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Luis Severino SP | ATH
Yankees' Luis Severino: Surrenders season-worst line to Astros
Severino (5-4) was roughed up for six runs on nine hits over 5.1 innings in Sunday's loss to the Astros despite issuing only one walk and striking out seven.
While opposing starter Mike Fiers was able to overcome control issues by limiting hard-hit balls, Severino had the opposite problem. His nine hits and six earned runs allowed both marked new season worsts, with seven of those hits going for extra bases. Optimists will point to Severino's 19:1 K:BB ratio over the past two starts as a sign of improvement to come, while skeptics will harp on the 23-year-old's 5.92 ERA over his past four outings. He'll be facing a less potent lineup in his next scheduled start at home against the Brewers on Saturday.
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Alex Cobb SP | DET
Rays' Alex Cobb: Clobbered by Orioles
Cobb gave up seven runs (six earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out three over 6.1 innings against the Orioles on Sunday.
He also hit a batter, so seven of the eight baserunners he allowed came around to score. Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo each took Cobb deep. This snapped a streak of four straight quality starts for the 29-year-old righty. His next start will be Saturday at home against the Red Sox.
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Kevin Gausman SP | CHC
Orioles' Kevin Gausman: Turns in best start of season
Gausman turned in his best start of the year Sunday, tossing seven shutout innings while striking out nine to pick up the win against the Rays. He allowed two hits and walked two.
This was only the second time this season that he has managed to log seven innings, and the nine strikeouts tied a season high. He now boasts a 13.2-inning scoreless streak, and his 5.61 ERA is the lowest it has been since April 13. His next start will be Friday in Minnesota. If he was dropped in a deeper league, it might be worth seeing if he has actually figured something out over his past couple outings.
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Paul Blackburn RP | NYY
Athletics' Paul Blackburn: Sticking in rotation
Blackburn will remain in Oakland's rotation going forward, and he will start Thursday in Seattle, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.
He delivered six strong innings with one unearned run and four strikeouts in his big-league debut Saturday against the Braves, which was enough for him to hold on to a spot in the rotation, even with Jharel Cotton returning from a blister. Jesse Hahn was sent to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for Blackburn. While Blackburn's first start was encouraging, he profiles as more of a back-end starter or swing man long-term.
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Charlie Morton SP | ATL
Astros' Charlie Morton: Throws 74 pitches in final rehab start
Morton (lat) tossed 4.1 one-hit innings while striking out five and walking two Sunday in what could be his final rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi before rejoining the big-league rotation.
He threw 74 pitches (50 strikes) and is expected to rejoin the Astros' rotation on July 8 in Toronto. Prior to suffering the injury, Morton was putting together arguably his best fantasy campaign to date, as his 25.8 percent strikeout rate was well above his 16.6 percent career mark, and his 4.06 ERA was quite palatable in today's pitching landscape.
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Alec Asher SP | MIL
Orioles' Alec Asher: Optioned to minors
Asher was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun reports.
After being tagged for five runs on four hits and two walks over 1.2 innings Saturday against the Rays to bring his ERA up to 5.53 for the season, Asher will head back to the minors with the hope of finding his form. According to Encina, Asher will work as a starter with Norfolk, leaving open the possibility that he could rejoin the Orioles as a swingman at some point later this season. Jimmy Yacabonis was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
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Ricky Nolasco SP | ARI
Angels' Ricky Nolasco: Pitches complete game shutout Saturday
Nolasco (4-9) was masterful in a complete-game shutout against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing just three hits and striking out seven without allowing a walk.
Nolasco has completely turned it around over his past two starts, not allowing a run over his last 16.1 innings on the mound while racking up 13 strikeouts in that span. It's a far cry from some of his earlier performances, in which he posted seven consecutive losing decisions and saw his ERA balloon to 5.23 on the season. Saturday was his first complete game since August 2016, and the right-hander has obvious fantasy potential if he can continue this current trend, though his 5.72 FIP suggests a possible regression.
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Jason Hammel SP | TEX
Royals' Jason Hammel: Tagged with seventh loss Saturday
Hammel (4-7) allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on nine hits and two walks while striking out five batters through 5.1 innings during Saturday's loss to Minnesota.
This was a disappointing outing for Hammel, as he appeared to be trending in the right direction with three wins, a 2.51 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 7.0 K/9 over his prior five starts. That encouraging stretch also featured outings against Cleveland, Houston and Boston, so don't overreact too much to Saturday's poor showing. On the other hand, Hammel also owns a discouraging 5.08 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.1 K/9 for the season, so expectations should remain in check. He also lines up for a daunting road start against the Dodgers next.
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Carlos Carrasco RP | ATL
Indians' Carlos Carrasco: Bounces back for ninth win
Carrasco (9-3) allowed just a single run on four hits and a walk while striking out seven batters over seven innings in Saturday's win over Detroit.
This was a reassuring rebound following Monday's rough outing against Texas on the road. Carrasco has allowed two runs or fewer in 11 of 16 starts this season and sports a high-end 3.50 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 for the year. He lines up to face the Tigers in a repeat matchup at Progressive Field in his next start.
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Felix Jorge SP | MIN
Twins' Felix Jorge: Earns win in big-league debut
Jorge gave up three runs and seven hits over five innings with two strikeouts and one walk in Saturday's win over Kansas City in the second game of a doubleheader. Jorge became the first Twins pitcher to earn a win in his big league debut since 2013, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Jorge gave up a two-run home run in the first inning but then settled down. It wasn't a great performance but may be enough to give him another shot at the rotation. He may be sent down shortly as he was called up for the doubleheader. With the Twins desperate for any production at the back end of their rotation, Jorge could be called back up soon.