Manfred: 'There's nothing that's different about the baseball'

Despite claims from a number of major-league pitchers, commissioner Rob Manfred remains stern that the baseballs are not juiced.

"There is nothing that is different about the baseball," Manfred said, according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.

The composition of the baseballs have come under fire this season as a number of pitchers have claimed something has changed with the ball. Those perceived changes have led to an increase in home runs, and blister issues.

Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander has been one of the most vocal, asserting changes to the ball have indeed led to a dramatic spike in homers, and offered his take on Twitter on Sunday in reply to a tweet from ESPN's Buster Olney.

While Manfred has listened to the concerns, he says the claims are unfounded and the manufacturer has guaranteed the baseballs remain unchanged.

"I don't feel the need to debate what a particular pitcher or player is saying about the baseball," Manfred said, according to Evan Woodbery of Michigan Live. "The important thing is the science and the science is reflected in the testing that Rawlings does (and) that we do that has assured us that the baseball is within specifications."