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Kyle Hendricks SP | LAA
Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Throwing sim game Monday
Hendricks (shoulder) is scheduled to throw up to 35 pitches in a simulated game in Arizona on Monday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Hendricks threw a bullpen session Saturday and now will progress to the simulated contest. The right-hander continues to work his way back from a shoulder strain that has sidelined him to begin the 2023 season, and if all goes well for Hendricks in Arizona, it seems likely that he could begin a rehab assignment.
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Noah Davis SP | PIT
Rockies' Noah Davis: Recalled for start against SEA
Davis was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque by the Rockies on Sunday, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports.
Davis is being recalled from the Isotopes to make a start against the Mariners on Sunday with German Marquez (forearm) on the injured list. The Rockies sent down Nolan Jones in a corresponding move. Davis should be stretched out for the start, but his lack of swing-and-miss stuff makes him a poor fantasy option in the short- and long-term.
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Ryne Nelson SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Records best start of young career
Nelson did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on five hits and zero walks over six innings against the Marlins. He struck out four.
Nelson pitched a gem, showing why Arizona picked him in the second round of the 2019 draft. The 25-year-old showed the command of a seasoned veteran, as this was the first start of his career in which he did not allow a walk. The Nevada native's next assignment will be a major test, as he'll be facing the star-studded Padres lineup at home in a few days.
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Zach Davies SP | WAS
Diamondbacks' Zach Davies: Several weeks away
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Saturday that Davies (oblique) has more than a Grade 1 strain is expected to miss "several weeks."
Grade 1 strains are the least severe, but the Diamondbacks will need to cover multiple starts while Davies mends. Drey Jameson filled in for Davies last Wednesday and is expected to retain that fill-in role for the time being.
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Braxton Garrett SP | CHC
Marlins' Braxton Garrett: Pitches well despite no-decision
Garrett did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against Arizona. He struck out five.
Garrett allowed minimal damage in his second start of the season. This performance was a steady improvement over the 25-year-old southpaw's start last week against the Mets, when he allowed nine hits in just 4.2 innings. The jury is still out on the Alabama native, as he needs to show consistent success in order to keep getting starting opportunities.
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Graham Ashcraft RP | CIN
Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Tosses six shutout innings in win
Ashcraft (2-0) earned the win Saturday, allowing zero runs on four hits and four walks over six innings against Philadelphia. He struck out four.
Ashcraft is on a roll to start the season. The 25-year-old righty has given up just three runs in 19 innings pitched, good for a 1.42 ERA. Additionally, the Alabama native has a 1.16 WHIP and has given up just one home run thus far.
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Ryan Feltner SP | COL
Rockies' Ryan Feltner: Breaks down in fourth inning
Feltner (0-2) took the loss against Seattle on Saturday, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five batters over 3.2 innings.
Feltner made it through three frames without allowing any damage on the scoreboard, but the fourth proved disastrous for him. The right-hander served up a solo homer to Eugenio Suarez to begin the inning and allowed five more baserunners in the frame, four of whom came around to score. The crushing blow was a two-out triple by Julio Rodriguez that plated three runs. Feltner has struggled so far this season, allowing 13 runs while posting a 15:11 K:BB over 13.1 frames. He's walked at least three batters in all three starts so far.
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Jameson Taillon SP | TOR
Cubs' Jameson Taillon: Limited support in strong outing
Taillon pitched five scoreless innings against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out seven batters. He did not factor in the decision.
Taillon recorded easily his best start of the campaign, as he allowed a combined seven earned runs over nine innings across his previous two outings. The right-hander held the Dodgers to just four baserunners on two singles and two walks, and he exited after five frames with a 1-0 lead. However, the Cubs offense couldn't produce any more runs, and Taillon had to settle for a no-decision when Los Angeles notched a walkoff win in the ninth. Nonetheless, this was a promising start for the veteran hurler, who now holds a 4.50 ERA across 14 innings on the campaign.
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Michael Grove RP | TB
Dodgers' Michael Grove: Bounces back with strong outing
Grove did not factor in the decision against the Cubs on Saturday. He completed 5.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out six batters.
Grove was hit hard in his previous trip to the mound, allowing nine runs on 12 hits over 3.1 innings against Arizona. He was much more effective Saturday, holding Chicago scoreless until Patrick Wisdom tagged him for a solo homer in the fifth frame. The Dodgers' offense wasn't able to support Grove enough for him to pick up a win, but this was nonetheless a critical rebound for the right-hander, who recorded his best outing of the campaign. With Tony Gonsolin (ankle) and Ryan Pepiot (oblique) expected to be out until at least early May, Grove is likely to have a few more opportunities to prove himself in Los Angeles' rotation.
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Bryce Elder SP | ATL
Braves' Bryce Elder: Notches second win
Elder (2-0) earned a victory over Kansas City on Saturday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 5.1 innings.
Elder wasn't nearly as successful as in his first two outings of the campaign, when he hurled 12.1 scoreless innings. The right-hander nonetheless managed his way to a win, holding the Royals to just one run over his first four frames and departing in the sixth with a three-run lead. One of the runs charged to him came after he departed, and Elder again showed a solid arsenal in racking up 13 swinging strikes. He has forced his way into Atlanta's rotation by winning two of his first three starts while posting a 1.53 ERA over his first 17.2 frames.