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Vidal Nuno SP | WAS
Rays' Vidal Nuno: Picks up win Saturday
Nuno (2-0) struck out four and recorded the win in Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Astros, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits in 4.2 innings of relief.
Taking over from starter Ryne Stanek to begin the second inning, the left-hander fired 50 of 66 pitches for strikes, and only the red-hot Alex Bregman was able to do any damage against him with a two-run homer in the sixth inning. Nuno now has a 1.64 ERA on the season but an even more impressive 1.13 ERA and 12:2 K:BB through 16 innings and four appearances since moving into one of the regular long-relief slots on the Rays' staff.
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Justin Verlander SP | DET
Astros' Justin Verlander: Fans eight in Saturday's loss
Verlander (9-4) took the loss Saturday, coughing up five runs on nine hits and a walk over five innings while striking out eight as the Astros fell 5-2 to the Rays.
It was his worst start in an Astros uniform since joining the team at last year's trade deadline, with the five-inning stint being his shortest of the season to date. Verlander will still carry an exceptional 2.12 ERA into his next outing Friday at home against the White Sox.
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Carlos Carrasco RP | ATL
Indians' Carlos Carrasco: Logs four scoreless rehab frames
Carrasco (elbow) threw four scoreless innings for Double-A Akron on Saturday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four, and he probably will rejoin Cleveland's rotation for his next start, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Manager Terry Francona likely will confirm Carrasco's next steps Sunday, but it doesn't look like Cookie will need another minor-league tuneup. Expect his activation to happen in time for a Friday home assignment against the Athletics.
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Matthew Boyd SP | CHC
Tigers' Matt Boyd: Seven strikeouts in quality start
Boyd struck out seven and walked two against the Blue Jays on Saturday, allowing three runs on four hits -- including a home run -- over six innings. He did not factor into the decision.
Boyd didn't allow any hits through four innings but started to fall apart in the fifth, allowing a double, a single and a homer. He got out of the sixth to earn his quality start but was matched by the Jays' Sam Gaviglio, so neither pitcher earned a decision. Boyd's performance wasn't a dominant one, but it was a step in the right direction after he allowed 11 runs in seven innings over his last two starts. He'll next take the mound Thursday against the Rangers.
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Marcus Stroman SP | NYY
Blue Jays' Marcus Stroman: Sharp in Friday's win
Stroman (1-5) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings while striking out four in a 3-2 victory over the Tigers.
It's his second quality start of the year and second straight solid performance since coming off the disabled list. Stroman threw 65 of 90 pitches for strikes in finally collecting his first win of the season, but he's still saddled with a 6.20 ERA heading into his next start Wednesday at home against the Mets.
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Eduardo Rodriguez SP | ARI
Red Sox's Eduardo Rodriguez: Rocked by Yankees on Friday
Rodriguez (9-3) took the loss Friday as the Red Sox fell 8-1 to the Yankees. He struck out two and gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings.
The left-hander struggled through his second straight poor performance, throwing 55 of 95 pitches for strikes and serving up two of the Yankees' four homers on the night, and Rodriguez's ERA has crept up over half a run to 4.11 over that stretch. He'll try to turn things around Wednesday on the road against the Nationals.
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Marco Gonzales RP | TEX
Mariners' Marco Gonzales: Tosses complete game Friday
Gonzales (8-5) got a complete-game victory against the Royals on Friday, giving up six hits and striking out seven with no walks while allowing one earned run in Seattle's 4-1 victory.
Gonzales was tantalizingly close to making this a shutout, but he surrendered an RBI single to Mike Moustakas in the ninth inning. Even so, it was a phenomenal outing from the 26-year-old left-hander, who is quietly turning in a solid season in Seattle. With this start in the bag, Gonzales now has a 3.77 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 87:20 K:BB through 100.1 innings. He has a divisional matchup with the Angels next on the docket July 5.
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Jose Berrios SP | TOR
Twins' Jose Berrios: Mauled by Cubs on Friday
Berrios (8-6) took the loss Friday, coughing up six runs on six hits and four walks over 4.1 innings while striking out two as the Twins fell 10-6 to the Cubs.
Chicago slugged four homers on the day and the right-hander served up two of them, including a sixth-inning grand slam by Addison Russell that put the Cubs ahead for good. It was Berrios' shortest outing since the end of April, but he'll still take a 3.52 ERA into his next start Wednesday in Milwaukee.
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Paul Blackburn RP | NYY
Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Rights ship against Cleveland
Blackburn (2-2) got the win against the Indians on Friday, giving up just three hits over 6.1 scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one as Oakland eventually prevailed 3-1.
His 6.46 ERA is still far from pretty, but that number is a bit skewed thanks to two bad outings where he gave up a combined 14 earned runs. In his other three starts, Blackburn has been solid, yielding just three earned runs with a 12:3 K:BB over 17.1 innings. At this point, it's difficult to say which version of him will show up for a given start, making him an inherently risky fantasy option. He's slated to the take the mound next in a road matchup against this same Indians team July 6.
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Gerrit Cole SP | NYY
Astros' Gerrit Cole: Takes second loss thanks to defensive hiccups
Cole (9-2) allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks with five strikeouts through six innings and took the loss Friday against the Rays.
The only blemish for Cole was a three-run fourth inning created in large part by two errors. With any help from the defense, Cole could have held Tampa Bay to one run and contended for his 10th win. The loss was his first since April 23 against the Angels, a start in which he allowed just two runs on seven innings but the Astros lineup couldn't get him the win. Cole still hasn't allowed more than four runs in a start all season long and will look to get back to his winning ways Thursday against the White Sox.