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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Spins quality start
Kelly (7-8) allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out six over seven innings to earn the win over the Padres on Thursday.
Kelly turned in a quality start in this outing, allowing just a solo home run to Manny Machado in the second inning. This was Kelly's second win in a row, and he heads into the All-Star break having allowed just three runs over his last 12 innings. Overall, he's still at a 5.38 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 59:38 K:BB through 93.2 innings over 16 starts this season. He's also given up 20 homers, putting him on pace to allow a career high in long balls -- his worst campaign in that regard was 2019, when he gave up 29 homers.
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Trevor Rogers SP | BAL
Orioles' Trevor Rogers: Finishes first half strong
Rogers did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Cubs, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings.
Rogers turned in another strong outing, with his lone blemish coming on a sixth-inning solo homer by Seiya Suzuki. It was the first home run he had allowed in four starts. After opening the season with a 6.54 ERA through his first 10 outings, the left-hander has been one of baseball's hottest pitchers, posting a 1.73 ERA over his last seven starts. Rogers heads into the All-Star break sporting a 4.48 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 69:31 K:BB across 90.1 innings.
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Grayson Rodriguez SP | LAA
Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Coming off IL on Friday
Rodriguez (back) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list and start Friday against Minnesota, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
After completing 5.1 strong innings on 78 pitches in his second rehab start last Saturday, Rodriguez will officially rejoin the big-league club on Friday and make his first appearance since June 14. This will wrap up the right-hander's second stint on the IL this season after missing over a month to start the year due to a shoulder injury. In six starts this season, the 26-year-old has posted an 8.06 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 24:15 K:BB through 25.2 innings.
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Jacob Lopez SP | ATH
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Set to operate as opener
Lopez will serve as the Athletics' opening pitcher for Friday's game against the White Sox, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Lopez was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday and pitched in relief later that night, surrendering four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four over three innings in a loss to the Tigers. He'll pick up his 11th start of the season three days' later, but Lopez will most likely be capped around 1-to-3 innings before exiting the game. Friday had been Aaron Civale's turn in the rotation, so he's the most likely pitcher to work in bulk relief once Lopez exits the contest.
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David Peterson SP | CHC
Cubs' David Peterson: Lacks command in no-decision
Peterson allowed one run on two hits across five innings and did not factor into the decision in Thursday's loss to the Orioles. He walked four and struck out two.
Peterson pitched pretty well overall Thursday but struggled with his command as he tied a season high in walks. Even with the shaky control it was still a huge step in the right direction for the lefty after being tagged for 10 runs in only 3.2 innings in his last start. Peterson will now carry a 6.45 ERA and 1.64 WHIP into the All-Star break, and he should slot into the back of Chicago's rotation once the second half kicks off, at least until the likes of Jameson Taillon (hamstring), Edward Cabrera (hamstring) and Ben Brown (neck) are able to return.
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Mitch Keller SP | PIT
Pirates' Mitch Keller: Falls to Atlanta
Keller (6-7) took the loss Thursday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over three innings. He struck out three.
Keller has been struggling mightily of late, posting a 7.62 ERA in his last eight starts (39 innings). The home-run ball in particular has been a problem for Keller -- he's now given up six long balls in his last four outings. The right-hander will head into the All-Star break with a 5.14 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 77:35 K:BB across 19 starts (103.1 innings).
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Bryce Elder SP | ATL
Braves' Bryce Elder: Struggles continue Thursday
Elder did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Pirates, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks across four innings. He struck out three.
Elder was hurt by the long ball again Thursday, with all four of the runs charged to the right-hander coming on three homers. Elder's now given up 22 earned runs and eight homers in 18 innings across his last four outings. He'll head into the All-Star break with a 4.12 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 86:32 K:BB across 18 starts (102.2 innings) this season.
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Patrick Sandoval SP | BOS
Red Sox's Patrick Sandoval: Encouraging results in season debut
Sandoval took a no-decision Thursday against the White Sox, allowing one run on five hits and one walk in 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
Making his season debut for the Red Sox, Sandoval fared well in what also was his first big-league appearance since 2024 following a lengthy recovery from internal brace surgery and several setbacks. The 29-year-old southpaw threw 41 of his 65 pitches for strikes, but he couldn't quite get through the fifth inning as his control began to wane. Connelly Early (elbow) and Ranger Suarez (groin) could both be back shortly after the All-Star break, which would likely force Sandoval into a bullpen role.
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Anthony Kay SP | CHW
White Sox's Anthony Kay: Serviceable in fourth loss
Kay (6-4) took the loss Thursday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out four.
Kay got through three scoreless frames to begin the afternoon but fell apart a bit in the fourth inning, when he gave up both of his runs. Lack of control has been a recurring theme in the first half of the campaign for the 31-year-old left-hander amid his transition to the rotation, as he's issued multiple walks in 12 of his 19 outings while hitting at least one batter in 11 appearances. Through 89.1 frames, Kay has a middling 4.23 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 71:35 K:BB.
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Jose Cabrera SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Jose Cabrera: Demoted to Triple-A
The Diamondbacks optioned Cabrera to Triple-A Reno on Thursday, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.
After tossing five scoreless innings in his major-league debut, Cabrera has given up 11 runs with a 9:7 K:BB covering 12.2 innings over his last three starts. With Cabrera back in the minors, it appears the Diamondbacks intend to keep Brandon Pfaadt in their rotation.