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Kyle Freeland SP | COL
Rockies' Kyle Freeland: Fans four in win
Freeland (5-7) allowed one unearned run on three hits over six innings Sunday, striking out four and earning a win over the Brewers.
Freeland coughed up a run in the first inning but allowed only one other runner to reach scoring position for the remainder of his outing. He's allowed two or fewer earned runs in four straight starts, producing a 1.90 ERA during that span. he improved his season K:BB to 76:24 through 96 innings and has not walked a batter in two straight outings. Freeland owns a 4.97 ERA on the year, but without factoring in his first two starts of 2024, he's registered a 3.59 ERA over his last 16 starts. His next appearance is lined up to be at home against the Cubs.
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Justin Verlander SP | DET
Astros' Justin Verlander: Tagged for eight runs
Verlander (3-5) took the loss Sunday against the Diamondbacks, allowing eight runs on eight hits and a walk over three innings.
Seven of the runs Verlander let up came off the bat of Pavin Smith, who took Verlander deep in the second for three runs and then again in the third for a grand slam. The Astros have now lost five straight starts by Justin Verlander. Over his last three starts, he's allowed 17 runs over 12.2 innings while managing a 6:6 K:BB. He isn't missing many bats as of late, and that was the case again Sunday. He registered just two whiffs on his fastball and none with any of his secondary pitches. The 41-year-old now owns a 5.30 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 63:24 K:BB in 74.2 innings and will look to try and bounce back against the Angels over the weekend.
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Ryne Nelson SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Fades in fifth frame
Nelson did not factor into the decision in Sunday's win over the Astros, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings.
Nelson was handed an eight-run lead through three frames and kept the Astros scoreless until Alex Bregman took him deep in the fourth for a two-run blast. He ran into more trouble in the fifth, leading to three more runs for the Astros and was pulled one out shy of being able to qualify for the win. Sunday's outing ended a streak of five straight quality starts for Nelson and was his first time allowing five runs since June 26. He now sits at a 4.33 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 125:34 K:BB in 147.2 innings and lines up for a start against the Brewers at home over the weekend.
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Joe Musgrove SP | SD
Padres' Joe Musgrove: Allows three homers in loss
Musgrove (5-5) took the loss Sunday against the Giants, allowing six runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out seven over 4.1 innings.
Musgrove blanked the Giants through three innings but completely unraveled in the fourth, allowing three home runs in the inning. It was an uncharacteristically bad start for Musgrove, who hadn't allowed a home run in any of his five starts since coming off the injured list Aug. 12. The six runs allowed also matched the amount of runs he'd given up combined over his last seven starts. Musgrove's strikeout numbers have been up, as he's sporting a 27:4 K:BB over his last 23.1 innings. For the year, he owns a 4.54 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 78:22 K:BB in 81.1 innings. Musgrove lines up to face the Giants on the road over the weekend his next time out.
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Tanner Bibee SP | CLE
Guardians' Tanner Bibee: No run support in loss
Bibee (11-7) took the loss Sunday against the Dodgers, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings.
Bibee pitched well enough to keep the Guardians in the game but received no help from his offense, as the Guardians were shut out by Jack Flaherty and the Dodgers' bullpen. Bibee blanked them through three frames, but the Dodgers were able to push a run across in the fourth after Mookie Betts led off with a triple and then Shohei Ohtani added on in the fifth with a solo home run. Bibee's now issued eight walks over his last three starts and has reached six innings just once over his last six outings. For the year, he owns a 3.56 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 166:41 K:BB in 154 innings. He lines up to face the Rays at home over the weekend his next time out.
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Jack Flaherty SP | DET
Dodgers' Jack Flaherty: Blanks Guardians
Flaherty (12-6) got the win Sunday over the Guardians, throwing 7.1 scoreless innings while allowing four hits and striking out six.
It was Flaherty's first time this year reaching seven innings and also his first time not walking a batter since June 4. He's now 5-1 with a 2.61 ERA in seven starts with the Dodgers and has given up one run or less in three of his last four starts. For the year, Flaherty owns a 2.86 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 180:29 K:BB in 148 innings. He lines up for a road start against Atlanta over the weekend his next time out.
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Chris Sale SP | ATL
Braves' Chris Sale: Solidifies Cy Young candidacy
Sale did not factor into the decision in Sunday's win over Toronto, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out seven in six scoreless innings.
Sale was his usual dominant self Sunday, allowing just three baserunners while adding seven strikeouts, giving him an MLB-best 213 on the year. Sale has now allowed two earned runs or fewer in 16 consecutive starts dating back to June 1, a remarkable streak highlighting his consistency. With a league-leading 2.38 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 213:35 K:BB to go with his sparkling 16-3 record, Sale has all but cemented himself as the NL Cy Young Award winner. The southpaw lines up to face the Dodgers next weekend.
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Simeon Woods Richardson RP | TOR
Twins' Simeon Woods Richardson: Falls to Royals
Woods Richardson (5-4) yielded two runs on three hits and three walks over 4.1 innings Sunday, striking out two and taking a loss against Kansas City.
Woods Richardson worked through four scoreless frames before the Royals plated a pair of runs in the fifth inning. He took his first loss since Aug. 10 and has now thrown five or fewer innings in five straight starts. Woods Richardson has produced a 4.76 ERA during that five-game span. He owns a 3.96 ERA with a 106:43 K:BB through 125 innings this season. Woods Richardson is projected to face the Reds at home next weekend.
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Yariel Rodriguez RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Yariel Rodriguez: Fans six in five strong innings
Rodriguez did not factor into the decision in Sunday's loss to Atlanta, allowing one earned run on two hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings.
The only blemish on Rodriguez's line was a solo home run by Jarred Kelenic in the second inning. Outside of that mishap, Rodriguez was superb, cruising through five innings on just 73 pitches while racking up six strikeouts. The 27-year-old rookie has had an up-and-down season, logging a 4.42 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 75:34 K:BB in 73.1 innings. Rodriguez will look to keep rolling in his next start, currently scheduled for next weekend against the Cardinals.
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Michael Wacha SP | KC
Royals' Michael Wacha: Fires seven shutout frames
Wacha (12-7) allowed four hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings Sunday, striking out seven and earning a win over Minnesota.
Wacha escaped some danger in the first inning but didn't allow a runner to reach scoring position for the rest of his outing. He got right back in the win column after taking his first loss in over two months in his last start. Wacha forced 16 whiffs, the second-highest total he's produced this season. Of those 16, 12 came via the changeup. Wacha dropped his season ERA to 3.34 with a 130:40 K:BB through 151 innings. His next outing is projected to be in Pittsburgh.