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Jesus Luzardo SP | PHI
Phillies' Jesus Luzardo: No earned runs in win
Luzardo (3-0) earned the win in Saturday's game against the Cubs. He allowed two runs (none earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out five in six innings.
Luzardo gave up two runs on a Seiya Suzuki single in the fifth inning, but neither of them were earned due to a fielding error by Trea Turner. Luzardo allowed one baserunner or no in the other five innings he worked, generating 15 whiffs in 102 pitches (64 strikes) for his fourth quality start of the season. His 1.73 ERA and 41 strikeouts are both tied for sixth best in the National League among qualified starters. Luzardo slated to face the Diamondbacks at home next weekend.
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Hunter Greene SP | CIN
Reds' Hunter Greene: Punches out eight in win
Greene (3-2) earned the win Saturday against the Rockies, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out eight without issuing a walk.
After taking a drubbing against the Orioles in his last start, the Cincinnati ace looked much sharper in this 98-pitch performance, generating an incredible 20 whiffs. The long ball bit Greene again, as all three Colorado runs were scored on homers by Michael Toglia and Adael Amador. Greene now sports a 2.70 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 43:6 K:BB over 36.2 innings, and he is scheduled to make his next start at home against the Cardinals.
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Antonio Senzatela RP | MIL
Rockies' Antonio Senzatela: Takes fourth loss
Senzatela (1-4) took the loss Saturday against the Reds, allowing four runs on eight hits and no walks over five innings. He struck out four.
The Colorado right-hander yielded a season-worst three homers, as he allowed four or more runs for the third time in his four starts. Senzatela remains a bottom-of-the-barrel fantasy option, sporting an unsightly 5.22 ERA, 1.87 WHIP 13:5 K:BB across 29.1 innings. He has allowed an MLB-worst 50 hits this season. Senzatela is currently slated to make his next start against the Giants on the road next weekend.
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Michael Wacha SP | KC
Royals' Michael Wacha: Twirls six shutout innings
Wacha (1-3) earned the win Saturday over the Astros, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out six over six shutout innings.
This was Wacha's best start of the campaign so far, with six innings and six strikeouts both being season highs. He walked multiple batters for the fourth time in six starts but didn't allow a runner to get past second base en route to his first win of the season. Wacha has pitched pretty well, posting a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 26:12 K:BB across 32 over six starts. His 3.4 BB/9 is elevated compared to recent seasons -- he posted a 2.4 BB/9 last year and his highest in the last four years is the 2.9 mark he had in 2023 with the Padres. If he can get that area under control, Wacha should again be an even more reliable innings eater in the middle of the Royals' rotation. The right-hander's next start is projected to be at Baltimore.
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Framber Valdez SP | DET
Astros' Framber Valdez: Goes distance in loss
Valdez (1-3) tossed a complete game in Saturday's loss to the Royals, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five over eight innings.
Valdez allowed a sacrifice fly for the opening run in the first inning and also gave up a solo home run to Vinnie Pasquantino in the fifth. This was Valdez's fourth quality start in six outings this season. He's also allowed just three homers while maintaining a 4.00 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB across 36 innings. He's lined up for a favorable matchup in his next outing, which is projected to be on the road versus the White Sox.
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Jonathan Cannon RP | CHW
White Sox's Jonathan Cannon: Secures win in bulk role
Cannon (1-3) picked up the win Saturday against the Athletics, yielding three runs on six hits and two walks over 7.2 innings. He struck out five.
The Chicago right-hander looked sharp in this outing, working behind opener Tyler Gilbert, who fired a clean first inning. Cannon generated a respectable 14 whiffs out of 95 total pitches. The 24-year-old now sports a 4.50 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 27:17 K:BB across 32 innings. Given his success pitching behind an opener, it would not be surprising to see the White Sox use Cannon in the same role for his next appearance, which currently lines up to be against the Astros at home.
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Simeon Woods Richardson RP | TOR
Twins' Simeon Woods Richardson: Limits Halos to one run in win
Woods Richardson (2-2) earned the win against the Angels on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven in 5.1 innings. He did not issue a walk.
Woods Richardson limited the Angels to just four base runners, and his only blemish came in the third inning when gave up a solo homer to Zach Neto. It was the second time in his last three outings that Woods Richardson gave up just one earned run, and the 24-year-old right-hander has a 4.07 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 26:6 K:BB across 24.1 innings this season. His next start is slated for next week on the road against the Guardians.
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Jeffrey Springs SP | ATH
Athletics' Jeffrey Springs: Allows five earned runs in loss
Springs (3-3) took the loss Saturday against the White Sox, allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out four.
The 32-year-old southpaw was unsteady out the gate against the lowly White Sox, who managed to lace four extra-base hits (one homer and three doubles) in the first inning. Springs was unable to recover from there, but he tossed 100 total pitches to absorb innings for the bullpen. Springs has floundered in his first season with the Athletics, pitching to a 6.04 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 27:16 K:BB across 28.1 innings. He currently lines up to make his next start at Texas this upcoming week.
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Yusei Kikuchi SP | LAA
Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Roughed up in loss
Kikuchi (0-4) took the loss against the Twins on Saturday, allowing four runs on nine hits and four walks over two innings. He did not strike out a batter.
Kikuchi yielded three runs in the first frame off six singles (including four straight to start the game) and a walk. The veteran southpaw gave up another run in the second inning and was lifted ahead of the third after tossing 66 pitches (37 strikes) and generating just three whiffs. Saturday's outing was a stark contrast to his previous start against the Giants on April 20, when he tossed 5.1 innings without giving up an earned run. Kikuchi is now up to a 4.31 ERA and 1.60 WHIP through 31.1 innings, and his 18 walks is tied with Carlos Rodon for second most in the American League behind Charlie Morton (20).
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Quinn Priester SP | MIL
Brewers' Quinn Priester: Struggles in no-decision
Priester did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out two.
The Milwaukee right-hander was in line for the loss before Jackson Chourio bailed him out with a game-tying homer in the ninth. Priester allowed a season-worst eight base knocks as the St. Louis lineup peppered him with runs in the second, third and fourth innings. After looking sharp with a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings over his first two starts, Priester has regressed in his last two outings, allowing seven runs across nine innings. The 24-year-old currently lines up to face the high-powered Cubs offense at home next weekend.