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James Kaprielian SP | TOR
Athletics' James Kaprielian: Logs no-decision Saturday
Kaprielian yielded three runs on eight hits over 5.1 innings in a no-decision Saturday against Texas. He did not record a strikeout or a walk.
Kaprielian failed to notch a strikeout for the first time in 15 starts this season, but he did enough to leave with a 3-2 lead with one out in the sixth inning. Kaprielian lost a chance at the win when Jonah Heim immediately greeted Oakland reliever Andrew Chafin with a sacrifice fly. Kaprielian has been a model of consistency this season, holding his opponents to three runs or fewer in all but two of his starts. He's 6-4 with a 3.33 ERA and an 83:29 K:BB in 83.2 innings on the year.
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Shane Bieber SP | TOR
Indians' Shane Bieber: Throws off mound
Bieber (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday for the first time since he landed on the injured list back in mid-June, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Bieber still has plenty of work left to do, as the session lasted just 20 pitches and didn't feature anything but fastballs, but the event still represented an important step. He'll have to keep building up his pitch count and likely make multiple rehab appearances before he's cleared to return to the active roster, but it looks as though he'll have the chance to do so before the end of the season, barring setbacks.
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Kohei Arihara SP | TEX
Rangers' Kohei Arihara: Throws simulated game
Arihara (shoulder) threw a simulated game Saturday, Chris Halicke of SI.com reports.
Arihara has been out since early May due to a shoulder injury which wound up requiring surgery. It looks as though he'll have a shot to return sometime in September, though his 6.59 ERA in his first seven major-league starts and uncertain return date make him an unappealing fantasy option in most formats.
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Luis Severino SP | ATH
Yankees' Luis Severino: Visiting doctor Monday
Severino (elbow/groin) will visit a doctor Monday and undergo an MRI on his tight right shoulder, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.
Severino has experienced multiple setbacks as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, a procedure he underwent in February 2020. His rehab was first paused in June due to a groin strain and hit another snag Friday, as he was scratched from his start at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre due to tightness in his shoulder. The Yankees are framing the latest pause as precautionary, but it's hard not to worry about a shoulder issue for a pitcher. Clarity on his return timeline should emerge following Monday's visit.
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Alex Cobb SP | DET
Angels' Alex Cobb: Not close to return
Angels manager Joe Maddon said Thursday that Cobb's injured right wrist has not responded well to treatment and that the right-hander isn't ready to return, per MLB.com.
When scans of Cobb's wrist taken shortly after he was placed on the injured list at the end of July revealed no structural damage, the belief was that the veteran hurler would not need an extended absence. That no longer appears to be the case, as Cobb has already been out over two weeks and still hasn't resumed throwing, according to the Associated Press. Cobb could still return to the big club before the end of the month, but only if the injured wrist begins to progress soon.
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Chris Sale SP | ATL
Red Sox's Chris Sale: Officially activated ahead of start
Sale was officially activated as expected Saturday ahead of his scheduled season debut against the Orioles, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.
Sale will be pitching at the big-league level for the first time in just over two years, as his last outing took place Aug. 13, 2019 in Cleveland. He was shut down with elbow issues after that start, and while Tommy John surgery was initially deemed unnecessary, he eventually underwent the procedure in March of 2020. Expectations for a pitcher in his first few starts following such a long absence should be somewhat muted, though Sale has certainly looked like his old self across 20 rehab innings, striking out 35 while walking five and allowing just three runs. He reached 80 pitches in his most recent outing, so he should be able to handle something close to a full workload Saturday.
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Robbie Ray SP | SD
Blue Jays' Robbie Ray: Goes seven with eight strikeouts
Ray went seven innings Friday, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in a 3-2 loss to Seattle. He didn't factor into the decision.
Ray made one mistake all game -- a two-run home run by Tom Murphy in the third -- on his way to a fifth straight quality start. The lefty has gone at least six innings in each of his last three starts and sports an excellent 2.88 ERA, his lowest mark since his 2017 All-Star campaign.
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Chris Flexen RP | CHC
Mariners' Chris Flexen: Submits quality start
Flexen got a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 victory over Toronto, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts in six innings.
Flexen pitched well aside from a rough fourth inning that saw him permit four baserunners and both runs for his 11th start surrendering three runs or less in his last 12 turns. The 27-year-old righty now sports a quality 3.78 ERA, though his subpar 6.1 K/9 limits his upside.
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Patrick Sandoval SP | BOS
Angels' Patrick Sandoval: Done in by poor inning
Sandoval (3-6) took the loss against Houston on Friday, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three.
The southpaw cruised through the first three innings, keeping Houston off the scoreboard while allowing only one hit. Things turned for the worse in the fourth frame, however, when Sandoval allowed the first three batters to reach base -- two via walk -- before serving up a Kyle Tucker grand slam. This marked Sandoval's first time giving up more than two runs in an outing since July 18. He lines up to make his next start at Detroit next week.
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Zack Greinke SP | KC
Astros' Zack Greinke: Hurls seven scoreless innings
Greinke (11-3) earned the win over the Angels on Friday, tossing seven scoreless innings during which he allowed two hits and no walks while striking out seven.
The veteran starter registered his first scoreless appearance since an eight-inning, four-hit effort against Seattle on April 17. Greinke allowed only two Angels hitters to reach base and retired the final 14 batters he faced. The right-hander picked up his 11th win in the process -- only Chris Bassitt of Oakland has more victories among American League hurlers. Greinke will carry a 3.51 ERA into his next start, which is lined up to take place at Kansas City next week.