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Jack Leiter SP | TEX
Rangers' Jack Leiter: On schedule if needed
Leiter allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings for Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.
Leiter's five-day schedule lines up perfectly to help the Rangers next week should they need a spot starter. Nathan Eovaldi (groin) was removed from Thursday's win over the Nationals and is not assured to take his next turn. Additionally, the Rangers and Athletics have a doubleheader next Wednesday, so it would seem Texas will need some form of pitching help. Leiter has allowed two runs on four hits and five walks while striking out 12 over 11 innings in two Triple-A starts since making his MLB debut April 18 against the Tigers.
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Logan Taylor Allen RP | CLE
Guardians' Logan Allen: Takes loss Thursday
Allen (2-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 5.2 innings in a loss against Houston on Thursday.
Allen allowed just one run through five frames, but Jon Singleton launched a two-out, two-run homer against him in the sixth to send him to the showers and put him in line for the loss. The left-handed hurler fell one out shy of his second quality start of the campaign, though he's pitched more than five innings in three of his past four outings. After a promising rookie campaign last year, Allen has fallen back a bit in 2024 with a 5.11 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 31:12 K:BB through 37 frames.
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Spencer Arrighetti RP | TOR
Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Posts best big-league start
Arrighetti allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six batters over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Cleveland on Thursday.
Arrighetti struggled with a trio of losses and a 10.97 ERA over his first three starts, but he was much more effective against the Guardians on Thursday. The right-hander went a season-high 5.2 frames and tied a season low with two runs allowed, falling just one out shy of a quality start. Despite the promising outing, Arrighetti could drop out of Houston rotation soon with Cristian Javier (neck) making progress toward a return from the injured list.
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Mitchell Parker RP | WAS
Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Takes first loss
Parker (2-1) took the loss against Texas on Thursday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings.
Parker had his least-effective outing through four big-league starts, giving up a season-high three runs while taking his first career loss. The southpaw still managed to keep Washington within striking distance, but the Nationals' offense failed to scratch against four Rangers pitchers. Parker's ERA is still a commendable 2.53, and it's supported by a strong 1.08 WHIP and 19:4 K:BB through 21.1 frames.
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Kyle Harrison SP | MIL
Giants' Kyle Harrison: Wild in no-decision
Harrison allowed one run on three hits and five walks while striking out seven batters over five innings in a no-decision against Boston on Thursday.
Harrison issued a season-high five free passes -- as many as he had handed out over six starts coming into the contest -- but managed to continuously get out of trouble, as none of the batters he put on base via walk came around to score. The southpaw thus managed to emerge with a no-decision, though his high pitch count of 95 offerings limited him to five frames and prevented him from picking up what could have been his fifth quality start of the campaign. Though Harrison has settled for a no-decision in each of his past two appearances, he's allowed just one run while fanning 14 batters over 11 frames during that span.
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Gerrit Cole SP | NYY
Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Set for bullpen session
Cole (elbow) is expected to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Cole will throw off a mound for the first time since being placed on the 60-day injured list with nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow in late March. The 33-year-old is reportedly targeting a return in "mid June," according to Heyman. The right-hander is eligible to be activated from the IL on May 27, but it appears as if he will remain sidelined for awhile longer than that. With his pedigree, it comes as no surprise that the Yankees are being cautious with their ace, who produced a 2.63 ERA with a 9.6 K/9 over 209 innings in 33 starts last year.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Moved to 60-day IL
The Diamondbacks transferred Kelly (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Kelly was placed on the 15-day IL on April 23 after sustaining a teres major strain in his right shoulder. Due to his transfer to the 60-day IL, Kelly will be on the shelf until at least late June, and his rehab progress over the next few weeks could determine whether the right-hander will need more time beyond that window. Kelly started the season with a 2-0 record, 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 24.2 innings through four starts.
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Tyler Wells RP | TB
Orioles' Tyler Wells: Plays catch Wednesday
Manager Brandon Hyde said Wells (elbow) played catch Wednesday and will be sent in for additional testing, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Hyde didn't specify whether Wells' upcoming tests were part of a pre-planned arrangement, or if the tests were ordered up because he didn't respond as well to playing catch as expected. Either way, Wells' status will be worth tracking in the days to come as he builds his way back up from right elbow inflammation. Wells is eligible to return from the 15-day injured list Friday, but his return shouldn't be viewed as imminent, considering that he hasn't resumed throwing off a mound since being deactivated.
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Ryne Nelson SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: In line to return Sunday
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Nelson (elbow) will "most likely" return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game versus the Padres at Chase Field, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.
On the shelf since April 19 with a bruised right elbow, Nelson has bounced back well enough since he resumed throwing to avoid a minor-league rehab assignment. Nelson will presumably throw another bullpen session Friday, and if all goes well, he'll take the hill Sunday with few restrictions, if any. Through his first four starts for Arizona before landing on the IL, Nelson went 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB in 15.2 innings.
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Jordan Hicks RP | CHW
Giants' Jordan Hicks: Cleared to start Friday
Hicks (side) is listed as the Giants' probable starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Phillies in Philadelphia.
Hicks contended with side tightness during his most recent outing against the Pirates last Saturday, when he struck out a season-high nine over six innings while allowing one earned run on five hits and no walks. The injury apparently didn't hinder him during his between-starts bullpen session, so he's on track to take the hill for the seventh time this season Friday. After pitching exclusively in relief between stops with St. Louis and Toronto in 2023, Hicks has performed even better than the Giants could have imagined after signing him to a four-year, $44 million deal this winter with the plan of converting him to a full-time starting role. Through his first six turns through the rotation, Hicks has delivered two wins to go with a 1.59 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB in 34 innings.