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Andres Munoz RP | SEA
Mariners' Andres Munoz: Collects 19th save
Munoz picked up the save Sunday, walking two and striking out two during a scoreless ninth inning against the Giants.
Munoz finished off the Giants for his 19th save of the season, though it was his first save in four weeks. It was not a perfect outing for Munoz, who struggled with his command, tossing just 10 of 21 pitches for strikes while walking two. However, he also struck out two, including Mark Canha with a runner on third to end the game. Munoz has allowed four earned runs and nine total baserunners over his last four appearances but still maintains a dominant 1.80 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 63 strikeouts over 50 innings this season.
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Bryan Woo SP | SEA
Mariners' Bryan Woo: Fifth consecutive quality start
Woo (6-2) picked up the win Sunday, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits over seven innings against the Giants. He struck out seven.
A throwing error and a home run put Woo into a hole in the first, but he rebounded to allow just three singles over the final six scoreless innings of his outing to pick up the win. It was the fifth straight quality start for Woo, who has pitched into the seventh during each of those appearances, compiling a 1.59 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 31 strikeouts over 34 innings. He'll look for a sixth straight quality start in his next matchup, scheduled to take place in Anaheim against the hapless Angels.
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James McArthur RP | KC
Royals' James McArthur: Finding success outside of closing
McArthur has not allowed a run over his last seven appearances, allowing just five hits while striking out eight and walking none across 6.2 innings in that span.
McArthur surrendered 11 runs (nine earned) over 5.2 innings through his first six outings following the All-Star break, converting just one of three save chances in that span. He hasn't had the opportunity to close since, with Lucas Erceg moving into the closer role since he was acquired from the Athletics via trade. McArthur has just one hold since he lost the closer job, and he's more frequently been deployed in the seventh and eighth innings in recent weeks. McArthur has a 4.62 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 40:9 K:BB over 50.2 innings while going 18-for-24 in save chances this year, and he'll likely be a second or third option for closing duties when Erceg is unavailable.
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Mason Miller RP | SD
Athletics' Mason Miller: Collects 21st save
Miller struck out one while tossing 1.1 perfect innings to pick up the save Sunday against the Brewers.
Miller collected four outs to pick up his fourth multi-inning save of the season. Miller has not been scored upon in 17 of his last 18 outings since June 14, tossing 20 innings with a 0.90 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, 27 strikeouts and nine saves over that stretch.
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Lane Thomas LF | ATL
Guardians' Lane Thomas: Reaches 30-steal mark
Thomas went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Rangers.
Thomas has two steals over his last nine games, but he's gone just 4-for-22 (.182) with two walks and 12 strikeouts in that span. The outfielder is batting just .132 as a Guardian, which has seen him slip into a part-time role after being a full-time option when he was traded from the Nationals. Thomas has a .231/.309/.367 slash line with 30 steals, eight home runs, 42 RBI and 49 runs scored over 99 contests this season.
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Carlos Carrasco RP | ATL
Guardians' Carlos Carrasco: Closing in on live session
Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Sunday that Carrasco (hip) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session by the middle of the week, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Until Antonetti spoke to the media Sunday, the club hadn't provided many updates on Carrasco's status since he landed on the injured list Aug. 9 with a left hip strain. Based on Antonetti's comments, Carrasco was able to resume throwing within the past week, and the 37-year-old right-hander will continue the ramp-up process when he faces hitters in the coming days. Alex Cobb (fingernail) is also scheduled for a live session later this week and appears on pace to beat Carrasco back from the IL, so the Guardians may not have room in the rotation for the latter pitcher once he's fully stretched out. Carrasco had posted a 5.64 ERA over 103.2 innings over his 21 starts this season prior to being shelved with the hip injury.
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Jose Ramirez 3B | CLE
Guardians' Jose Ramirez: Two thefts in win
Ramirez went 1-for-3 with one RBI and two stolen bases in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Rangers.
Ramirez was a menace on the basepaths in the third inning. He stole second and third, but he was thrown out at the plate attempting to steal home. Ramirez doesn't have elite speed, but he makes good decisions in his baserunning -- he's now 32-for-36 on steal attempts this year. He's been especially prolific lately with seven thefts over his last 12 contests despite batting .200 (8-for-40) in that span. Overall, the third baseman is up to a .274/.332/.531 slash line with 33 home runs, 103 RBI and 94 runs scored across 127 games.
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Alex Cobb SP | DET
Guardians' Alex Cobb: Tosses bullpen session
Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said that Cobb (fingernail) was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
The team hasn't provided an update regarding how Cobb felt coming out of the side session, but assuming he was able to throw all his pitches without being inhibited by the fractured nail on his right hand, he should throw a live batting practice session by the middle of the week. Given that Cobb was first placed on the 15-day injured list this past Monday due to the fingernail issue, he may not need a minor-league rehab assignment prior to being activated.
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Joey Estes SP | ATH
Athletics' Joey Estes: Continues impressive run
Estes (6-6) earned the win Sunday, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against the Brewers. He struck out five.
Estes allowed a two-run homer by Gary Sanchez in the second inning but otherwise held the Brewers off the board to collect his sixth win of the season. After receiving a cup of coffee with the A's last season, Estes has been solid in his first full big-league season, carrying a 4.37 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. Additionally, since allowing eight runs in a start against the Red Sox on July 9, he's been highly impressive, allowing no more than three runs in any of his last eight appearances while maintaining a 2.86 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 32 strikeouts over his last 44 innings. He'll look to continue this string of success in his next start, scheduled to take place in Arlington against the Rangers.
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Justin Topa RP | NYY
Twins' Justin Topa: Resumes playing catch
Topa (knee) has resumed playing catch, Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Topa missed the first four months of the season due to a tear in the patellar tendon of his left knee. He began a rehab assignment July 23 but was shut down Aug. 10 due to right elbow inflammation. Topa remains optimistic that he can return this season, but he still likely has several weeks of building up his throwing before he could start a rehab assignment.