AL West

Oakland Athletics switch-pitcher Pat Venditte has fallen victim to the injury bug that has forced him to be placed on the 15-day disabled list. 

Continue for updates. 

Venditte Has Shoulder Strain

Friday, June 12

According to the A's official Twitter, Venditte has a strained right shoulder that will keep him out for at least the next 15 days:

Before the 2015 season started, the Seattle Mariners were praised by many for their impressive pitching staff. With its first two picks in this year's MLB draft, the Mariners boosted their rotation by adding more depth.

Player: Michael Matuella

Position: RHP

DOB: 6/3/1994 (Age: 21)

Height/Weight: 6'7", 220 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: Duke

Previously Drafted: N/A (not drafted out of high school)

Background

Texas Rangers pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez tossed a shutout in Friday's 4-0 win over the Kansas City Royals and set a franchise record by starting his career with 14.2 consecutive scoreless innings, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info).

Every day that passes is another day closer to the July 31 trade deadline. For the first time in what seems like ages, the Houston Astros are shaping up to be buyers, not sellers, as that time approaches.

It is already June, and the Houston Astros still have the best record in the American League. After years of trading veterans in exchange for young prospects, the shoe is finally on the other foot.

Pat Venditte was a feel-good story in February and March. 

He was thrown into the hype machine in April and May, and it was ramped up to full bore Friday after the Oakland A’s called up the ambidextrous relief pitcher from Triple-A Nashville.

Before Tuesday, the Texas Rangers knew they had an elite power-hitting prospect in 21-year-old third baseman Joey Gallo. What they didn't know is how he looked in real, live major-league action.

Well, now they do. And they have every reason to be excited.

Very, very, very excited.

The Oakland A's record is disappointing two months in, so naturally, there's already chatter about the team trading stars.

Obviously, you're not surprised to see "Mike Trout" and "most valuable" in the same sentence. Trout was the runner-up in the American League MVP voting in 2012 and 2013 before winning the award in 2014. His name and "most valuable" have appeared together a lot over the last three years.

And yet all that now looks like little more than a prolonged warm-up for what Trout is doing in 2015.

In a time when power hitting is more of a scarce resource than ever, teams are starting to value it more than ever. As home run totals dwindle, the players who can hit for power stand out that much more.