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Ronel Blanco SP | HOU
Astros' Ronel Blanco: Excellent in return to rotation
Blanco (11-6) allowed four hits and two walks while striking out five over six scoreless innings to earn the win over the Angels on Sunday.
Blanco struggled with a 4.98 ERA over 34.1 innings across seven appearances immediately after the All-Star break. He's since turned things around with a 13-inning scoreless streak over three outings (two starts) in September, though it likely helped that he had a turn through the rotation skipped last week. Overall, Blanco has a 2.88 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 154:64 K:BB through 156.1 innings this season. If the Astros stick with a six-man rotation this week, Blanco is lined up to face the Angels again, with that outing in Houston.
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Taj Bradley SP | MIN
Rays' Taj Bradley: Fans six in loss
Bradley (6-11) yielded two runs on five hits and three walks over 4.1 innings Sunday, striking out six and taking a loss against Cleveland.
Bradley escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning but was charged with a run in each of the second and fifth frames. While he threw 99 pitches despite not finishing five innings, he managed to generate 15 whiffs, including eight from the splitter. Bradley hasn't earned a win since July 25 and has now lost seven straight decisions. During the losing streak, he's posted a brutal 7.88 ERA over nine starts. Bradley will carry a 4.39 ERA into his next start, which is lined up to be at home against the Blue Jays.
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Martin Perez SP | ATL
Padres' Martin Perez: Goes five innings Sunday
Perez allowed a run on two hits and a walk while striking out two over five-plus innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Sunday.
The lone mistake on Perez's line was a solo home run by Donovan Walton in the sixth inning, which tied the game at 1-1. Perez ended up missing one turn through the rotation while on the paternity list. He's allowed multiple runs just three times over eight starts since he was traded from the Pirates to the Padres, though he's completed six innings just three times in that span. Perez has a 4.36 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 98:44 K:BB across 126 innings through 24 starts this year. He's lined up to make his next start at home versus the White Sox.
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Ben Lively SP | CLE
Guardians' Ben Lively: Delivers scoreless appearance
Lively (12-9) allowed four hits and a walk over five-plus shutout innings Sunday, striking out two and earning a win over the Rays.
Lively worked around a small threat in the first inning but otherwise didn't face much resistance from the Rays' lineup. He gave up two straight singles to begin the sixth inning before Cade Smith came in to clean up the mess. Lively picked up his first win since Aug. 24 and lowered his season ERA to 3.87 through 142 innings. He had given up 10 runs over 10.1 innings in his previous three starts entering Sunday. Lively is projected to make his next start in St. Louis.
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Cal Quantrill RP | TEX
Rockies' Cal Quantrill: Pitiful command in loss
Quantrill (8-10) allowed two runs on four hits and six walks while striking out two over 2.1 innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Cubs.
Quantrill had a short stay on the injured list due to a tricep injury, but he didn't look good in his return. He threw 69 pitches, with just 34 of them being strikes, while the six walks were a season high in his shortest appearance of the year. There was no report of another injury after the game, so this appears to just be a poor performance at this time. Quantrill has struggled to a 4.68 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 105:63 K:BB through 140.1 innings over 27 starts this season. His next start is tentatively projected to be a tough one on the road versus the Dodgers.
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Kyle Hendricks SP | LAA
Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Effective in win Sunday
Hendricks (4-11) allowed one run on two hits across six innings to earn the win Sunday against the Rockies. He walked three and struck out seven.
Hendricks hasn't been very good lately, as he came into this start with a 6.10 ERA and 1.89 WHIP across his last five outings, but he turned back the clock Sunday with a vintage performance. The veteran righty came within one strikeout of his season high, and the two hits allowed tied for his fewest allowed in a start this year. The surprisingly effective appearance might be the last start of the season for Hendricks, however, as Justin Steele (elbow) appears ready to rejoin the rotation in the next few days. When that happens, Hendricks could be pushed back into a long-relief role.
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Jack Leiter SP | TEX
Rangers' Jack Leiter: Shifts to bullpen
Leiter appeared out of the bullpen in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Mariners, taking a no-decision while striking out six batters and allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks over four innings.
After starting in each of his prior six appearances with the Rangers on the season, Leiter shifted to the bullpen Saturday while Max Scherzer (shoulder) made his return from the 15-day injured list. Since Scherzer wasn't fully stretched out after making just one rehab start prior to his activation, the Rangers ended up deploying him in tandem with Leiter, with both pitchers covering four innings and tossing 73 and 71 pitches, respectively. Scherzer and Jacob deGrom -- who returned from the IL on Friday -- should have longer leashes in their next outings this upcoming weekend versus Seattle, so Leiter may not be asked to piggyback either pitcher and may instead work in a more flexible relief role.
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Jared Jones SP | PIT
Pirates' Jared Jones: Solid in no decision
Jones didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Royals, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks across four innings. He struck out five.
Jones pitched into the seventh inning in back-to-back starts, but he got pulled after 92 pitches and four innings Sunday. While Jones didn't qualify for the win, it was another decent start for the 22-year-old rookie. He's allowed three or fewer runs in his last three starts, logging a 3.63 ERA and an 18:4 K:BB across 17.1 innings. Jones is tentatively scheduled to face the Reds at Great American Ballpark next weekend.
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Brady Singer SP | CIN
Royals' Brady Singer: Walks four in loss
Singer (9-11) took the loss Sunday against Pittsburgh, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks across five innings. He struck out six.
Singer's four walks marked a season high, and he failed to complete six innings for a third consecutive outing. The 27-year-old has a 5.40 ERA and a 1-5 record across his last eight starts (43.1 innings). Singer is tentatively scheduled to face the Giants in Kansas City next weekend.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Cleared to pitch Monday
Kelly is listed as the Diamondbacks' probable starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Rockies at Coors Field.
The right-hander will take his next turn through the rotation on his normal four days' rest, despite exiting his previous start Wednesday against the Rangers after four-plus innings due to right hamstring cramping. Since returning from the injured list Aug. 11 following a prolonged absence due to a teres major strain of his shoulder, Kelly has gone 2-0 with a 5.85 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB in 32.1 innings over six starts.