MLB Player News

Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt was dominant throughout his start Tuesday against the Orioles, which the A's won 5-0.

Bassitt tossed seven scoreless innings while striking out seven and walking two. He was making his sixth start of the season and received his first win. He is now 1-4 with a 2.64 ERA.

Bassitt has earned a quality start in each of his last four starts, but has just one win to show for it.

Mariners pitcher Vidal Nuno started his first game of the season, after 21 relief appearances, Tuesday against Colorado. 

Nuno started 28 games last season. He lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. After allowing three home runs all season coming into the game, he gave up two homers on Tuesday. 

Nuno left with the score tied and took a no-decision. 

White Sox starter Chris Sale struggled again in his outing against the Rays on Tuesday. The 2015 All-Star allowed seven runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out nine, but suffered his seventh loss of the season in the 11-3 defeat.

Sale (9-7) got off to a bad start in this one, as he allowed a two-run home run to Logan Forsythe in the top of the first inning. He settled in after that, retiring 10 of the next 11 batters to face him.

But he served up a solo shot to Mikie Mahtook in the fifth, before giving up four more in a five-run sixth inning. 

This makes back-to-back starts in which Sale has allowed seven runs. The two rough outings have lifted his season ERA to a rather pedestrian 3.52 clip.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander allowed five runs on 10 hits in seven innings of work in Detroit's 5-1 loss to the Royals on Tuesday. Verlander, who struck out five and walked none, ran into problems in the second when he allowed three singles to plate a run.

Then in the fourth, Verlander gave up a two-run homer to Salvador Perez. Verlander, now 1-4, allowed just two runs in his previous two outings. The defeat on Tuesday moved his ERA to 5.05 on the year.  He will look to bounce back against the Astros on Saturday.

The Rays said that pitcher Drew Smyly will have two more minor league rehab starts. 

Smyly is on the 60-day disabled list with a shoulder injury. He's made one rehab start in Triple-A Durham. 

Smyly is expected to start for Durham on Thursday and then again on Tuesday. 

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber was not sharp during Monday's 5-4 loss to the Angels.

Kluber allowed five runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings. He also struck out four and did not walk a batter. His biggest mistake came in the sixth inning when he gave up a two-run home run to Conor Gillaspie.

Kluber is now 6-12 with a 3.60 ERA, but he has earned a quality start in six of his last eight outings.

Astros rookie right-hander Lance McCullers had his toughest start as a big-leaguer in Monday's 12-9 loss to the Rangers. McCullers was able to just one out in the first inning before being taken out of the game. He allowed six runs on seven hits, including two-run home run by Shin-Soo Choo. The only out he recorded was a strikeout of Josh Hamilton.

It was a rough outing for the youngster, who drops to 5-4. He had been solid for the better part of the season, as he entered play having allowed more than three runs just once in 13 big-league starts.

The Astros announced McCullers was optioned to the minors following the game. It's likely a move get a fresher arm on the roster, and it's possible McCullers returns for his next time through the rotation.

White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings on Monday. He left with the score tied and settled for a no-decision against Tampa.

Quintana has allowed four runs over 21 1/3 innings in his last three starts. He walked one batter, the eighth straight start he's walked one or fewer batters. 

The Indians called up pitcher Kyle Crockett, the team announced Monday. Crockett will take the place of pitcher Michael Roth, who was optioned to the minors.

Crockett has a 3.00 ERA over six innings of work earlier this season, while Roth produced a 8.76 ERA over 12 1/3 innings.

Mariners relief pitcher Vidal Nuno will start for his team against the Rockies on Tuesday, according to the Seattle Times.

Nuno last started a game on July 5, but it was for Triple-A Tacoma during a brief demotion.

“It’s just another day,” he said. “Now I just have to go 80 to 100 pitches and set the tone of the game.”

The Mariners are confident Nuno can provide the rotation some much needed rest.

“He can go five easily if we need him to,” McClendon said. “He’s very durable and he’s rested.”