zero. It adds up to a strong 3.26 ERA and a 69:17 K:BB over 60.2 innings, which has Smyly looking like a high-upside option for next year.

Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (3-0) shut the Yankees out over seven innings Wednesday, striking out five while allowing just five hits and a walk in a 4-0 win.

Stroman's looked progressively better in the three starts he's made since returning from a torn ACL, and he's won each of them as the Blue Jays attempt to hold onto first place in the AL East down the stretch. At this rate, he should be considered a strong play against the Orioles on Tuesday.

Yankees starter Luis Severino surrendered three hits, two earned runs and three walks over six innings against the Blue Jays on Tuesday. He struck out three but did not factor into the decision.

It was another encouraging performance for the rookie, who has endured only one truly poor outing in nine major-league starts, against these very same Blue Jays. Severino was much sharper on Tuesday at the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre, getting first-pitch strikes on 17 of the 22 batters that he faced and largely neutralizing the potent Toronto lineup. Severino's biggest challenge this offseason will likely be finding a way to conquer the control problems that have contributed to the substantial 3.85 BB/9 rate he has amassed so far in his young career.

Astros starter Lance McCullers took his seventh loss despite allowing three runs on four hits over seven innings Tuesday against the Angels. He struck out nine and didn't walk a batter.

McCullers was aces after serving up home runs to Mike Trout and Albert Pujols in the first inning, as his next six went scoreless and he induced 12 swinging strikes and eight ground balls in 111 pitches. McCullers has quality starts in five of his past six starts and a brilliant 37:11 K:BB in that span. His ERA is a nifty 3.22.

White Sox starter Jose Quintana surrendered eight hits, an earned run and a walk over seven innings on Tuesday against the Tigers. He struck out five but did not factor into the decision.

Quintana continued his outstanding September, although he failed to factor into the decision for a second consecutive quality start. The young southpaw gave up only one earned run for the third consecutive start and once again displayed sharp control, yielding only one free pass for the second straight appearance.

Quintana brought his ERA to a new season low of 3.38 and is sporting an impressive 1.67 BB/9 rate in four September starts, a marked improvement over the 1.96 figure in that category he entered the month with.

White Sox pitcher Frankie Montas is listed as the probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

Lengthy outings from Jeff Samardzija and Erik Johnson during Monday's doubleheader spared the bullpen, and Montas will reap the benefits, as he will be afforded his first career start at the major league level. Using a high-90s fastball and a slider, Montas has fanned 10 while allowing just one run in eight innings with the big club since his September callup, though he hasn't thrown more than 65 pitches in an appearance and may face a strict pitch count Wednesday.

Twins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco (ankle) will need to throw one more side session before possibly being activated, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

He threw 49 pitches in an intrasquad game Monday, but it remains to be seen if Nolasco will have enough time to be cleared to pitch again in 2015.

Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels' next start was moved up to Thursday in Oakland.

This is a nice break for his fantasy owners, as Hamels will now be able to make three more starts this season instead of two. Yovani Gallardo will switch places with Hamels and take the ball Friday against the Astros.