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Kutter Crawford SP | BOS
Red Sox's Kutter Crawford: Unspectacular in win
Crawford (7-8) earned the win Friday against Texas, allowing five runs on six hits and one walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
The 28-year-old righty made his third straight start allowing five or more runs, as he was lucky to be bailed out by his offense to collect the win. Across those three outings, Crawford has yielded an incredible 12 homers, with the Rangers launching four long balls Friday night -- including two Corey Seager solo shots. Despite allowing a league-leading 26 home runs this season, Crawford has pitched to a 3.81 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 122:30 K:BB across 127.2 innings. He looks to keep the ball in the yard in his next start, currently slated to be versus the Royals on the road next week.
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Joe Ryan SP | MIN
Twins' Joe Ryan: Cruises to seventh win
Ryan (7-7) earned the win Friday against the White Sox, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out seven.
The Minnesota right-hander took care of business against a feeble Chicago lineup, picking up his first post-All-Star break win in this 103-pitch performance. The only blemish on his evening came in the third inning when Miguel Vargas launched a two-run homer to left field. Ryan has now pitched to a 3.59 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 145:23 K:BB across 133 innings this season. The 28-year-old is scheduled to make his next against the Cubs at Wrigley Field next week.
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Shane Baz SP | BAL
Rays' Shane Baz: Sharp in no-decision
Baz allowed two runs, six hits and one walk while striking out five over 5.1 innings in a no-decision against the Astros on Friday.
Baz ran into trouble in the fourth inning but otherwise worked in and out of trouble in another solid showing for the young right-hander. Baz is still looking for his first win of the season, but he's yet to allow more than three runs in any of his five starts. The 25-year-old has five or more strikeouts in four starts this season and will carry a 3.60 ERA into a matchup vs the Cardinals next week.
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Yusei Kikuchi SP | LAA
Astros' Yusei Kikuchi: Strikes out 11 in Astros debut
Kikuchi did not factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rays. He allowed two runs on three hits and three walks with 11 strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Kikuchi gave up a double and home run to the first two batters he faced as a member of the Astros and then proceeded to get 17 outs while giving up one hit. The 11 strikeouts were the most by an Astros pitcher in his team debut since Gerrit Cole in 2018 and tied for the fourth most in a debut in team history. Kikuchi now has 43 strikeouts in his last five starts (26.1 innings), but he's also allowed 20 runs in that stretch.
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Spencer Schwellenbach P | ATL
Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Reaches double-digit Ks again
Schwellenbach did not factor into the decision in Friday's 5-3 win versus Miami, allowing three runs on six hits and no walks over seven innings. He struck out 10.
After punching out a career-high 11 in his last start, the Atlanta rookie generated an impressive 17 whiffs en route to his 10 punchouts in this 94-pitch outing. After allowing a two-run homer to Jonah Bride in the first inning, the only other blemish on Schwellenbach's performance was a 416-foot solo shot given up to Jake Burger in the third. The right-hander has been splendid post-All-Star break, firing 20 innings with a 3.15 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 29:0 K:BB. Schwellenbach is currently slated to face the Brewers at home in his next start.
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Valente Bellozo RP | COL
Marlins' Valente Bellozo: Fans five in no-decision
Bellozo did not factor into the decision in Friday's 5-3 loss to Atlanta, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.
The Miami right-hander was recalled Friday to make his first start since July 2 after pitching to a 3.21 ERA across 14 innings at Triple-A since his last major league appearance. The 24-year-old tossed 66 pitches before being lifted in the sixth after allowing a leadoff triple to Whit Merrifield. The two earned runs on Bellozo's ledger were Merrifield -- who later scored on an Austin Riley RBI groundout -- and a solo homer allowed to Orlando Arcia in the fifth. If the Marlins rookie sticks in the rotation, his next start would be slated to come against the Reds at home next week.
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Tarik Skubal SP | LAD
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Stumbles late vs. Royals
Skubal (12-4) took the loss Friday against Kansas City, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out eight.
Skubal was solid for most of the night Friday, holding the Royals to three runs through his first six innings while racking up eight strikeouts for the third time in his last four starts. However, the left-hander allowed a pair of singles with one out in the seventh before he was replaced by Shelby Miller, who'd allow both inherited runs to score. It's the first loss for Skubal since June 19 -- he'd gone 4-0 with a 2.02 ERA in his previous six outings (40 innings). Skubal still sports a stellar 2.47 ERA on the year with a 0.95 WHIP and an AL-leading 162 strikeouts through 22 starts (136.1 innings). Skubal will look to get back into the win column his next time out -- he's currently lined up to face the Mariners on the road next week.
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Cole Ragans RP | KC
Royals' Cole Ragans: Grabs eighth win
Ragans (8-7) earned the win Friday over the Tigers, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out six.
Ragans got off to a shaky start Friday, surrendering a two-run homer to Justyn-Henry Malloy in the first inning. However, the southpaw settled in and blanked Detroit over his final 4.2 frames, allowing just one additional hit, en route to his third win in his last four starts. While he ultimately turned in a strong outing Friday, Ragans has now failed to make it through six innings in back-to-back starts -- he'd gone at least six in eight of his previous nine starts. Overall, Ragans sports a 3.36 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP and 159:45 K:BB across 134 innings this season. He's currently slated to face the Red Sox at home in his next start.
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Walker Buehler SP | SD
Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Needs another rehab start
Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Buehler (hip) will make one more rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Buehler has struggled mightily in his last two rehab outings, giving up eight earned runs in 7.1 innings while striking out nine batters and walking five. His next outing will most likely be his final appearance in the minors, regardless of his performance, though he could be relegated to the bullpen if he's unable to turn things around.
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Bobby Miller RP | LAD
Dodgers' Bobby Miller: Scratched from start Friday
Miller was scratched from his scheduled start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday due adductor tightness, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Miller felt tightness following his bullpen session earlier in the week. After struggling in the majors this season, Miller was optioned to Oklahoma City on July 10. He's been inconsistent since being sent down to the minors, and in his last outing July 27, he walked away with the no-decision after allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out one across 3.2 innings.