MLB Player News

It was not a sunny day for Sonny Gray in Oakland on Wednesday. He took a rare pounding by the Angels.

The Athletics right-hander allowed six runs in the first two innings before settling down to toss shutout ball over the last three he pitched. He gave up eight hits while walking one and fanning two, matching a season-low.

The first four batters he faced singled as Gray gave up four in the first inning. Albert Pujols took him deep for a two-run homer in the second.

It marked the first time he has surrendered six earned runs in an outing this season.

Tigers rebounding right-hander Justin Verlander put together the worst performance in his last five starts Tuesday night in Kansas City. But that's not saying much - it was still pretty darn good.

Verlander, who was coming off a one-hitter, yielded two earned runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings with one walk and four whiffs. He raised his record to 2-4 in the process. The big blow was a Kendrys Morales home run in the fourth inning.

He has given up a mere three runs over his last 35 2/3 innings to lower his ERA to 3.40 as he continues to show flashes of the Verlander of old.

The Royals acquired Johnny Cueto to be their ace. Now if he can only start living up to those expectations.

Cueto did not rise to the occasion Tuesday against visiting Detroit. He surrendered four runs on nine hits in six innings with no walks and two strikeouts, which tied a season-low.

The big blows against him were RBI singles by Miguel Cabrera, Jose Iglesias and Ian Kinsler. He did manage to retire the last seven batters he faced, but he was saddled with his fourth loss in six decisions since arriving in Kansas City.

Cueto has gone south since pitching well in his first four starts. He has given up 16 runs on 30 hits in his last 19 innings.

To Superman, it's kryptonite. To Chris Sale, it's Target Field.

The home of the Twins continued to haunt the White Sox ace Tuesday night. He allowed four runs on nine hits in just 6 1/3 innings with one walk and his usual 10 strikeouts.

Sale was fine outside a miserable second inning in which he yielded run-scoring hits to Eduardo Escobar, Kurt Suzuki and Brian Dozier. A Chicago rally prevented him from taking the loss.

The super lefty has been far from super at Minnesota, where he has surrendered 17 earned runs in 16 innings this season and been forced to accept three of his seven losses on the season.

Rays pitcher Drew Smyly tossed seven scoreless innings to help send the Rays to an 11-2 win over the Orioles on Tuesday.

Smyly allowed four hits while striking out 10 and walking one. He is now 2-2 with a 3.11 ERA. The 10 strikeouts matched his season high. Smyly is 2-0 in his last three outings.

An MRI was not required for the ailing shoulder of Athletics starter Chris Bassitt, the San Francisco Chronicle has reported.

Bassitt has been scratched from his Tuesday start. He is hoping rest and strength work will allow him to return quickly.

Mariners left-hander James Paxton, who has been out for more than three months with a finger injury, is closing in on a return. He will start Wednesday for Triple-A Tacoma, then join the club when it comes home on Sept. 7, per MLB.com.

Paxton will return with a 3-3 record and 3.70 ERA.

Mariners starter Vidal Nuno got roughed up a bit by the Astros on Monday. Nuno allowed five runs on seven hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out two, en route to the 8-3 loss.

Nuno (0-3, 3.32 ERA) had trouble keeping the ball in the park in this one. He gave up a run in the first inning. And after the Mariners tied the game in the second, Nuno allowed fourth-inning solo home runs to Jed Lowrie and Hank Conger. He also served up a two-run shot to Carlos Correa in the fifth.

Nuno pitched an inning of relief on Wednesday, and thus hadn't started a game since August 22. In five August starts, Nuno went 0-2 with a 5.27 ERA.

Astros ace Dallas Keuchel was very ace-like in his start against the Mariners on Monday. The left-hander allowed one run on six hits over seven solid innings. He walked one and struck out eight, en route to the 8-3 victory.

Keuchel (16-6, 2.24 ERA) allowed a solo home run to Mark Trumbo in the second inning for the only damage against him. Otherwise, Keuchel as flat-out dominant against the Mariners.

The Cy Young Award candidate was absolutely brilliant in August. In six starts, he went 4-1 with a 1.95 ERA and a 41:8 K:BB ratio.

Red Sox rookie starter Eduardo Rodriguez pitched well and earned his eighth win of the season on Monday against the Yankees. Rodriguez allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits over five-plus innings. He walked three and struck out four, en route to the 4-3 victory.

Rodriguez (8-5, 4.25 ERA) gave up a run in the first inning, thanks in-part to a fielding error. Another run came across in the fourth, but the Red Sox scored three runs of their own in between. The bullpen made things interesting, but ultimately the Red Sox held on for the win.

The young right-hander pitched well in August, going 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA--which includes an eight-run meltdown back on August 12.