MLB Player News

Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez earned his second win in the last three starts in Tuesday's win over Toronto. 

Rodriguez allowed one run over six innings to move to 4-2 on the year. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out four. 

"He made some quality pitches with men on base tonight," Red Sox manager John Farrell said, per MLB.com. "He had very good stuff. The second time through the order, down the bottom of the order, is when he started to use his third pitch a little bit more."

Rodriguez has pitched into the seventh inning just once in his last five starts. 

Rays pitcher Drew Smyly threw his second bullpen session Tuesday since suffering a shoulder injury in May, reports MLB.com.

Smyly has been sidelined since May 5 because of a shoulder injury.

Mariners pitcher James Paxton has started playing catch from 60 feet, reports the Seattle Times.

Paxton has been out since May 28 with a sprained finger on his left hand. Despite the progress, manager Lloyd McClendon said Paxton won't be back anytime soon.

"This is going to be a slow process for Paxton," McClendon said. "Pax is going to be out for a while."

Athletics ace Sonny Gray has been scratched from his start Tuesday night against Colorado due to illness, per MLB.com.

Chris Bassitt will pitch instead.

Gray has been sensational this season with a 9-3 record and 2.09 ERA. He has allowed just 81 hits in 107 2/3 innings pitched with 97 strikeouts.

The move to the bullpen for Yankees staff mate Adam Warren has resulted in the next start for Nathan Eovaldi being switched from Friday to Wednesday against the host Angels, reports Newsday.

Eovaldi, whose outing will now be on his regular rest cycle, is coming off two consecutive quality starts. But he has allowed 105 hits in 82 1/3 innings this season and owns a 4.81 ERA despite a 7-2 record.

His 1.54 WHIP is the worst among major league starters.

Astros pitcher Lance McCullers only made one mistake during Monday's start, which the Astros won 6-1 over the Royals.

McCullers surrendered one run on four hits over seven innings of work. The one run came on a solo home run by Salvador Perez in the seventh inning. McCullers also struck out six and walked two during the outing. He is now 4-2 with a 2.19 ERA.

Monday's win was McCullers' first in his last three starts. He has now given up a total of two runs over his last 13 innings of work.

Red Sox pitching coach Carl Willis indicated Monday starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez was tipping his pitches while throwing out of the stretch during his last start Thursday against the Orioles.

"It was borderline obvious," Willis said, per The Providence Journal. "He'd been so good out of the windup. Going back and looking at the pitches he executed from the stretch, they were still quality pitches. It's safe to say that there's a good likelihood that could have had something to do with it."

Rodriguez was perfect through three innings Thursday before his outing fell apart in the fourth inning. He was pulled after allowing six runs in 3 2/3 innings.

"All pitchers, when they come here, they're establishing history," Willis said. "There's video. Guys are facing them. He's faced Baltimore twice now. This will be the second time he's faced Toronto. There's nothing like hitters seeing it -- and seeing where they can pick up the ball.

"More than anything, it's a matter of pitchers being consistent within their deliveries. More so than not, starters have a consistent delivery where everything looks the same. That's what you gear yourself towards."

Red Sox manager John Farrell confirmed Monday starting pitcher Justin Masterson will be back on the hill Friday against the Astros after throwing five strong innings in a 5-3 win Sunday at Tampa Bay. Masterson allowed one unearned run on five hits and no walks, while striking out six.

Masterson is replacing Joe Kelly in the rotation after Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket last week.

A bullpen session that Paul Molitor admitted did not go well has Twins shelved pitcher Ricky Nolasco set to get another opinion on his ailing ankle, the manager has reported to MLB.com.

The ankle will be examined by specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, who has operated upon many NFL players dealing midfoot or Lisfranc injuries.

If Nolasco requires surgery, he would need as much as five or six months to recover. If not, he could still miss another 5-6 weeks.

Rays starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi will begin a rehab assignment with Class A Charlotte on Wednesday. The right-hander has been sidelined since early June due to an oblique injury.

The Rays haven't decided if Odorizzi will make one or two rehab starts before coming off the disabled list, per The Tampa Tribune.