MLB Player News

Verlander did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's loss to the Mariners, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out nine.

Verlander got off to a great start, hurling 1-2-3 innings in three of the first four frames before surrendering a solo homer to Dominic Canzone in the fifth. The veteran right-hander would only allow a walk from that point on and managed to go seven innings for the third time in his last six starts. Verlander also matched his season high with nine strikeouts, which he also recorded in his previous start against the Athletics.

Alexander won't start Thursday's game against the Athletics but is expected to be deployed in bulk relief behind opener Shawn Armstrong.

Though he was roughed up for eight earned runs over five innings while working behind Armstrong in his last turn through the rotation May 24 versus the Royals, Alexander won't be used as a traditional starter Thursday and will instead enter the game after Armstrong once again. Despite the poor showing his last time out, Alexander has generally been reliable this season at the back end of the Tampa Bay rotation. In his seven outings prior to the blowup against the Royals, Alexander delivered a 4.30 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across 37.2 innings.

Kirby did not factor into the decision in a win over the Astros on Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits over six innings while striking out eight.

Kirby retired the first eight batters he faced to open the contest and didn't allow an extra-base hit over his six innings of work. The right-hander induced 15 swings and misses on the night en route to posting his highest strikeout total in his last six starts. He's now gone six or more innings in four consecutive outings, though he's posted quality starts in only two of those appearances. Kirby has also walked only two batters over six starts in May.

Anderson (5-5) got stuck with the loss against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and six walks over five innings. He struck out four.

Anderson allowed three batters to reach base in each of the first two frames but somehow managed to pitch his way around it and avoid sustaining any damage. However, the lefty would finally cough up a run in the fourth after leaving a sinker up in the zone, which Alex Verdugo proceeded to crush over the wall in right field. Anderson issued a season-high six free passes on the night and has now walked multiple batters in three consecutive starts. Even with those walks, it was also the third straight outing in which he allowed only one run.

Gil (7-1) picked up the win Wednesday over the Angels, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out nine over eight frames.

Gil continued his fantastic start to the campaign Wednesday, allowing just one hit over the first six innings before surrendering a solo home run to Logan O'Hoppe in the seventh. The right-hander produced 15 whiffs on the night while posting at least eight strikeouts for the third consecutive outing. Gil has now logged six quality starts in a row and improved to 6-0 in May after the win over Los Angeles. Over that stretch, he carries a ridiculous 0.70 ERA to go along with a 44:12 K:BB. Wednesday also marked his longest outing of the season.

Allen (6-3) took the loss against the Rockies on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on six hits and two walks over 1.2 innings while striking out one.

Allen gave up one run on an infield single in the opening frame before getting obliterated in the second inning, beginning with a single from Elehuris Montero and ending with an RBI double from Elias Diaz. The lefty was then relieved by Eli Morgan with just two outs in the frame, marking his shortest outing of the season. It was actually Allen's second time this month in which he allowed seven runs in a start, while the loss also snapped a streak of three consecutive wins for the second-year pitcher.

Estes allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out five batters over five innings in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

The only run Estes allowed came in the fourth inning, when he began the frame by hitting Isaac Paredes with a pitch before serving up a run-scoring triple off the bat of Brandon Lowe. Promisingly, Estes recovered to retire the next three batters without allowing Lowe to cross the plate, and he finished off his outing with another scoreless inning. Though Estes holds a 6.10 ERA through 20.2 frames this season, he's held his own in three of his four starts -- the poor earned-run average is largely due to an eight-run, 3.2-inning blowup against Houston in his second appearance.

Pepiot allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Oakland on Wednesday.

Pepiot appeared on his way to a quality start after giving up one run through five frames, but he was pulled with two outs in the sixth after allowing two batters to reach base, and one came around to score after his departure. Still, this was a positive step forward in the right-hander's second game back following a stint on the injured list. Pepiot gave up three runs over just four frames while walking four batters in his return from the IL last Wednesday.

Crawford (2-4) took the loss against Baltimore on Wednesday, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five batters over six innings.

Crawford was excellent outside of the second inning -- he gave up five runs on three hits, a walk and a hit batter in that frame, with the big blow being a grand slam by Gunnar Henderson. The right-hander did hold the Orioles scoreless on one hit the rest of the way, but the damage was too much to overcome against Baltimore starter Corbin Burnes. Crawford has surrendered 11 runs over 10.1 innings across his past two starts, pushing his season ERA to 3.29. It sat at 2.17 prior to the two-game downturn.

Burnes (5-2) earned the win over Boston on Wednesday, allowing an unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out five batters over seven innings.

Burnes was splendid in the outing, yielding no extra-base hits and allowing zero earned runs for the second time in his past three starts. The right-hander's five strikeouts were mildly disappointing, but he did have his swing-and-miss stuff working with 16 whiffs in the contest. Burnes has completed at least six frames in seven straight starts and is tied for second in the league with nine quality starts on the campaign.