-
Carlos Carrasco RP | ATL
Indians' Carlos Carrasco: Wins again behind complete game
Carrasco (3-0) earned a complete-game victory Wednesday against Detroit as he allowed just one run on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
Despite the fact that he already has three wins this season, this was Carrasco's first time lasting beyond the sixth inning. He used 110 pitches (76 strikes, 15 swinging) and faced just four at-bats with runners in scoring position. The only run came on Leonys Martin's sixth-inning home run. Carrasco owns a 3.48 ERA with a clean 14:3 K:BB.
-
James Paxton SP | BOS
Mariners' James Paxton: Fans 10 in no-decision
Paxton allowed two runs on six hits and one walk across six innings in a no-decision Wednesday against the Royals. He struck out 10.
Paxton seems to have found a groove after struggling in his season opener, as he's allowed just four runs over his last 11 innings while also compiling a 17:2 K:BB during that stretch. A two-out double from Cheslor Cuthbert plated a pair of runs in the fourth inning, which tied the game up and kept him from receiving a decision, but otherwise the southpaw was sharp Wednesday. He'll look to keep things rolling as he lines up for two starts next week (4/16 vs. HOU, 4/21 @ TEX).
-
Yonny Chirinos SP | MIA
Rays' Yonny Chirinos: Another scoreless outing
Chirinos allowed four hits and one walk across 5.1 scoreless innings in a no-decision Wednesday against the White Sox. He struck out five.
Chirinos was sharp once again as he headlined the Rays' "bullpen game." The 24-year-old has now thrown 14.1 scoreless innings to start the season, striking out 12 while keeping a tidy 0.70 WHIP over that stretch. His third consecutive strong showing could prompt the Rays to reward him with a permanent spot in their rotation.
-
Andrew Heaney RP | LAD
Angels' Andrew Heaney: Set to start Friday
Heaney (elbow) is scheduled to start Friday against the Royals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
As expected, Heaney will make his 2018 major-league debut after getting through a bullpen sessions with no issues earlier in the week. The 26-year-old will have a favorable matchup against the Royals in his first start of the season.
-
Kyle Gibson SP | BAL
Twins' Kyle Gibson: Knocked around Wednesday
Gibson allowed five runs on seven hits and four walks through 4.1 innings in a no-decision Wednesday against the Astros. He struck out four.
Gibson struggled early and often Wednesday, allowing multiple baserunners to reach in every inning he appeared in but one. The real damage against Gibson came in the fifth inning, as the right-hander allowed four of the first five batters he faced to reach base before being yanked. All four baserunners would score, with two coming in after he handed the ball to Trevor Hildenberger. Gibson has now failed to make it out of the fifth inning in consecutive starts after tossing six scoreless innings in his 2018 debut. He'll look to get back on track in his next start, which is scheduled for Tuesday against the Indians.
-
Dane Dunning SP | SEA
White Sox's Dane Dunning: Two dominant starts at High-A
Dunning allowed two hits and struck out eight over 6.1 innings for High-A Winston-Salem on Wednesday.
Dunning has come out strong for the Dash, having allowed one run while striking out 16 over 11.1 innings in two starts. The White Sox have several elite prospects, so guys like Dunning get lost in the mix. He pitched well at this level in 2017, and it shouldn't be too long before he's promoted to Double-A Birmingham.
-
Lance McCullers SP | MIL
Astros' Lance McCullers: Has career-worst start Wednesday
McCullers allowed a career-high eight runs on seven hits and six walks while striking out six over 3.2 innings in Wednesday's 9-8 loss to the Twins.
McCullers dug a big hole for the Astros, who fell behind 8-1, when the fourth inning went sideways on the right-hander -- he walked the first two batters of the inning. Each runner came around to score and more followed. There's been a trend of opposing batters figuring out McCullers the third time through the lineup and that played out again Wednesday. Five of the six batters he faced a third time reached base safely, including Max Kepler who walked and had a two-run home run that chased McCullers. He was able to avoid picking up the loss thanks to Houston's resilient lineup, who tied the game late before the Twins won it walkoff fashion. The Astros will be happy to leave the cold of Minnesota after losing two of three to the Twins while walking 14 in the two losses. McCullers, whose ERA rose to 7.71, will try to regroup in time next Tuesday's start against the Mariners in Seattle.
-
Yonny Chirinos SP | MIA
Rays' Yonny Chirinos: Drawing start for Wednesday's bullpen day
Chirinos is slated to draw the start in Wednesday's "bullpen day" game against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Chirinos has thrown the equivalent of a complete-game shutout over his first two appearances, blanking the Red Sox in both outings over four- and five-inning stints. Topkin reports that the right-hander could parlay a third consecutive strong appearance into a No. 4 starter role.
-
Luis Severino SP | ATH
Yankees' Luis Severino: Bullied by Boston
Severino (2-1) allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out six batters through five innings during Tuesday's 14-1 loss to the Red Sox.
This was a tape-measuring matchup among division rivals, and Boston made a statement. Severino shined through his first two starts of the season, and even with this disappointing outing, the 24-year-old righty sports a respectable 3.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 10.0 K/9. Tuesday's poor showing is probably best viewed as a blip on the radar, as Severino's body of work dating back to last season positions him among the top starting pitchers in the league. He projects to face the Tigers on the road next.
-
Chris Sale SP | ATL
Red Sox's Chris Sale: Picks up first win of 2018
Sale (1-0) allowed a single run on eight hits while striking out eight batters through six innings to collect his first win of the season during Tuesday's 14-1 victory over the Yankees.
This was the lefty's third consecutive gem to start the campaign, and he's been a little unlucky to have recorded just the single win. He's only allowed two runs through 17 innings while piling up an impressive 23 strikeouts. Sale will have the odd rough outing over the course of the year, but barring injury, he projects to remain an elite hurler in all settings. He lines up to face Baltimore at home next.