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Joe Musgrove SP | SD
Padres' Joe Musgrove: Third straight quality start
Musgrove did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Dodgers on Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over 6.1 innings while striking out six.
Musgrove retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced and cruised through the first six innings before allowing a two-run home run to Max Muncy in the seventh to tie the game at 2-2. The right-hander was eventually relieved by Tanner Scott with one out in the frame, but not before logging his third consecutive quality start. Musgrove has also recorded at least six strikeouts in each of last five outings while issuing only four free passes over that stretch. He now carries a 2.51 ERA in September to go along with a 2-1 record.
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Casey Mize SP | SD
Tigers' Casey Mize: Pitches in relief Thursday
Mize allowed one run on three hits across two innings of relief in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Rays. He struck out four.
Detroit started Reese Olson, who covered just four innings in his third game back from a shoulder injury. Mize then worked the middle of the contest and was fairly sharp overall, particularly with the four strikeouts. Detroit appears headed to the postseason, and it remains to be seen how Mize will be used. The 27-year-old missed two months with a hamstring injury this year, which contributed to an uneven campaign and a 4.37 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 101 innings. However, at his best, Mize could give the Tigers a decent starting option to pair with staff ace Tarik Skubal during a playoff run.
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Reese Olson SP | DET
Tigers' Reese Olson: Covers four innings Friday
Olson allowed two runs on four hits across four innings and did not factor into the decision Friday against the Rays. He struck out three.
Olson pitched decently enough but was limited to only 72 pitches in his third start back from a shoulder injury. It's an improvement from the 58 pitches and three innings he logged in his last outing Saturday. With just three games left in the regular season, Olson is not slated to take the mound again, though he figures to factor into Detroit's playoff plans if the team is able to secure its spot over the weekend. The 25-year-old had a solid campaign overall, posting a 3.53 ERA and 1.18 WHIP while recording 101 strikeouts across 112.1 innings.
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David Festa P | MIN
Twins' David Festa: Strikes out five in no-decision
Festa did not factor into the decision in an extra-innings loss to the Marlins on Thursday, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
Festa got tagged for a run in the first inning after issuing a leadoff walk to open the frame and then surrendering an RBI double to Jake Burger two batters later. The right-hander then went on to retire nine of the next 10 batters he faced before allowing four of the first five batters to reach in the fifth, leading to his early departure. Festa has failed to make it through five frames in three of his last four outings, allowing multiple runs three times over that span. He carries a 4.91 ERA in September and hasn't won a start since Aug. 5 against the Cubs, a span of nine starts.
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Valente Bellozo RP | COL
Marlins' Valente Bellozo: Solid in no-decision
Bellozo did not factor into the decision in an extra-innings win over the Twins on Thursday, allowing one run on six hits and one walk over five-plus innings while striking out two.
Bellozo allowed at least one man to reach base in three of the first five innings but managed to work his way out of the jam on each occasion as the Marlins jumped out to a 4-0 lead. However, the Twins finally got to the right-hander in the sixth when Carlos Correa launched a solo homer to lead off the frame. Bellozo then got the hook after giving up a single to the next batter, marking the fourth consecutive start in which he has failed to make it through six innings. However, the 24-year-old also hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his five starts this month, giving him a strong 2.67 ERA in September to go along with a 12:6 K:BB.
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Gerrit Cole SP | NYY
Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Dominates Orioles for eighth win
Cole (8-5) allowed two hits and one walk while striking out five over 6.2 scoreless innings to earn the win over the Orioles on Thursday.
Cole's last regular-season outing was one of his best, as it was one of three scoreless starts he produced this year. He threw 101 pitches (64 strikes), seeing a much higher workload than opposing starter Corbin Burnes (69 pitches). Cole will also get more time to recover, as this win secured the AL East title and a spot in the ALDS for the Yankees. Cole is now at a 3.41 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 99:29 K:BB over 95 innings across 17 starts this season. The right-hander's next start is likely to be Game 1 of the ALDS.
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Corbin Burnes SP | ARI
Orioles' Corbin Burnes: Takes ninth loss
Burnes (15-9) allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out nine over five innings, taking the loss versus the Yankees on Thursday.
The lone run he gave up was on a Giancarlo Stanton solo home run in the second inning. Burnes was lifted at 69 pitches (46 strikes), likely to keep him fresh for the Orioles' wild-card round matchup, and the Orioles' bullpen was unable to keep this game close. Burnes concludes the regular season on a high note, having allowed just five runs (four earned) while adding a 31:8 K:BB over 30 innings across five starts in September. He posted a 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 181:48 K:BB over 194.1 innings across 32 regular-season starts.
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Patrick Corbin SP | TOR
Nationals' Patrick Corbin: Gives up four runs vs. Royals
Corbin didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Kansas City, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.
Corbin surrendered a homer to Hunter Renfroe in the second inning before the Royals tacked on three more runs with five straight singles in the third. The left-hander's now allowed 17 runs in over his last 21.2 innings. Corbin will wrap up the season at 6-13 with a 5.62 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 139:54 K:BB across 32 starts (174.2 innings).
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Michael Wacha SP | KC
Royals' Michael Wacha: Goes five innings vs. Nats
Wacha didn't factor into the decision Thursday versus Washington, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out two.
Three of the four runs charged to Wacha came on a Luis Garcia homer in the third inning. The veteran right-hander hadn't allowed more than two runs in four starts coming into Thursday, posting a 1.99 ERA in that span (22.2 innings). Wacha will finish a solid campaign with a 13-8 record, 3.35 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 145:45 K:BB across 166.2 innings.
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Mitch Keller SP | PIT
Pirates' Mitch Keller: Drops third straight
Keller (11-12) took the loss Thursday against the Brewers, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.
Keller got off to a solid start, holding Milwaukee to one run through his first four innings, before giving up two more in the fifth. The 28-year-old Keller would ultimately take his third straight loss and fifth in his last six outings. After an encouraging start to the year, Keller faded down the stretch, posting a 7.29 ERA in his final nine starts (45.2 innings). Keller will wrap up the season with a 4.25 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 166:50 K:BB across 178 innings.