-
Alec Marsh RP | KC
Royals' Alec Marsh: Fans six in bulk role
Marsh didn't factor into the decision Friday in the Royals' 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over four relief innings. He struck out six.
Entering the game to begin the third inning after Collin Snider had supplied two scoreless frames as the opener, Marsh looked sharp as he generated 23 called or swinging strikes on only 65 pitches. The right-hander was briefly in line for his first win of the season when Kansas City took a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh, but the bullpen immediately fell apart in the bottom of the inning. Marsh has given up three runs or fewer in five of his last six outings, and while a blowup against Boston has left him with a 5.14 ERA and 1.57 WHIP during that stretch, his 34:14 K:BB through 28 innings at least shows some promise. His next appearance, whether as a starter or bulk reliever, is likely to come on the road next week against the White Sox.
-
MacKenzie Gore SP | TEX
Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Can't keep ball in park
Gore came away with a no-decision Friday in the Nationals' 8-5 loss to the Dodgers, giving up four runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.
The southpaw didn't have his best stuff and got hit hard as a result, serving up a two-run homer to J.D. Martinez in the first inning before Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez tagged him for solo shots in the fourth. It's the third time in his last five starts Gore has given up multiple home runs, and since the All-Star break the 24-year-old has a 4.44 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 43:18 K:BB through 46.2 innings as he shows signs of fatigue -- he's already thrown 49.1 more innings this year than he did in 2022. If he stays on turn, Gore's next outing will likely come next week in Pittsburgh.
-
Emmet Sheehan SP | LAD
Dodgers' Emmet Sheehan: Escapes with no-decision
Sheehan came away with a no-decision Friday in the Dodgers' 8-5 win over the Nationals, giving up five runs on six hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out four.
Twice the right-hander got handed a two-run lead, and twice he quickly coughed it up, serving up a three-run homer to Keibert Ruiz in the first inning and a two-run shot to CJ Abrams in the fifth. Sheehan's fallen short of five innings in each of his last three starts in the majors, posting a 5.84 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 13:5 K:BB and 3.6 HR/9 in 12.1 innings during those outings, and its not clear if he'll remain a regular member of the rotation over the final weeks of the season.
-
Matthew Liberatore SP | STL
Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Awarded win Friday
Liberatore (3-5) walked one and struck out three over 1.1 scoreless and hitless innings to earn the win Friday over the Reds.
Liberatore was deemed the most effective reliever and awarded the win after starter Drew Rom went just 3.2 innings. This was Liberatore's second outing since returning from a back injury, and he's struck out four without giving up a hit over 2.2 innings. The southpaw is expected to fill a multi-inning role out of the bullpen for the rest of the year. He has a 5.81 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 39:22 K:BB through 52.2 innings over 14 appearances (11 starts) this season.
-
Ty Blach RP | CHC
Rockies' Ty Blach: Falters in sixth inning
Blach allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out six over five-plus innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Friday.
Blach kept the Giants off the board for five innings, then gave up back-to-back-to-back home runs to Wilmer Flores, Mitch Haniger and J.D. Davis in the sixth. This is the first time all year Blach's allowed multiple homers in an outing, a feat made all the more impressive given his home park -- and more perplexing, since this was a road start. The southpaw is at a 4.58 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 34:16 K:BB over 59 innings through 16 appearances (nine starts) this season. He's lined up for a home outing against the Cubs next week.
-
Kyle Harrison SP | MIL
Giants' Kyle Harrison: Comes away with no-decision
Harrison allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out five over five-plus innings Friday in a no-decision versus the Rockies.
The Rockies got to him for three runs in the second inning and Nolan Jones added a solo home run in the sixth to end Harrison's night. Perhaps this represented progress for the rookie, but it still wasn't a particularly impressive effort. He's struck out at least five batters in all four of his starts while posting a 4.87 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB across 20.1 innings. Harrison is projected for a home start versus light-hitting Cleveland next week, which should also allow him to avoid a visit to Coors Field when the Giants and Rockies clash again next weekend.
-
Cristopher Sanchez SP | PHI
Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez: Goes five scoreless in no-decision
Sanchez did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing four hits and one walk over five scoreless innings against Miami. He struck out four.
He had an eight-day layoff after his previous start, but the extra rest did him good. Sanchez kept the Marlins off the board and left the game in line for the win. However, the Phillies' bullpen allowed three runs to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Sanchez has now allowed two or fewer runs in 10 of his 15 outings this season. He'll carry an ERA of 3.26 into his next start, currently scheduled to take place mid-week in an important home series against Atlanta.
-
Griffin Canning RP | SD
Angels' Griffin Canning: Takes sixth loss
Canning (7-6) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three over 5.1 innings to take the loss Friday versus the Guardians.
This is just the second time in five outings since he returned from a calf injury that Canning has allowed more than two runs. Despite his solid work in that span, including a 29:5 K:BB over 25.1 innings, he's gone just 1-2. The 27-year-old has maintained fairly pedestrian numbers on the year with a 4.34 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 120:30 K:BB through 110 innings over 21 appearances (19 starts). Canning is projected for a home start in Detroit next week, though he may move up to pitch in Seattle if Chase Silseth (concussion) isn't cleared to return.
-
Logan Taylor Allen RP | CLE
Guardians' Logan Allen: Secures seventh win
Allen (7-7) allowed a run on three hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings to earn the win Friday over the Angels.
Allen had allowed 11 runs over his last 15 innings during a three-start winless streak. He was able to put in a good, if inefficient, effort and was pulled after 90 pitches (55 strikes). The rookie southpaw is at a 3.68 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 113:43 K:BB through 117.1 innings over 22 starts this season. Allen is tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Rangers, though he could pitch in San Francisco instead if Xzavion Curry gets bumped from Cleveland's rotation next week.