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Kutter Crawford SP | BOS
Red Sox's Kutter Crawford: Yields six runs
Crawford (7-9) allowed six runs on five hits and four walks while striking out three over 3.2 innings to take the loss versus the Royals on Wednesday.
The only positive from Wednesday's start was that Crawford allowed just one home run after giving up at least three long balls in each of his three previous starts. The right-hander has allowed 22 runs over 18.2 innings since the All-Star break, and the four walks he issued Wednesday matched his season high. The slump has raised his ERA from 3.04 to 4.11, and he's at a 1.13 WHIP and 125:34 K:BB through 131.1 innings over 23 starts this season. Crawford's next start is projected to be at home versus the Rangers.
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Cole Ragans RP | KC
Royals' Cole Ragans: Collects ninth win
Ragans (9-7) allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out seven over 6.1 innings to earn the win Wednesday over the Red Sox.
The Royals' defense didn't do Ragans any favors in the third inning, with all three Boston runs in that frame being unearned. That didn't stop Ragans from pitching into the seventh inning for the first time in four starts. The southpaw allowed multiple homers for just the second time this season. Ragans is at a 3.27 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 166:47 K:BB through 140.1 innings over 24 starts this season and he's projected for a road start versus the Twins in his next outing.
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Will Warren SP | NYY
Yankees' Will Warren: Returned to Triple-A
The Yankees returned Warren to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Angels.
Making his second MLB start in the second game of the twin bill, Warren struggled mightily, allowing eight earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out six batters in 4.1 innings en route to taking a loss. He'll now head back to Triple-A, where he has also languished to the tune of a 6.11 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 95.2 frames.
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Taj Bradley SP | MIN
Rays' Taj Bradley: Dealt sixth loss
Bradley (6-6) allowed five runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings to take the loss Wednesday versus the Cardinals.
This was the third time all year Bradley has given up at least five runs. He's given up nine runs across his last 9.2 innings, taking losses in each of his last two starts after posting a 20-inning scoreless streak over three outings before that. The 23-year-old still has an impressive 3.07 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and 106:31 K:BB across 91 innings over 16 starts, but there's always the risk of a young pitcher wearing down late in the year. He's tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Astros.
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Joey Estes SP | ATH
Athletics' Joey Estes: Fans four in no-decision
Estes did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's win against the White Sox, allowing two earned runs on six hits and zero walks while striking out four in five innings.
Both earned runs came on a two-run blast by Andrew Benintendi in the second inning. Although he yielded three extra-base hits and needed 96 pitches to get through five innings, Estes has pitched well of late. The 22-year-old rookie has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his past five appearances (four starts), pitching to a 2.84 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB in 25.1 innings during that stretch. Estes will look to keep things rolling in his next start, currently scheduled for next week against the Mets.
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Davis Martin SP | CHW
White Sox's Davis Martin: Six shutout innings
Martin came away with a no-decision Wednesday against the Athletics, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out four in six scoreless innings.
Martin cruised through six innings on just 82 pitches, even bringing a no-hitter into the fifth inning before an Abraham Toro single broke up the bid. Martin exited the game leading 2-0 and in line for the win, but Touki Toussaint promptly gave up three runs in the seventh, resulting in a no-decision for Martin. The 27-year-old Martin has taken over Erick Fedde's rotation spot since the trade deadline and will continue to make starts for the White Sox, especially with Drew Thorpe (flexor) out for the foreseeable future. Martin owns a 3.65 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB across 12.1 innings (two starts) this season. His next start is scheduled to come next week against the Yankees.
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Carlos Carrasco RP | ATL
Guardians' Carlos Carrasco: Stuck with 10th loss
Carrasco (3-10) took the loss Wednesday against the Diamondbacks in the second game of a doubleheader, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
After delivering a scoreless first inning, Carrasco allowed two runs in the second, including a leadoff homer to Josh Bell, before the Diamondbacks added on two more runs on Bell's second homer in the third. The 37-year-old Carrasco has dropped four of his last five starts while struggling to an 8.65 ERA in his last four outings. His ERA is up to 5.64 on the season with a 1.40 WHIP and 89:33 K:BB across 103.2 innings. Carrasco's currently lined up to face to Cubs at home early next week, though he could soon lose his spot in the rotation with Matthew Boyd (elbow) nearing a return.
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Yusei Kikuchi SP | LAA
Astros' Yusei Kikuchi: Fans eight in victory
Kikuchi (5-9) picked up the win Wednesday against the Rangers, allowing two earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out eight in 5.1 innings.
Kikuchi was sharp Wednesday, tallying eight strikeouts while allowing just one extra-base hit -- a solo home run by Marcus Semien in the sixth inning. The southpaw has been excellent in his first two starts in an Astros uniform, pitching to a 3.27 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with an impressive 19 strikeouts in 11 innings. Kikuchi remains somewhat volatile due to his high walk rate -- the 33-year-old has issued multiple free passes in each of his past five starts, failing to pitch six innings in any of those appearances -- but overall he's one of the more underrated arms in the league. He is currently scheduled for a road start in Tampa Bay early next week.
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Will Warren SP | NYY
Yankees' Will Warren: Officially promoted
The Yankees recalled Warren from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ahead of his start in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Angels.
Warren will work as the Yankees' 27th man Wednesday, and he'll most likely be sent back to Triple-A after making his start in the nightcap. The 25-year-old righty surrendered four earned runs in 5.1 innings during his only other start in the majors this season, and he owns a 6.11 ERA across 20 starts in the minors.
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Nick Pivetta SP | SD
Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Being skipped in rotation
Pivetta will have his next start skipped and won't pitch this weekend against the Astros as previously scheduled in order to provide him some extra rest, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
The right-hander isn't dealing with an injury, but he's failed to cover five frames in two of his past three starts and has given up 13 runs (12 earned) in those three outings. Pivetta averaged 91.9 mph with his fastball during his previous start Sunday at Texas, which is down a couple ticks from his season average of 94.1 mph. The 31-year-old could be reinserted into the rotation next week for a rematch versus the Rangers.