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Jeff Hoffman RP | MIN
Rockies' Jeff Hoffman: Starting Saturday
Hoffman will start Saturday against the Brewers, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Tyler Anderson was scratched and the Rockies will turn to Hoffman to toe the rubber in his absence. Hoffman has fared reasonably well in two relief appearances, but he struggled mightily in five starts to begin his MLB career (nearly a 1.000 OPS allowed to opposing hitters) he will come with significant of downside in the home start.
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Alex Reyes RP | LAD
Cardinals' Alex Reyes: Stays cool under pressure of critical start
Reyes pitched six innings, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out six Reds in Thursday's no-decision.
Reyes came through big, improving his team's position in the Wild Card standings Thursday. The Cardinals watched their rookie right-hander rise to the occasion by weaving his way through a few trouble spots for his third quality start of the month. Over six September innings, Reyes managed a 3-1 record with an impressive 1.97 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 32 innings.
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Jeanmar Gomez RP | CHW
Phillies' Jeanmar Gomez: Struggles again Thursday
Gomez was tagged with a loss Thursday after allowing four runs on three hits in a third of an inning against the Braves.
Gomez entered Thursday's game with the score tied in the eighth. His chances of earning another save this season are slim given his recent struggles. Hector Neris and Michael Mariot are the primary candidates for save chances should the Phillies generate any over the final games of the season.
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Mark Melancon RP | ARI
Nationals' Mark Melancon: Earns 45th save Thursday
Melancon recorded the final two outs of Thursday's game against Arizona to earn his 45th save of the season.
Reynaldo Lopez made it a save situation by allowing a two-run homer to Socrates Brito in the ninth. Melancon was called upon and nailed down the win, recording the final two outs on a total of 10 pitches. He is now 14-for-15 in save opportunities since joining Washington and has converted 45 of 49 chances on the year. The right-hander appears headed for a big payday this winter.
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Jose De Leon RP | BOS
Dodgers' Jose De Leon: Can't finish three innings in final regular-season outing
De Leon was tagged for five runs (three earned) on four hits over 2.1 innings against the Padres on Wednesday. He walked three and struck out just one, but left with no decision.
De Leon's star-quality numbers in the minors have yet to translate at baseball's highest level, but he remains one of the Dodgers' top prospects. The 24-year-old may not make the playoff roster, but he should be in strong contention for a rotation spot come spring training 2017.
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Shelby Miller RP | CHC
Diamondbacks' Shelby Miller: Extends scoreless streak to 12.1 innings versus Washington
Miller (3-12) threw a rare five-inning complete game, allowing no runs on five hits, striking out five and walking one in a victory over the Nationals. The game was called after five and a half innings due to rain.
The right-hander has done his best to turn it on lately and erase the ridiculous Diamondbacks trade that brought him to Arizona from people's minds, but it's ultimately too little, too late to fix that. Miller has thrown 12.1 straight scoreless innings, and he still has an ERA above 6.00. He also owns a 1.67 WHIP and .310 batting average against. Maybe his final two starts are a sign he will turn it around next season, but as for 2016, it was a complete disaster for Miller.
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Matt Moore RP | BOS
Giants' Matt Moore: Strikes out 11 in win over Rockies
Moore (5-5) allowed one run over 7.2 innings and struck out 11 in a win Tuesday against the Rockies.
Moore bounced back from a horrendous start his last time out against the Dodgers (six earned runs in one inning) to deliver arguably his best start of the season. He didn't walk a batter for the first time since Apr. 17, tied a season high with 11 strikeouts, and needed just 99 pitches to get 23 outs. Moore owns a mediocre 4.48 ERA for the Giants, but this is the kind of start that shows just why they acquired him.
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Mark Melancon RP | ARI
Nationals' Mark Melancon: Nails 44th save Tuesday
Melancon earned his 44th save by pitching a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout Tuesday against Arizona.
Melancon has been one of the league's most effective closers with 95 saves since the start of the 2015 season. His 8.3 K/9 has risen more than a full strikeout per nine innings compared to last season.
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Robert Stephenson RP | LAA
Reds' Robert Stephenson: Gives up five runs in loss to Cardinals
Stephenson (2-3) allowed five runs on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts over four innings Tuesday against the Cardinals.
Stephenson has given up four runs or more in all of his last five starts. He has surrendered at least one home run -- two Tuesday night -- in each of those starts as well. Stephenson's struggles in the minor leagues (4.41 ERA in 136.2 innings) have followed him to the next level. His ERA is up to 6.27 after Tuesday's stinker, and he has allowed nine homers in just seven outings.
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Jimmy Nelson RP | LAD
Brewers' Jimmy Nelson: Takes 16th loss against Gomez
Nelson (8-16) allowed five runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 5.1 innings in a loss Tuesday against Texas.
Nelson's second half tailspin continues. He is now 2-9 with a 6.75 ERA over 65.1 innings in 13 starts dating back to July 22. Nelson's 83:50 K:BB in that span isn't pretty, but the real problem has been the home run ball. He has served up 13 home runs in his 13-start cold streak; he allowed just 12 in his first 19 starts, in which he posted a sharp 3.39 ERA.