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Michael Kopech SP | LAD
White Sox's Michael Kopech: Bags seventh save
Kopech earned the save in Friday's 5-3 win over the Rockies, pitching a scoreless inning and working around a walk.
The 28-year-old entered the ninth with a two-run lead and looked to immediately be in danger, as he opened with six-pitch walk to Ryan McMahon. However, Kopech induced two consecutive groudouts, including one of the double-play variety, to escape with just his second save in June. The Chicago right-hander lowered his season ERA to 4.46 over 34.1 innings, as he appears to have seized control of the closer's role over John Brebbia for the time being.
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Drew Thorpe SP | CHW
White Sox's Drew Thorpe: Secures second victory
Thorpe (2-1) earned the win Friday versus Colorado, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out four.
The Chicago right-hander shined in this outing, allowing just three baserunners en route to his second straight quality start. The only blemish on Thorpe's performance was a two-run homer allowed to Brenton Doyle in the sixth inning. Over his first four career starts, the White Sox rookie sports a 4.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 13:12 K:BB across 20.1 innings. He's currently slated to make his next appearance against the Guardians in Cleveland.
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Triston McKenzie SP | SD
Guardians' Triston McKenzie: Roughed up in loss
McKenzie (3-5) took the loss Friday in Kansas City, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks over 2.1 innings with three strikeouts.
The Cleveland right-hander closed out a tough month with this performance, failing to pitch past the third inning for the third consecutive start. Over five June starts, McKenzie posted a 9.33 ERA, 2.13 WHIP and 19:15 K:BB across 18.1 innings. The 26-year-old is currently scheduled to face the White Sox at home in his next outing.
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Colton Cowser CF | BAL
Orioles' Colton Cowser: Homers again in win
Cowser went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 2-1 win over the Rangers on Friday.
Cowser opened the scoring with a solo home run off Max Scherzer in the fourth inning. While the young outfielder is hitting just .203 in June, he has now homered in his past three starts and has five total in the month. On the season, Cowser is hitting .231 with 12 home runs, 34 RBI, 32 runs scored and five steals in 257 plate appearances.
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Vinnie Pasquantino 1B | KC
Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino: Tallies homer, three RBI
Pasquantino went 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 10-3 win against Cleveland.
After cracking an RBI single in the third inning, the Kansas City first baseman popped a two-run homer in the eighth for his ninth of the season. Pasquantino has struggled lately, as this marked his first multi-RBI game since June 13 against the Yankees. Overall, the 26-year-old sports a .237/.314/.420 slash line across 328 plate appearances with 53 RBI and 37 runs scored.
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Albert Suarez RP | BAL
Orioles' Albert Suarez: Throws six scoreless innings in win
Suarez (4-2) earned the win over the Rangers on Friday, allowing three hits and no walks while striking out two over six scoreless innings.
Suarez was efficient, needing just 87 pitches to toss his first quality start of the season. The righty generated only six swinging strikes, but this was a huge bounceback after he had allowed eight earned runs over his previous two outings. On the season, Suarez owns a 2.45 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 45:22 K:BB over 59.1 innings and lines up to face the Athletics next week.
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Salvador Perez DH | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Slugs 13th homer
Perez went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBI in Friday's 10-3 victory over the Guardians.
The veteran Royal crushed a titanic 447-foot solo homer off Triston McKenzie in the second inning to tie the game at 1-1. Perez later tallied an additional RBI with a single to drive Maikel Garcia home in the third. The 34-year-old Perez appears to be heating up this homestand, hitting .368 (7-for-19) with two homers over the past five games.
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Austin Pruitt RP | TEX
Rangers' Austin Pruitt: Rehabbing in rookie ball
Pruitt (knee) began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Friday.
Pruitt has been on the injured list since late April due to a right meniscus injury, and he's now been given the go-ahead to begin playing in games. The Rangers haven't provided any details regarding the planned duration of Pruitt's rehab stint, but he'll likely need to make a few appearances with a minor-league affiliate before coming off the injured list. There's also no guarantee the 34-year-old reports to the Rangers upon being activated, as he allowed six earned runs in just 4.1 MLB innings before getting hurt.
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Craig Kimbrel RP | KC
Orioles' Craig Kimbrel: Earns 18th save
Kimbrel earned a save against the Rangers on Friday, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Kimbrel was called upon to protect a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning and did so with two strikeouts and a groundout. The veteran has rebounded from a blown save June 19 with two straight scoreless conversions. On the season, he is 18-for-22 in save chances with a 2.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 44:12 K:BB over 29.1 innings.
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Alec Marsh RP | KC
Royals' Alec Marsh: Picks up sixth win
Marsh (6-5) earned the win Friday against the Guardians, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out five.
After yielding 10 runs across 8.2 innings his previous two starts, the 26-year-old looked solid in this 91-pitch outing. The only blemish on Marsh's evening was a solo homer allowed to Jose Ramirez in the first inning. The Kansas City right-hander lowered his season ERA to 4.19 en route to his first win since June 8 against Seattle. Marsh is currently slated to make his next start at home versus Tampa Bay.