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Michael Kopech SP | LAD
White Sox's Michael Kopech: Fans five in loss
Kopech walked one and struck out five over 2.1 scoreless relief innings in Saturday's 9-8 extra-inning loss to Boston.
The White Sox dug into the bullpen early because starter Dylan Cease was tagged for seven runs in the third inning and had shaky command throughout. Kopech has been hammered recently, watching his ERA jump to 4.00 following a stretch in which he allowed 17 runs in 12.2 innings, but showed no such struggles this weekend against Boston. Kopech fanned seven over a combined three scoreless innings Friday and Saturday. With some cracks showing in the rotation, Kopech could be a big multi-inning piece during the postseason.
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Carlos Rodon SP | NYY
White Sox's Carlos Rodon: Next start not determined
White Sox manager Tony La Russa said it's uncertain when Rodon will pitch next, Brian Sandalow of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Those were La Russa's comments prior to Friday's win over Boston, which the manager described as "very important" for many reasons. Apparently, the team would like to evaluate how Rodon feels following the start to determine his next outing. That the manager is considering a six-man rotation, per Sandalow, is a sign that he wants to build in an extra day of rest for Rodon, who is 7-2 with a 1.69 ERA with six or more days of rest. The White Sox don't have another open date until Sept. 27, and Rodon is up to 124.2 innings after throwing 42.1 combined over the last two seasons. Questions about his durability arose last month, when Rodon experienced a drop in velocity and missed time due to shoulder fatigue. The left-hander is tentatively scheduled to pitch Friday on six days rest, and by adding Reynaldo Lopez to the rotation, Rodon could get an extra day for the remainder of the season.
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Dylan Cease SP | TOR
White Sox's Dylan Cease: Escapes with no-decision Saturday
Cease didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 9-8 loss to the Red Sox, surrendering seven runs on four hits and five walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out five.
The right-hander tossed only 40 of 71 pitches for strikes in his worst outing of the season, but Cease was taken off the hook for his eighth loss when the White Sox rallied from a 7-2 deficit to tie the score in the fourth inning. Fatigue could be a factor for the 25-year-old, as his 151.1 innings so far in 2021 is a career high and a huge jump from last year's 58.1 IP, but it's only a small increase on his 2019 workload. On the bright side, he did reach 200 strikeouts for the first time with Saturday's performance, and on the year he sports a 4.22 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 202:64 K:BB.
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Connor Seabold RP | KC
Red Sox's Connor Seabold: Unimpressive MLB debut
Seabold didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 9-8 extra-inning win over the White Sox, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks over three innings. He failed to strike out a batter.
Making his big-league debut, the right-hander was held to 43 pitches (27 strikes) before getting pulled with Boston ahead 7-2, but the bullpen promptly allowed Chicago to tie things up with a five-run fourth inning. Seabold didn't fool anyone in this outing, but his chances of making another start next week for the Red Sox will depend more on whether Chris Sale or Nick Pivetta will be cleared to come off the COVID-19 list rather than his own performance.
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Tyler Wells RP | TB
Orioles' Tyler Wells: Unravels in Game 1 loss
Wells (2-2) took the loss in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader versus Toronto. He allowed four runs on three hits and a walk with one strikeout in 1.1 innings.
The right-hander was able to get the last out in the sixth inning without trouble, but Toronto teed off on him in the seventh, capped by George Springer's go-ahead two-run home run. Wells took his second blown save and second loss of the year after the disastrous outing. He has a 3.86 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 64:11 K:BB across 53.2 innings this year, and Saturday's poor outing ended his 10.2-inning scoreless streak. The 27-year-old will still likely see high-leverage opportunities during the last three weeks of the season.
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Luis Garcia SP | NYY
Astros' Luis Garcia: Takes first loss since Aug. 1
Garcia (10-7) allowed four runs on seven hits and a pair of walks over five innings and took the loss against the Angels on Saturday. He had three strikeouts.
Garcia was touched up for two runs in both the first and third innings, the decisive blow coming on a two-run homer by light-hitting Luis Rengifo. It was the first loss since Aug. 1 for Garcia, who had gone 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA over his previous six starts prior to Saturday's setback. He's tentatively scheduled to return to the mound next week with a home start against Arizona.
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Jose Suarez RP | ATH
Angels' Jose Suarez: Picks up second straight win
Suarez (7-7) picked up the victory Saturday against Houston, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over 5.2 innings. He also had seven strikeouts.
That's back-to-back stellar outings for the 23-year-old, who limited the high-powered Astros to a Yuli Gurriel RBI groundout in the fourth inning. Suarez boasts a 3.59 ERA in his 20 appearances (11 starts) this season, logging a 76:31 K:BB in 82.2 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face Oakland at home in his next start.
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Hyun-Jin Ryu SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Hyun Jin Ryu: Rocked early in Game 1
Ryu allowed seven runs on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts in a no-decision in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader versus Baltimore.
The southpaw didn't have to miss time after experience forearm soreness after his last start, but he wasn't very effective Saturday. Ryu avoided the loss as Toronto's offense rallied ahead in the seventh inning. He's allowed seven runs in three of his last seven starts, which has inflated his ERA to 4.11 with a 1.19 WHIP and 131:34 K:BB in 157.2 innings this year. Ryu projects for a home start versus Minnesota during next weekend's three-game series.
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Dean Kremer SP | MIN
Orioles' Dean Kremer: Heads back to minors
Kremer was returned to Triple-A Norfolk following Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Kremer was called up as the 29th man to serve as the starter in Saturday's matinee against Toronto, and he allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out two in four innings. The 25-year-old has a 5.40 ERA in 53.1 innings in Norfolk.
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Brady Singer SP | CIN
Royals' Brady Singer: Taken deep five times
Singer (4-10) took the loss Saturday against the Twins, giving up six runs on seven hits and a pair of walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.
Singer was tagged for five -- count 'em, five -- home runs after having allowed just one over his previous eight starts. Jorge Polanco took him deep twice, while Byron Buxton, Nick Gordon and Max Kepler each added solo blasts -- the first time an opposing lineup has hit multiple homers off Singer since June 22. Singer, who has just one win in his last 14 outings (1-6), is tentatively lined up to face Seattle at home next week.