MLB Player News
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Elieser Hernandez RP | LAD
Dodgers' Elieser Hernandez: Takes loss in quality start
Hernandez (0-1) was the pitcher of record in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Giants, covering six innings and striking out three while allowing three earned runs on four hits and one walk.
After being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier in the day, Hernandez held his own in his first start with the Dodgers, retiring seven of the first nine batters he faced before being tagged for two runs on a Mike Yastrzemski home run in the bottom of the third. The right-hander would allow another run on a Heliot Ramos double in the sixth but was still able to get through the frame and log a quality start in his debut. Hernandez produced 10 swinging strikes on the night and certainly made a case for more innings at the big-league level, though manager Dave Roberts said after the game that the right-hander will serve as a long-relief option out of the bullpen in the near term, per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports.
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Domingo German SP | PIT
Pirates' Domingo German: Makes season debut
German allowed one run while striking out four over four innings in his season debut Tuesday with Single-A Bradenton.
It's his first game action since last July, as the Yankees placed German on the restricted list in August following a clubhouse incident. He became a free agent after being outrighted off New York's 40-man roster and eventually signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates in March. German could eventually become a rotation option for Pittsburgh later this season, but it's unlikely to be anytime soon.
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Logan Webb SP | SF
Giants' Logan Webb: Another shutout win
Webb (4-4) earned the win over the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing three hits and three walks over six shutout innings while striking out five.
Webb allowed three of the first four batters to reach base in the opening frame but managed to work his way out of the jam, getting two of the three outs by way of strikeout. The right-hander would allow just two walks and two singles from that point on en route to earning his fourth win of the season, snapping a three-game losing skid. Webb has now hurled six or more shutout innings in three of his last six starts, posting a 30:12 K:BB over that stretch. He's also logged quality starts in seven of his 10 outings this season.
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Lance Lynn SP | STL
Cardinals' Lance Lynn: Roughed up early in loss
Lynn (1-2) took the loss against the Angels on Wednesday, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five over five frames.
Lynn got off to about as poor of a start as he could have asked for, surrendering a leadoff homer to Nolan Schanuel to open the game and failing to retire four of the first five batters he faced. All four runs surrendered by Lynn came in the first inning, though he would actually allow the first two batters to reach in the second as well, before working his way out of the jam. The veteran right-hander has now allowed four earned runs in three consecutive starts and has not made it through six innings since April 16 against the Athletics, which is a span of five starts.
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Connor Phillips RP | CIN
Reds' Connor Phillips: Rocked at Triple-A
Phillips allowed four runs on six hits and five walks while striking out six over 4.1 innings for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Phillips is getting rocked in the International League, logging an 8.29 ERA and 2.08 WHIP with as many walks (28) as strikeouts through eight starts. The right-hander, who made his MLB debut last season when the Reds suffered injuries to starters, pitched credibly during Cactus League action, but Phillips is struggling to throw strikes at Triple-A -- he has a 7.1 BB/9 in 19 career outings for the Bats. It doesn't look he's in a position at this stage to help the parent club if the Reds need a rotation fill-in.
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Brandon Pfaadt SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt: Fans nine in no-decision
Pfaadt came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Reds, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out nine.
The right-hander generated 30 called or swinging strikes on 93 pitches in one of his best performances of the season, and his only real mistake resulted in a Santiago Espinal solo shot in the fifth inning. Pfaadt extended his quality start streak to four with the effort, a stretch in which he's posted a 3.24 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 24:4 K:BB through 25 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, but he'll face a tough test on the road early next week against the Dodgers.
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Andrew Abbott SP | CIN
Reds' Andrew Abbott: Strong start wasted Wednesday
Abbott came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out four.
A second-inning solo shot by Christian Walker accounted for all the damage off the southpaw, but Brandon Pfaadt was equally effective for Arizona. The quality start was Abbott's third of the season, and he's given up more than two earned runs only once in nine outings to begin the campaign. He'll take a 3.06 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 41:14 K:BB through 50 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Padres.
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Charlie Morton SP | ATL
Braves' Charlie Morton: Struggles in short start
Morton (3-1) took the loss Wednesday versus the Cubs, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out four over three innings.
Morton worked a high pitch count, needing 76 pitches (48 strikes) to get through three frames in his shortest outing of the season. He had pitched into the sixth inning in each of his other seven starts. The 40-year-old's poor start caused his ERA to balloon to 3.52 from 3.14, and he's sporting a 1.15 WHIP and 44:17 K:BB over 46 innings. Assuming there's not an injury at play, Morton is tentatively projected for a road rematch with the Cubs in his next start.
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Joey Lucchesi RP | LAA
Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Struggles in spot start
Lucchesi (0-1) took the loss against Philadelphia on Wednesday, allowing five runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two batters over 4.1 innings.
It certainly wasn't an ideal matchup for Lucchesi to make his first start of the season, and he didn't do himself any favors in issuing four free passes. Three of the walks came in the fifth frame, and all three of the recipients came around to score. The left-hander was also tormented by Bryce Harper, who hit a solo homer against him in the first inning and then sent him to the showers with a two-run double in the fifth. Lucchesi may return to the minors in short order with Tylor Megill (shoulder) expected to rejoin New York's rotation Sunday or Monday.
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Ranger Suarez SP | BOS
Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Lowers ERA to 1.37
Suarez (8-0) earned the win over the Mets on Wednesday, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three batters over five innings.
Suarez allowed a run in each of the first and third frames, but neither run was earned. The left-hander thus lowered his season ERA to 1.37, third best in the majors among qualified starters. Suarez also leads the league with eight victories and a 0.76 WHIP, and he has yet to take a loss. He's among the early contenders for Cy Young consideration in the National League and has been one of fantasy's most impactful sleepers.