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Colton Cowser CF | BAL
Orioles' Colton Cowser: Delivers homer in win
Cowser went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and two RBI in Sunday's 10-5 win over the Rangers.
Cowser added to Baltimore's early lead by taking Kumar Rocker deep for a solo homer in the second inning, giving him nine home runs on the season. He later drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth to secure his first multi-RBI performance since June 21. Cowser had struggled mightily over the past month entering Sunday, batting just .121 across his previous 29 games with only one RBI.
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Pete Alonso 1B | BAL
Orioles' Pete Alonso: Erupts for two homers
Alonso went 3-for-3 with two home runs, two walks, four RBI and an additional run scored in Sunday's 10-5 win over the Rangers.
Alonso reached base in all five of his plate appearances and recorded his first multi-homer game as an Oriole, launching two-run shots in back-to-back at-bats. The huge performance came after Alonso entered Sunday with just one extra-base hit while batting .160 through seven August games. With 25 on the season now, he's on pace to reach 30 home runs for the seventh time in his career and sixth consecutive season, though his overall production has slipped compared to his usual standards, with a .472 slugging percentage and .818 OPS.
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Troy Melton SP | DET
Tigers' Troy Melton: Limits Giants in no-decision
Melton did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Giants, allowing one unearned run on four hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings.
Melton threw 60 of his 92 pitches for strikes and generated 14 whiffs while never facing more than four batters in an inning. He held San Francisco scoreless through six frames before returning for the seventh and issuing a leadoff walk to Rafael Devers, prompting his exit. Melton watched from the dugout as a run eventually scored on an error. The right-hander hasn't allowed an earned run across his last three starts (20 innings) and owns a 3-0 record with a 0.64 ERA since the beginning of July. Through 80 innings this season, Melton boasts a stellar 1.46 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 69:24 K:BB. He's tentatively scheduled to face the White Sox on Saturday.
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Daulton Varsho CF | HOU
Astros' Daulton Varsho: Homers in Sunday's loss
Varsho went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Padres.
Varsho's first homer as an Astro put them ahead 2-0 in the top of the second inning. His blast was the last baserunner Houston would have in the game, as San Diego's pitching staff retired the next 22 batters in order. Varsho has gone 3-for-21 with a 4:5 BB:K across his first six contests with his new team after he was dealt from Toronto at the trade deadline. On the year, the outfielder is batting .237 with a .675 OPS, eight homers, 28 RBI, 41 runs scored, 19 doubles, two triples and 10 stolen bases through 105 games.
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Cristian Javier SP | HOU
Astros' Cristian Javier: Yields two homers in loss
Javier (1-3) allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out two over five innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Padres.
Javier threw 62 of 86 pitches for strikes, but he was a little too hittable on some occasions. Fernando Tatis' three-run blast in the fourth inning was the difference, and Jackson Merrill had a solo shot in the second. Javier has allowed seven runs over 11 innings in his last two starts after pitching five scoreless innings in relief against the Angels on July 27. Javier has a 6.68 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 25:16 K:BB through 10 outings (six starts) this season. Assuming he stays in the rotation, he's tentatively projected to make his next appearance at home versus the Mariners.
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Kumar Rocker SP | TEX
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Hit hard in loss to Orioles
Rocker (4-9) took the loss Sunday against the Orioles, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five over three innings.
Rocker was in trouble from the outset, surrendering four hits and two runs in the first inning before Colton Cowser and Pete Alonso homered in the second. In the fourth, Rocker walked the leadoff batter, prompting his exit. Sunday was his shortest start since lasting two innings against Detroit on May 2. It marked the right-hander's third outing this season allowing at least six earned runs. Rocker now owns a 4.46 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 103:42 K:BB across 111 innings and will look to rebound in his next scheduled start Friday against the Athletics.
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Miguel Vargas 3B | CHW
White Sox's Miguel Vargas: On base three times in win
Vargas went 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and two walks Sunday against the Guardians.
Vargas earned a one-out walk in the third inning and was able to come around to score, accounting for his key production in Sunday's win. He has hit just .195 since the All-Star break but has still found ways to be productive by hitting three home runs and scoring 14 runs across 22 games.
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Cade Povich SP | BAL
Orioles' Cade Povich: Tagged for three runs Sunday
Povich did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Rangers, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two over three innings.
Povich opened with two scoreless frames while Baltimore's offense spotted him a five-run lead, but he couldn't maintain the momentum. After allowing a hit and a walk in the third, he surrendered a three-run homer to Brandon Nimmo that accounted for all of the damage against him. The outing was a stark contrast to his first start since returning to the rotation, when he delivered six scoreless innings. Through 28.1 major-league innings this season, Povich owns a 4.45 ERA with a 21:10 K:BB. He's currently slated to start Saturday against the Rays, though Chris Bassitt's (back) impending return from the injured list could alter those plans.
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Brenton Doyle CF | CHW
White Sox's Brenton Doyle: Gets chance at leadoff
Doyle went 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base Sunday against the Guardians.
Doyle started his fourth game since joining the White Sox at the trade deadline, all of which have come against lefties. He had a strong showing Sunday, performing well out of the leadoff spot. Doyle led off the home half of the first inning with a single and stolen base before coming around to score. He looks to be locked into a small-side platoon for the time being, but Doyle's recent change of scenery could prove to be beneficial.
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Jameson Taillon SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jameson Taillon: Remaining in rotation
Taillon is listed as the Blue Jays' probable starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Red Sox at Rogers Centre.
After being acquired from the Cubs on Aug. 2, Taillon made his Blue Jays debut three days later and took a no-decision against the Astros, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks over four innings. The 34-year-old should be able to stick around in the rotation until one of Trey Yesavage (knee) or Spencer Arrighetti (foot) are activated from the injured list, but Taillon has offered little reason to get inspired about his fantasy prospects. Over 16 starts this season, he's surrendered a whopping 26 home runs in 80 innings and has supplied a 5.96 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 72:29 K:BB.