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Zach Davies SP | WAS
Cubs' Zach Davies: Strikes out seven in no-decision
Davies allowed three unearned runs across six innings and did not factor into the decision Saturday against the Marlins. He gave up four hits and one walk while striking out seven.
Davies had a bit of tough luck, as a Sergio Alcantara error in the sixth inning extended the frame before Brian Anderson launched a three-run home run with two outs. That accounted for the only runs allowed by Davies, who recorded seven or more strikeouts for the third time this season. It was a much-needed good outing for the righty after allowing 14 earned runs across six innings in his last two starts. He's slated to face the Royals on Friday in his next scheduled start.
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Ian Anderson RP | ATL
Braves' Ian Anderson: Goes three frames in rehab start
Anderson (shoulder) made the second appearance of his rehab assignment Wednesday at Triple-A Gwinnett, covering three innings while giving up three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out three.
Though he didn't work as deep into the start as Atlanta probably would have liked, Anderson upped his pitch count to 64 (35 strikes), with his poor control having a hand in getting in him there. Atlanta will get some reinforcement to the rotation during the upcoming week with Huascar Ynoa (hand) slated to come off the 60-day injured list to start Tuesday in Miami, so expect Anderson to remain on assignment at Gwinnett for at least one more outing. He'll likely line up to make his next start for the Triple-A affiliate Tuesday versus Louisville.
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Kyle Freeland SP | COL
Rockies' Kyle Freeland: Fans six in win
Freeland (4-6) allowed one unearned run on five hits and two walks while striking out six across six innings, earning the win over the Giants on Saturday.
Freeland gave up a run in the second inning on a Donovan Solano single. It was the only run he allowed through six innings. The 28-year-old has won his last three outings. He has a 4.40 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 63 strikeouts in 77.2 innings. His next start is tentatively scheduled for Friday against the Diamondbacks.
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Joe Musgrove SP | SD
Padres' Joe Musgrove: Roughed up in loss
Musgrove (8-8) allowed six earned runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out four across five innings, taking the loss to the Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Musgrove allowed a season-high 10 hits and six earned runs Saturday. He was outdone by opposing pitcher Tyler Gilbert's no-hitter. Musgrove surrendered a three-run homer to Drew Ellis as a part of a five-run first inning. The 28-year-old broke his streak of four straight quality starts. He carries a 3.11 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 151 strikeouts in 133.1 innings. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Phillies.
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Luis Castillo SP | CHW
Reds' Luis Castillo: Gets little help in loss
Castillo (6-12) took the loss Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over 6.2 innings as the Reds were downed 6-1 by the Phillies. He struck out eight.
The right-hander delivered his fifth quality start in his last six outings and 12th of the season, but the Cincy offense didn't even manage a hit until the eighth inning, giving Castillo no margin for error. He'll carry a 4.51 ERA and 138:59 K:BB through 137.2 innings into his next start.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Tests positive for COVID-19
Kelly tested positive for COVID-19, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.
Manager Torey Lovullo broke the news after Saturday's game against the Padres in response to a question regarding whether pitching coach Matt Herges was at the game. It seems like Kelly will be sidelined at least until late August.
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Taijuan Walker SP | LAA
Mets' Taijuan Walker: Flirts with no-hitter
Walker allowed one run on two hits and three walks with eight strikeouts through 6.2 innings, taking a no-decision in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Dodgers.
Walker entered Saturday with a NL-worst 6.70 ERA in his last nine starts and 10 home runs allowed in his last four appearances. So, naturally, he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Dodgers and racked up the most strikeouts he's recorded since June 15. Ultimately, the 29-year-old fell victim to the long ball yet again when Will Smith ended Walker's bid for history with a solo homer that broke up the no-no and the shutout. The right-hander would allow another hit in the form of a Corey Seager double and a walk before manager Luis Rojas emerged from the dugout to take the ball. While his outing did come to an unsavory end, Walker proved that the pitcher who was named an All-Star for the first time this season is still in there somewhere. He'll aim to build on this outing next week.
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Aaron Ashby RP | MIL
Brewers' Aaron Ashby: Fires four scoreless frames
Ashby blanked the Pirates over four innings Saturday, allowing just three hits and striking out four. He did not factor into the decison.
Ashby started the back end of Saturday's doubleheader -- just his third major-league outing -- and was firmly in command, throwing 41 of his 58 pitches for strikes while limiting the Pirates to just three singles. Ashby was rocked in his major-league debut back in June, giving up seven runs (four earned), but he's spun six straight scoreless innings over two appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville earlier this week. Ashby may not stick as a starter as Milwaukee's rotation gets healthier, but he's certainly making a case to have a role with the big-league club down the stretch.
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Walker Buehler SP | SD
Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Strikes out 10 in no-decision
Buehler allowed one run on four hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts through seven innings, taking a no-decision in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Mets.
Buehler hit a double-digit strikeout total for the third time this season Saturday night, punching out 10 Mets in a superb performance. The lone run that he yielded came on a Michael Conforto solo homer, the first long ball Buehler has allowed since June 24. While the walks are a little concerning (10 in his last three starts), the Vanderbilt product has allowed just four runs in his last five appearances.
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Mitch Keller SP | PIT
Pirates' Mitch Keller: Falls to 3-10 in 2021
Keller (3-10) took the loss Saturday in the second game of a doubleheader against the Brewers, surrendering two runs on nine hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 4.1 innings.
It was death by a thousand cuts for Keller, who allowed at least two baserunners in each of the five innings in which he appeared. He was able to keep the Brewers off the board through three before allowing a trio of singles -- one of them plating a run -- and a run-scoring groundout in the fourth. Keller notched one out in the fifth before being lifted with his pitch count at 77. Keller has lost all three of his starts since rejoining the rotation at the beginning of August, logging a dismal 6.28 ERA and 2.02 WHIP in 14.1 innings during that stretch. Those numbers aren't far off of the 6.86 ERA and 1.85 WHIP he's posted in 61.2 innings overall this season.