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Robert Gasser SP | MIL
Brewers' Robert Gasser: Mixed results through two starts
Gasser has posted a 1.93 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 10:7 K:BB over 9.1 innings through two starts with Triple-A Nashville.
Walks have been an issue for Gasser -- just as they were last year in his five Triple-A starts -- and he has also hit three batters, but the Brewers' top pitching prospect has escaped any serious damage by missing a lot of bats. The team presumably wants to see Gasser limit the baserunners before giving him a shot at the top level, but if he can do so he could push for a spot on the big-league roster at some point this season.
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Vince Velasquez RP | KC
Pirates' Vince Velasquez: Ready to make start Thursday
Velasquez (ankle) is listed as the Pirates' probable starter for Thursday's game against the Cardinals.
Just as Pirates general manager Ben Cherington suggested over the weekend would be the case, Velasquez won't miss a turn through the rotation despite tweaking his left ankle in his most recent start Saturday versus the White Sox. While it doesn't look as though he'll be limited in any capacity Thursday, Velasquez still represents an untrustworthy streaming option. He's taken losses in both of his first two starts of 2023 while logging a 9.82 ERA and 2.18 WHIP across 7.1 innings.
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Alex Cobb SP | DET
Giants' Alex Cobb: Chased in fourth inning Wednesday
Cobb pitched 3.2 innings against the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing two runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out two batters. He didn't factor in the decision in the Giants' 10-5 loss.
The Giants gave Cobb an early three-run lead, but the veteran hurler couldn't take advantage. He gave up a hit in each of his first three frames but escaped without Los Angeles scoring before being chased with two outs in the fourth. In that inning, he yielded a hit to five of the six batters he faced and gave up two runs, though the damage could have been worse -- one of his outs came on a caught-stealing and the other on a sharp liner to center field. Cobb's 3.14 ERA and 14:2 K:BB on the campaign appear fine on the surface, but he's made it out of the fourth inning just once in three starts.
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Clayton Kershaw SP | LAD
Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw: Recovers for second win
Kershaw (2-1) picked up the victory in Wednesday's 10-5 win over the Giants, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out four batters over six innings.
Kershaw got off to shaky start Wednesday, allowing a pair of runs in the first inning and another in the second. The veteran southpaw found his footing thereafter, retiring 12 of the final 14 batters he faced and ending up with the win. Kershaw is no longer striking out batters like he did in his prime, but he's given the Dodgers a steady presence in the rotation by going exactly six innings in all three of his starts and nabbing a pair of victories. He's posted a 3.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB through 18 frames.
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Nathan Eovaldi SP | TEX
Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi: Tagged for six runs in loss
Eovaldi (1-2) took the loss against Kansas City on Wednesday, completing five frames and allowing six runs on 10 hits and no walks while striking out seven batters.
The Royals racked up four extra-base hit against Eovaldi, including Vinnie Pasquantino's solo homer in the third inning. Though Eovaldi didn't walk any batters for the first time this season and tallied a campaign-best seven punchouts, he couldn't overcome a flurry of 10 total hits that led to six runs. The right-hander has gone at least five innings in all three of his starts so far this season, but he currently holds a 6.32 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. Eovaldi's fantasy managers may find hope, however, in the fact that he's yielded an unusually high .444 BABIP and that his FIP currently sits at a much more promising 2.39.
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Brad Keller RP | PHI
Royals' Brad Keller: Tallies seven punchouts in victory
Keller (2-1) earned the win over Texas on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over 6.2 innings.
Keller served up a solo homer to Nate Lowe in the first inning, but that was the only time the Rangers got on the board against him. The right-hander completed a season-high 6.2 frames to notch his first quality start of the campaign and also tallied a season-best seven punchouts. Keller has been solid so far in 2023, allowing two or fewer runs in each of his three outings and compiling a 2.12 ERA and 1.12 WHIP through 17 frames.
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Hunter Greene SP | CIN
Reds' Hunter Greene: Fans 10 in no-decision
Greene allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks over six innings in a no-decision against Atlanta on Wednesday. He struck out 10 batters.
Greene went toe-to-toe with opposing hurler and fellow rising star Spencer Strider on Wednesday, racking up 10 strikeouts and 21 swinging strikes to Strider's nine and 22. Greene was able to go six frames to pick up his first quality start of the season, but he was kept out of the win column as Atlanta pulled out the victory in the ninth inning. This was the 23-year-old's best start of the campaign thus far, as he pitched past the fifth inning for the first time and notched a season-high strikeout total. This was also the first time in 2023 that Greene didn't issue any free passes -- he walked three batters in each of his first two outings.
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Spencer Strider SP | ATL
Braves' Spencer Strider: Totals nine punchouts again
Strider did not factor in the decision against Cincinnati on Wednesday, pitching five innings and allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out nine batters.
Strider's final line Wednesday was almost a carbon copy of his previous start against San Diego, when he also allowed three runs on four hits while striking out nine batters over five frames. The right-hander has struck out exactly nine hitters in each of his three outings this season, though he has just one win to show for it. Strider had his swing-and-miss stuff working against the Reds, as he racked up 22 whiffs, but he could go only five frames due to tossing 98 pitches. The 24-year-old has lived up to his billing as one of the game's top strikeout pitchers so far in 2023, as he is currently tied with Jacob deGrom for the league lead in punchouts.
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Kevin Gausman SP | CHC
Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman: Fans 11 in no-decision
Gausman did not factor in the decision on Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits over eight innings in the extra-inning victory over the Tigers. He struck out 11 and did not issue a walk.
Despite giving up two home runs, the 32-year-old had an impressive outing, striking out 11 batters -- all via the splitter. Gausman's performance kept the Blue Jays in the game as their offense struggled until they mounted a comeback in the ninth inning. The right-hander avoided the loss when an Alejandro Kirk sacrifice fly tied the game in the ninth, setting up a walkoff single by George Springer in the 10th. Gausman has been dominant to start the season, posting a 1.35 ERA and 25:3 K:BB over 20 innings.
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Dean Kremer SP | MIN
Orioles' Dean Kremer: Gives up four in loss
Kremer did not factor into the decision on Wednesday against the Athletics, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out one.
Kremer had another tough start, allowing a three-run homer to Brent Rooker in the first inning and a solo shot to Carlos Perez in the fifth. The 27-year-old righty struggled with his command and control, throwing 52 of his 90 pitches for strikes. Kremer has given up five home runs and six walks in three games this season, resulting in a 9.49 ERA through 12.1 innings. He will look to turn things around in his next start, tentatively scheduled for early next week against the Nationals.