-
Martin Perez SP | ATL
Rangers' Martin Perez: Stuck with loss in quality start
Perez (6-3) took the loss Friday, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks over six innings as the Rangers were downed 2-1 to the Blue Jays. He struck out three.
The veteran southpaw made only one real mistake, but Danny Jansen ripped it over the left-field wall in the fifth inning for a two-run shot. The quality start was Perez's sixth of the season, but he's also been prone to meltdowns lately, coughing up at least six runs in three of eight outings since the beginning of May -- a stretch in which he carries a 6.18 ERA. 1.58 WHIP and 28:17 K:BB through 43.2 innings. He'll try to avoid another collapse in his next start, likely to come next week on the road against the White Sox.
-
Kevin Gausman SP | CHC
Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman: Stifles Rangers for sixth win
Gausman (6-3) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over six innings in a 2-1 victory over the Rangers. He struck out four.
While the veteran right-hander wasn't as dominant as he's capable of being, Gausman was just as stingy as he reeled off his 11th quality start in 15 trips to the mound, tying him for second in the majors in QS behind Marcus Stroman's 13. Gausman has won four straight decisions over his last five outings, posting a 2.73 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 40:13 K:BB through 29.2 innings over that stretch. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which is likely to come on the road next week in Miami.
-
Jared Shuster RP | STL
Braves' Jared Shuster: Cruises to fourth win
Shuster (4-2) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on five hits and three walks over 5.2 innings in an 8-1 victory over the Rockies. He struck out two.
Atlanta did all its scoring in the first four innings, giving Shuster more than enough cushion, but after blanking Colorado through five innings he faded in the sixth and got the hook before he could record his second quality start of the year. The southpaw has won four straight decisions over his last five outings with a 3.25 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, and despite a mediocre 15:11 K:BB through 27.2 innings over that stretch, pitching to contact will likely remain a winning formula with the Atlanta offense at his back. Shuster is next set to take the mound during a road series next week in Philadelphia.
-
Tylor Megill SP | NYM
Mets' Tylor Megill: Sharp in sixth win
Megill (6-4) picked up the win in Friday's 6-1 victory over the Cardinals, allowing one run on four hits over six innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.
It was arguably the best performance of the season for the right-hander, who tied his season high in Ks and didn't issue a free pass for the first time in 2023 en route to his third quality start in 14 trips to the mound. Megill's been far from consistent, and since the beginning of May he carries a 5.32 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 37:23 K:BB through 44 innings even after Friday's effort. He'll look to keep building momentum in his next outing, likely to come on the road next week in Houston.
-
Miles Mikolas RP | WAS
Cardinals' Miles Mikolas: Ambushed by Mets
Mikolas (4-4) took the loss Friday, coughing up six runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings as the Cardinals fell 6-1 to the Mets. He struck out one.
Only two of the hits off the right-hander went for extra bases, including a Daniel Vogelbach solo shot in the sixth inning, but the singles came in bunches for the Mets as they scored three runs in the first and two more in the third. Mikolas has been tagged for 11 runs in 12 innings over his last two starts on the heels of a 10-start stretch in which he sported a 2.24 ERA, but he'll look to get back on track when he next takes the mound, which could happen on the road next week against the Nationals.
-
Emmet Sheehan SP | LAD
Dodgers' Emmet Sheehan: Sterling in major-league debut
Sheehan struck out three and walked two over six no-hit, scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Friday.
Sheehan had about as good a debut as possible, throwing 51 of 89 pitches for strikes. The excellent start was wasted by the Dodgers' bullpen, which allowed the lead to slip away in the eighth inning. Sheehan hadn't pitched above Double-A before Friday -- he had a 1.86 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 88:23 K:BB through 53.1 innings at that level this season. It's likely he's not going back there any time soon, though it's unknown if he'll stay in the majors or head to Triple-A Oklahoma City. With Noah Syndergaard (finger) set for a slow ramp-up process and Julio Urias (hamstring) in need of at least one rehab outing, it's possible Sheehan could remain in the rotation to face the Angels next week.
-
Michael Kopech SP | LAD
White Sox's Michael Kopech: Lacks control Friday
Kopech allowed a run on six hits and six walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Friday.
Kopech wasn't punished much for the free passes, but it did work his pitch count up to 102 (57 strikes) for just 13 outs. The six walks matched a season high for the right-hander, who has a 4.5 BB/9 on the year. Despite the control issues, he's pitched to a reasonable 3.92 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 89 strikeouts over 78 innings across 14 starts. He's allowed just seven runs over his last six starts, so he'll try to keep up the solid pitching next week in a challenging home start versus the Rangers.
-
Bryan Woo SP | SEA
Mariners' Bryan Woo: Strikes out nine in no-decision
Woo allowed two runs on three hits and struck out nine without walking a batter over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus the White Sox on Friday.
Woo was sharp, though two of the three hits he allowed were solo home runs by Gavin Sheets and Andrew Benintendi. After a rough debut, Woo has turned in a couple of reasonably solid starts with 16 strikeouts over his past 10.1 innings. He's still at a 7.30 ERA and 1.30 WHIP through 12.1 innings, but his 20:2 K:BB is a positive sign that he has the control to hang around in the majors. He'll remain in search of his first win next week in a projected road start versus the Yankees.
-
Yu Darvish SP | SD
Padres' Yu Darvish: Tagged with six runs
Darvish (5-5) yielded six runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings Friday, striking out five and taking a loss against the Rays.
Darvish coughed up two runs through four innings before the Rays broke the game open in the fifth, led by Randy Arozarena's three-run shot. Over his last two starts, Darvish has allowed 10 runs in 10.1 innings, shooting his ERA back up to 4.74 through 13 starts in 2023. He's given up at least four runs in six of those outings, including four of his last six. He'll look to move back over .500 in his next start, which is lined up to be in San Francisco next week.
-
Touki Toussaint RP | LAA
Guardians' Touki Toussaint: Ineffective in loss
Toussaint (0-1) took the loss Friday versus the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs on three hits and five walks while striking out two over 3.2 innings.
Toussaint threw 43 of 82 pitches for strikes in his first major-league start of the campaign. He's primarily worked as a multi-inning reliever with Triple-A Columbus, where he has a 4.06 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 48:23 K:BB over 37.2 innings. The lofty walk rate appears to have followed him to the majors. Toussaint was a fill-in for Triston McKenzie (elbow) in this game, but it's unclear what the Guardians might do if that spot in their rotation has a vacancy. In addition to Toussaint, Xzavion Curry -- who allowed two runs on six hits and a walk over 1.2 innings Friday -- or top prospect Gavin Williams could be options to start if McKenzie ends up on the injured list. That spot in the rotation is next due up for a home start versus the Athletics next week.