MLB Player News

Rangers starter Cole Hamels saw improvements over his first first start with his new club, but he was still the losing pitcher on Friday. Hamels went six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits in the 4-3 loss to the Mariners. He walked two and struck out seven.

Hamels (6-8, 3.86 ERA) was given a 2-0 lead in the second inning, but the Mariners began chipping away. Three of the four runs Hamels gave up came on a solo home runs by Mark Trumbo, Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano.

The veteran left-hander gave up five runs, albeit over 7 2/3 innings, in his Rangers debut last weekend. 

Angels starter Andrew Heaney gave up a season-high four runs on a season-high 10 hits. 

Heaney lasted 5 2/3 innings. It's the second time this season, and second straight start, where Heaney has failed to pitch at least six innings. 

Heaney allowed two home runs, matching the total he gave up in July. He struck out a season-low two batters. 

Orioles starter Kevin Gausman lost to the Angles on Friday, dropping to 2-3 on the season. 

Gausman has lost three out of his last four decisions, dating back to July 7. 

Gausman gave up six runs on a season-high nine hits over 5 2/3 innings. It's the first time in five starts he failed to go at least six innings. 

Astros ace Dallas Keuchel had a peculiar start agains the A's on Friday. The left-hander matched a season-high with 10 hits allowed, but gave up just three runs over 7 2/3 innings in the 3-1 loss. Keuchel walked two and struck out three, as he was simply out-pitched by Sonny Gray, who tossed a complete game gem.

Keuchel (13-6, 2.40 ERA) was able to limit the damage against him, despite the high number of baserunners. He allowed individual runs in the second, third and fifth innings, including a third-inning solo blast by Danny Valencia. 

Over his past six starts, Keuchel is 3-3 with a 3.57 ERA.

Athletics starter Sonny Gray was dominant in his outing against the Astros on Friday night. The right-hander tossed a complete-game victory, allowing just one run and five hits in the 3-1 win. Gray struck out five and did not walk a batter in the superb performance.

Gray (12-4) lowered his ERA to an American League-best 2.06, as he posted his third complete game in his last six starts. Over that stretch, Gray is 3-1 with a 1.72 ERA. The only run he allowed on Friday came on a fifth-inning solo home run by Luis Valbuena.

Gray out-dueled Dallas Keuchel in this one, as he was able to shut down a potent Astros lineup.

Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi allowed just one run over 6 1/3 innings, but he left with the score tied, taking a no-decision against Toronto on Friday. 

Eovaldi pitched into the seventh inning for just the second time in 10 starts. He gave up the fewest runs in a start since July 1. 

Eovaldi hasn't lost in his last nine starts, dating back to June 16. 

Rays starter Jake Odorizzi was strong in his outing against the Mets on Friday. The young right-hander quieted a hot Mets offense, as he limited them to one run on four hits over 6 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six on the evening.

The only run Odorizzi allowed came on a seventh-inning solo home run by Juan Uribe. 

Odorizzi did not factor in the final decision however, as the Mets won the game 4-3 in a see-saw, back-and-forth battle late in the game. Over his past four starts, Odorizzi is 1-0 with a 2.67 ERA.

Mariners left-hander James Paxton has begun throwing without a wrap on his finger. Paxton has been on the disabled list since the end of May due to a strained middle finger on his left hand.

Paxton could be headed to his first bullpen session since the injury, perhaps as early as Sunday according to the Tacoma News Tribune. There is no further timetable for his return to the rotation.

Red Sox rookie starter Eduardo Rodriguez was excellent in his outing against the Yankees on Thursday. The young hurler tossed seven innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out five. He picked up the loss however, as the Red Sox fell 2-1 to the Yankees.

Rodriguez (6-4, 4.17 ERA) essentially matched CC Sabathia pitch for pitch for most of the night. But he made a costly error in the seventh inning, when he allowed a solo home run to Jacoby Ellsbury. That would prove to be the winning run, as the Red Sox were not able to rally back.

Rodriguez has been stellar over his past seven starts. In that stretch, he is 3-2 and has allowed more than three earned runs just once--a seven-run meltdown against the Angels on July 20.

For the second straight game, a Twins starter was blasted by the Blue Jays' offense. This time, it was right-hander Kyle Gibson, as he allowed eight runs on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings in Thursday's 9-3 loss. Gibson walked three and struck out four, needing 97 pitches to record 14 outs.

This was Gibson's shortest start since going 3 2/3 innings in his first start of the season back in early April. The eight earned runs match a career-high, which was set back in 2013.

Gibson (8-9, 3.78 ERA) gave up a single run in the first inning and then the wheels started to come off. He allowed three runs in the third, including a two-run home run by Edwin Encarnacion. The Blue Jays tacked on four more in the fifth, as they had Gibson against the ropes all night. 

Gibson has now allowed five earned runs or more in three of his past four starts. He is 0-3 with a whopping 8.51 ERA over that stretch.