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Cristopher Sanchez SP | PHI
Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez: Cruises to first win
Sanchez (1-3) picked up the win in Friday's 13-2 rout of the Twins, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.
After Sanchez failed to get into the win column in his first 10 starts of the season, the Phillies' offense made sure this decision wasn't going to be in any doubt. The quality start was the fourth of the year for the 26-year-old lefty, but both runs off Sanchez came on solo homers, and he's now served up 11 long balls in his last 50 innings. His overall stinginess has minimized the damage, however -- over that stretch, he has a 3.42 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 43:9 K:BB. With two off days coming up next week, the Phillies may not continue rolling with a six-man rotation, so despite his effectiveness as a starter in 2023, Sanchez's next appearance could come in long relief.
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Dallas Keuchel SP | MIL
Twins' Dallas Keuchel: Chased early by Phils
Keuchel (0-1) took the loss Friday, coughing up six runs on six hits and two walks over 1.2 innings in a 13-2 rout at the hands of the Phillies. He failed to strike out a batter.
After a promising first start for the Twins, Keuchel reverted back to being the pitcher who posted a 9.20 ERA in 60.1 innings last season. The 35-year-old southpaw managed to escape the first inning unscathed thanks to a double play, but the first five Phillies to come to the plate in the second reached base, including back-to-back doubles by Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott to lead off the frame. Minnesota is hoping to get Joe Ryan (groin) back soon and the team has off days coming up Monday and Thursday which would allow it to go with a four-man rotation. If Keuchel does make another start, it would likely come at home next weekend against the Pirates.
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Ryne Nelson SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Tagged with six runs
Nelson (6-7) yielded six runs on seven hits and a walk over three innings Friday, striking out two and taking a loss against the Padres.
After serving up a two-run homer to Xander Bogaerts in the second inning, Nelson was tagged with four more runs in the third. Nelson has allowed at least five runs in four of his last seven appearances, posting a 7.60 ERA during that span. His recent rough stretch has raised his season ERA to 5.47 with an 84:38 K:BB across 128 innings. Nelson is currently lined up to start in Colorado next week.
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Blake Snell SP | LAD
Padres' Blake Snell: Fans seven in win
Snell (9-8) yielded two runs on two hits and four walks over six innings Friday, striking out seven and earning a win against Arizona.
After giving up a run in the first inning, Snell held the Diamondbacks off the board until serving up a solo homer to Ketel Marte in the sixth. Snell's dominant stretch continued as he allowed fewer than three runs for the 14th time in his last 15 starts. He's registered a 1.16 ERA during that stretch, giving him a 2.63 ERA alongside a 171:76 K:BB through 24 outings. The only downside is that he's walked at least three batters in eight consecutive starts. Snell is expected to face the Orioles at home next week.
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Adam Wainwright SP | STL
Cardinals' Adam Wainwright: Allows eight more earned runs
Wainwright (3-7) took the loss Friday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and zero strikeouts over one inning against Kansas City.
Things continue to get worse for Wainwright, who's now allowed 15 earned runs over four innings in his last two starts. On the season, Wainwright's ERA now stands at 8.78 with a WHIP that's ballooned to 2.09 following this effort. There's something to be said for a nostalgia tour honoring a retiring star, but no one wants to see anyone's career end like this, especially someone as accomplished as Wainwright.
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Corbin Burnes SP | ARI
Brewers' Corbin Burnes: Stuggles in no-decision
Burnes did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks over 5.2 innings against the White Sox. He struck out five.
Burnes had not allowed more than two runs in any start since the beginning of July, and the 11 baserunners he allowed were more than in any of his starts since 2021. Despite his struggles, Burnes left with the lead in the sixth, but the Brewers allowed the White Sox to send the game to extras, negating the opportunity for Burnes to pick up his 10th victory. Burnes' next opportunity to reach double figures in the win column will likely come next week in a road matchup against the Dodgers.
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Michael Kopech SP | LAD
White Sox's Michael Kopech: Struggles with command
Kopech did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing four runs on five hits and five walks over 4.1 innings against the Brewers. He struck out four.
Kopech was consistently behind in the count, throwing first-pitch strikes to just eight of the 23 batters he faced. He still maintained a lead into the fifth but was pulled at 96 pitches after allowing three consecutive singles to close out his night. Kopech has been the pillar of inconsistency this year in his 21 starts, splitting evenly with seven games of four or more earned runs allowed, seven with no more than one earned run allowed and seven directly in-between. His next start is currently projected to take place next Friday in Colorado.
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Austin Gomber SP | TEX
Rockies' Austin Gomber: Takes tough loss
Gomber (9-9) allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out two over five innings to take the loss against the Dodgers on Friday.
Gomber was lucky to escape with only two runs on his line, but it's another decent start for the southpaw despite the poor result. He's given up just five runs (four earned) over his last 23 innings across four starts. Gomber has a 5.33 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 81:36 K:BB through 125 innings over 24 starts this season. He's lined up for a home matchup versus the Diamondbacks next week.
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Lance Lynn SP | STL
Dodgers' Lance Lynn: Still undefeated for LA
Lynn (9-9) allowed an unearned run on four hits and a walk while striking out nine over five innings to earn the win Friday over the Rockies.
Lynn worked his pitch count up quickly, throwing 94 pitches (62 strikes) over his five frames, but it was solid work. He has a 2.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 22:4 K:BB over 18 innings across his three starts with the Dodgers, a vast improvement on his 6.47 ERA for the White Sox. Lynn's next outing is projected to be a home start versus the Brewers next week.
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Jon Gray SP | TEX
Rangers' Jon Gray: Cruises to eighth win
Gray (8-5) allowed two hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over seven scoreless innings to earn the win Friday over the Giants.
Gray turned in an excellent start, his third scoreless outing of seven or more innings this season. Both hits he allowed were singles, while the seven strikeouts were his most in a start since he fanned 12 Cardinals on June 7. Gray has a 3.51 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 102:39 K:BB through 120.2 innings over 21 starts this season. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Angels next week.