-
Eduardo Rodriguez SP | ARI
Red Sox's Eduardo Rodriguez: Too many mistakes Thursday
Rodriguez (4-2) allowed seven runs on eight hits, including four home runs, while striking out six over 5.2 innings in Thursday's 7-5 loss to Baltimore.
The results clearly were the worst of the season for Rodriguez, who hadn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his previous nine starts. The left-hander had pockets of effective pitching Thursday but made too many mistakes and the Orioles were all too happy to capitalize. Rodriguez retired 15 of the first 19 batters he faced, but unfortunately two of those he didn't retire hit mistakes over the fence. Two more pitches up in the zone in the sixth inning resulted in homers, and he was yanked with Boston down 7-1. Rodriguez, whose ERA climbed to 3.54 after the outing, is scheduled to pitch next Wednesday in New York against the Yankees.
-
Corey Kluber SP | BOS
Indians' Corey Kluber: Stellar in retrun
Kluber (4-2) pitched six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts during Thursday's win over Oakland. He allowed just two hits and a walk.
Considering Kluber last toed the rubber May 2, this was an impressive outing and silences any injury concerns. The outing dropped him to a 4.36 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, and the righty sports an elite 10.6 K.9. Unfortunately, he lines up for a difficult upcoming start against the Rockies at Coors Field, so it could be difficult to followup Thursday's solid showing.
-
Alex Meyer SP | LAA
Angels' Alex Meyer: Officially activated to start Thursday
Meyer (back) was activated from the 10-day disabled list Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
As expected, Meyer will return from injury in order to start Thursday's contest with the Twins. He'll look to improve upon his 5.79 ERA and 1.63 WHIP as he takes on Minnesota starter Adalberto Mejia. No corresponding move has been announced at this time.
-
James Paxton SP | BOS
Mariners' James Paxton: Notches fourth win in return from injury
Paxton tossed 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing three hits, zero walks and fanning six Rockies to improve to 4-0 on the season.
This was Paxton's fist start since May 2, after missing almost a month with a left forearm strain. He was limited to 74 pitches (57 strikes) as the Mariners ease him back into action. The results matched what Paxton had been doing before the injury. For as long as he remains healthy, he should continue to provide SP1 production on a per-start basis.
-
Matthew Boyd SP | CHC
Tigers' Matt Boyd: Exits after just 3.2 innings
Boyd allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out just a single batter over 3.2 innings during Wednesday's win over Kansas City. He didn't factor into the decision.
The southpaw has surrendered at least three runs in each of his past seven starts for a 6.63 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and an underwhelming 5.6 K/9. Boyd will need to turn things around in a hurry or his rotation spot could be in jeopardy, if it isn't already. He's certainly off the fantasy radar for the time being. A home start against the Angels is on deck, and without Mike Trout, Los Angeles doesn't project as a daunting matchup.
-
Aaron Civale RP | CHC
Indians' Aaron Civale: Bumped up to High-A
Civale was promoted from Low-A Lake County to High-A Lynchburg on Monday.
Civale, the Tribe's No. 20 prospect, was the team's third-round pick in last year's draft. A right-handed starting pitcher, Civale began his professional career at Low-A, where he managed a 4.58 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over 10 starts. The 6-foot-2 dealer posted a ridiculous 53:5 K:BB while allowing just two home runs over 57 innings with the Captains. Civale, 21, likely won't move past Lynchburg this season, but a successful season with the High-A club will put him on the fast track to a big-league debut.
-
Corey Kluber SP | BOS
Indians' Corey Kluber: Activated ahead of Thursday start
Kluber (back) was activated from the 10-day DL in advance of his scheduled start Thursday against the Athletics.
Manager Terry Francona confirmed to media Monday that Kluber will take the hill for this start, which becomes official with Thursday's roster move. The right-hander was lights out in his rehab start Friday for Double-A Akron, throwing five shutout innings of one-hit ball to prove he's ready to return. Kluber, who posted a 5.06 ERA across six starts before landing on the DL, will square off against Jharel Cotton and the A's in a home matchup.
-
Carlos Carrasco RP | ATL
Indians' Carlos Carrasco: Churns out perfect record in May
Carrasco went 3-0 with a 3.90 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over five starts in May.
It wasn't quite as dominant of a month as April, but it was still a dandy for the right-hander. The biggest difference was a 71.4 percent strand rate in May, nearly 25 points lower than his mark in the campaign's opening month. Carrasco ranks well above average in command (2.2 BB/9) this year while dishing out one of the better average fastballs (93.9 mph) in the league.
-
Jason Hammel SP | TEX
Royals' Jason Hammel: Stumbles through five May outings
Hammel went 1-3 while posting an ugly 5.83 ERA and allowed six home runs over his five May starts.
Coming off a career-best season with the Cubs, Hammel has been nothing less than a major disappointment through 10 games as a Royal. Among qualified MLB starters this year, Hammel's 6.18 ERA ranks 89th out of 93. The 34-year-old's 4.1 BB/9 and 65 percent strand rate are his worst marks since 2007 with Tampa Bay.
-
Dylan Bundy SP | NYM
Orioles' Dylan Bundy: Sees numbers dip in May
Bundy went 3-2 with a 3.92 ERA and 26:14 K:BB through six starts in May.
The 24-year-old dropped off significantly from the first to the second month of the 2017 campaign. Bundy's 1.65 ERA in April was certainly unsustainable given his 3.54 career mark, but a two-plus point inflation in May was tough for owners to stomach. His K/BB rate nearly doubled compared to the season's opening month, and opponents hit Bundy much harder in May. The right-hander induced soft contact 26.9 percent of the time in April, but last month that number dropped to 17.5 percent. Even so, Bundy's 2.89 overall ERA and 1.14 WHIP through 11 games is more than what owners likely paid for, and the youngster is making encouraging strides in the early part of his sophomore season.