MLB Player News

Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray picked up his ninth win of the season on Thursday against the Rangers.

Gray tossed six innings, allowed nine hits and three earned runs on the day. He started his day off with three scoreless innings, but he gave up three runs over the next two.

Overall, Gray was solid as he struck out seven batters and allowed just one walk while picking up the win.

Gray (9-3) has a 2.09 ERA with 97 strikeouts and 26 walks in 107 2/3 innings this season.

Red Sox rookie starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez was roughed up for the second time in three starts during Thursday's 8-6 loss to the Orioles. The left-hander allowed six runs on seven hits and no walks, while striking out five in 3 2/3 innings.

Rodriguez (3-2) got off to a really great start Thursday. He had two strikeouts in the first inning and five strikeouts through three perfect innings. Unfortunately, it all fell apart for Rodriguez in the fourth inning.

He retired Manny Machado to begin the inning before he allowed a double to Chris Parmalee and an RBI single to Nolan Reimold. Matt Wieters then parked a two-run homer. Delmon Young and Chris Davis reached via singles before J.J. Hardy brought both players home with a double. Steve Pearce singled before Ryan Flaherty gave the Orioles a 6-1 lead with a sac fly. 

"He's cruising along -- he retires the first 10 of the game," Red Sox manager John Farrell said, per MLB.com. "He was dominant. He had a number of swing-and-miss [pitches], and then he gets in the stretch, they make a little bit of an adjustment. He wasn't commanding the baseball when he got to the stretch.

Alexi Ogando then replaced Rodriguez with two outs in the fourth, and escaped the jam by getting Machado to fly out to center field.

Rodriguez has allowed at least six runs in two of his last three starts. He lost both of those games.

Rangers pitcher Martin Perez is slated to make his next rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock this Saturday, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Perez made a rehab start on Monday and allowed one run on two hits in three innings. He's still recovering from Tommy John surgery and has not played in the majors yet this season. 

With the Red Sox optioning starting pitcher Joe Kelly to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday, the team announced Justin Masterson would replace him in the rotation Sunday against the Rays.

Masterson was activated off the disabled list Tuesday. He was moved to the bullpen, but he did not make any relief appearances. He is 2-2 with a 6.37 ERA in seven starts this season.

Rays starting pitcher Drew Smyly (shoulder) stretched out to 120 feet while long-tossing Wednesday, according to The Tampa Tribune. Smyly threw from 105 feet on Monday.

Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers struck out six batters in a no-decision on Wednesday against the Angels.

McCullers threw six innings, allowed four hits and one earned run. He walked three batters and threw 104 pitches before leaving the game. 

McCullers (3-2) has a 2.33 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 16 walks through 46 1/3 innings of work this season.

Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney was dominant in his season debut against the Astros on Wednesday.

Heaney tossed six innings, allowed four hits and just one earned run before leaving the game. He struck out five batters and walked another as he showed great command over his pitches. Heaney's lone mistake came on a double he allowed to Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, which scored their only run of the day.

Heaney, who was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake prior to the game, went 6-2 with a 4.71 ERA in 14 minor-league starts this season.

 "It was good," Heaney said of his Angels debut, per MLB.com. "I wish I wouldn't have given up the one run and we would've hopefully won that in 8 1/2 innings and not had to burn so much of the bullpen. But I felt good."

Mariners pitcher James Paxton is beginning to feel relief in his strained middle finger, according to the Tacoma News Tribune. 

Paxton hasn't pitched since May 28 with his finger healing slower than expected. However, Paxton's finger is beginning to feel better and he's hoping to play catch this weekend. This season, Paxton is 3-3 with a 3.70 ERA. 

Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels struggled in his start on Wednesday, as the Yankees took the 10-2 victory.

Hamels lasted five innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. He walked three and struck out three, needing 102 pitches to get through the outing. Hamels' ERA rose to 3.26 after Wednesday's performance.

Hamels, who dropped to 5-6 on the year, gave up two runs in the second and another three in the fourth, as he never was able to get into a groove in this one. He had missed his previous start with a hamstring issue, but it is not clear if that ailment effected his outing on Wednesday.

White Sox pitcher Chris Sale was able to extend his double-digit strikeout streak during Wednesday's start, but the White Sox lost 6-1 to the Twins.

Sale allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings of work. The 10 strikeouts extended his double-digit streak to seven games. He is now 6-4 with a 3.02 ERA on the season.

Despite striking out 36 batters over his last three starts, Sale is 0-2 over that period. Wednesday's start also broke his streak of receiving a quality start in his last eight starts. Sale also saw his streak of recording at least one strikeout in an inning end at 38 innings.