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Casey Kelly SP | ARI
Reds' Casey Kelly: Contract selected by Cincinnati
The Reds selected Kelly's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.
After spending the last six seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization with the LG Twins, Kelly signed a minor-league contract with Cincinnati on Aug. 8. Across his two starts with Louisville, he gave up four runs on eight hits and five walks while striking out two over eight innings. When Kelly takes the mound for the Reds, it'll mark the first time Kelly has pitched in MLB since 2018. Right-hander Alan Busenitz was designated for assignment by Cincinnati in a corresponding move.
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Hogan Harris RP | ATH
Athletics' Hogan Harris: Back in majors
The Athletics recalled Harris from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.
Harris has been relatively effective in the big leagues this season, putting up a 2.98 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 54.1 innings. However, he's turned in a 4.94 ERA and 1.83 WHIP over 27.1 frames since being sent to Triple-A in late July. He'll presumably work out of the bullpen until he's able to find some consistency, at which point he could return to Oakland's rotation. Dany Jimenez was optioned to Las Vegas in a corresponding move.
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Ross Stripling SP | KC
Athletics' Ross Stripling: Impressive in long relief Friday
Stripling fired 4.1 scoreless relief innings in a loss to the Brewers on Friday, allowing two hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts. He did not factor into the decision.
Starter JP Sears was atypically ineffective and chased after 3.2 innings and 90 pitches, so Stripling was called on to deploy his multi-inning capabilities and ideally spare some of his bullpen mates. The one-time starter came through as hoped, getting 13 outs on 68 pitches to serve as a bridge to the ninth inning. The outing was only Stripling's second since officially being moved to the bullpen, with his first relief appearance having come nine days prior against the Mets.
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Ranger Suarez SP | BOS
Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Activated ahead of start
The Phillies reinstated Suarez (back) from the 15-day injured list Saturday.
Suarez landed on the injured list in late July with lower-back soreness, and he'll now return after nearly a month to start Saturday's game against the Royals. He didn't pitch in a rehab game in the minors during his recovery, so there's a good chance he'll be working under some sort of pitch count during his first start since July 22. Tyler Gilbert was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move.
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JP Sears SP | SD
Athletics' JP Sears: Crumbles against Brew Crew
Sears (10-9) took the loss Friday, surrendering seven runs (five earned) on nine hits and a walk over 3.2 innings in an 11-3 loss to the Brewers. He struck out three.
The southpaw saw his four-game quality start streak end with a resounding thud, as Rhys Hoskins and Joey Ortiz took him deep in a five-run second inning for Milwaukee. Sears has given up three runs or fewer in eight of his last 11 starts, but he's been hammered for at least seven runs in each of the other three -- volatility that has left him with a 4.50 ERA in 62 innings over that stretch despite a 1.18 WHIP and 58:10 K:BB. Sears will try to shake it off in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Cincinnati.
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Aaron Civale RP | CHC
Brewers' Aaron Civale: Inefficient in no-decision
Civale came away with a no-decision in Friday's 11-3 win over the A's, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out three.
The Brewers struck for five runs in the second inning and never looked back, but Civale couldn't stick around long enough to pick up the easy win, tossing 50 of 82 pitches for strikes before getting the hook. The right-hander has completed at least five innings in only three of six starts since the All-Star break, posting a 4.50 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and mediocre 22:12 K:BB through 30 innings over that stretch, but Milwaukee doesn't have any better healthy options for his rotation spot. Civale will try to provide more length in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Giants.
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David Festa P | MIN
Twins' David Festa: Folds against Cards
Festa (2-3) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks over 3.2 innings as the Twins fell 6-1 to the Cardinals. He struck out five.
The rookie right-hander tossed an inefficient 75 pitches (45 strikes) as he saw another early exit. The Twins are being cautious with Festa and the 24-year-old has yet to pitch more than five innings in any of his first eight big-league appearances (seven starts), but that babying hasn't led to impressive numbers. Through 36.1 innings, he's served up seven homers and been saddled with a 5.20 ERA and 1.32 WHIP, despite a 44:11 K:BB that highlights his potential. Festa will try to keep the ball in the yard in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against Atlanta.
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Andre Pallante SP | STL
Cardinals' Andre Pallante: Sharp in sixth win
Pallante (6-6) picked up the win in Friday's 6-1 victory over the Twins, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out five.
It looked like it might be a short night for Pallante when four of the first five Minnesota batters reached base in the second inning, but the right-hander put out the fire and then didn't let another runner get into scoring position, retiring the last 13 batters he faced. Pallante has a 3.31 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 24:14 K:BB through 35.1 innings since the All-Star break, but with Lance Lynn (knee) closing in on a return from the IL, his time in the rotation could be drawing to a close. If he gets another turn, Pallante lines up to face the Padres at home next week.
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Michael Wacha SP | KC
Royals' Michael Wacha: Quality start streak at five
Wacha (11-6) picked up the win Friday, giving up two runs on six hits over six innings in a 7-4 victory over the Phillies. He struck out five without walking a batter.
The veteran right-hander was sharp once again, tossing 64 of 94 pitches for strikes en route to his fifth straight quality start and 13th of the season -- his highest total since 2017. Wacha also hasn't been stuck with a loss since June 22, winning seven straight decisions with a 2.40 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 52:17 K:BB over 60 innings since then. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Cleveland.
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Taijuan Walker SP | LAA
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Early exit in Friday's loss
Walker (3-5) took the loss Friday as the Phillies fell 7-4 to the Royals, coughing up six runs on eight hits and a walk over three innings. He struck out two.
Two-run homers by Salvador Perez and Hunter Renfroe in the third inning accounted for most of the damage off Walker, who failed to complete five innings for the third straight start since coming off the IL. The veteran righty has served up five long balls in 11.2 innings during his swoon, and on the season he's been taken deep 17 times in only 64.2 frames, leading to a bloated 6.26 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. The Phillies' lead in the NL East has slipped to five games over Atlanta, but for now Walker will be given a chance to work through his issues. He lines up to make his next start at home next week against the Astros.