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Walker Buehler SP | SD
Phillies' Walker Buehler: Snags win out of bullpen
Buehler (9-7) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out three over 3.2 scoreless innings to earn the win Friday versus the Diamondbacks.
Buehler has won his first two outings with the Phillies, allowing one run over 8.2 innings with a 6:3 K:BB in that span. He worked in a piggyback start with Taijuan Walker, who allowed two runs over four innings to start the game. Buehler has a 5.13 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 90:58 K:BB across 121 innings through 25 appearances (23 starts) between the Phillies and the Red Sox this year. It's expected Buehler will start his last regular-season appearance before likely joining the bullpen for the playoffs. His outing next week has yet to be penciled in, but it will be at home against either the Marlins or the Twins depending on how the Phillies opt to order Buehler and Walker after this tandem outing.
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Taijuan Walker SP | LAA
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Goes four innings Friday
Walker allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two over four innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Both runs allowed came in the first inning, but Walker was able to steady himself after that. He worked the first part of a piggyback with Walker Buehler, who earned the win with 3.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen once the Phillies took the lead in the sixth frame. This start saw Walker allow his fewest runs in his last six outings -- he had given up at least three runs in each of his previous five appearances. For the season, he has a 4.18 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 81:38 K:BB through 120.2 innings over 32 appearances (21 starts). It's unclear at this time how exactly Walker and Buehler will be deployed next week, but the Phillies' last two series are at home in favorable matchups versus the Marlins and Twins.
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Janson Junk SP | MIA
Marlins' Janson Junk: Quality start in no-decision
Junk took a no-decision in Friday's extra-innings win at Texas, yielding one run on three hits and no walks over seven innings with five strikeouts.
The Miami right-hander tossed 91 total pitches, generating nine whiffs, to notch his second straight quality start and sixth of the season. The lone blemish on Junk's line came in the second when a run scored on an infield single by Josh Jung. Across 105.1 total frames, the 29-year-old Junk has pitched to a 4.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 73:13 K:BB while conceding only eight homers. Junk is currently slated to next take the mound in the Marlins' upcoming road series against Philadelphia next week.
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Michael Petersen RP | MIA
Marlins' Michael Petersen: Blows save in extras
Petersen blew the save in Friday's extra-innings victory at Texas. He allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit and no walks over one inning with no strikeouts.
The Miami right-hander blew the save when he conceded a two-run homer to Rowdy Tellez in the 10th to knot the game at 3-3. Petersen was assigned the task of converting his first save because the Marlins' saves leader, Calvin Faucher, had appeared in back-to-back games Wednesday and Thursday. Petersen is unlikely to receive many future save opportunities. The 31-year-old has pitched to a 4.30 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 14.2 frames with Atlanta and Miami this season.
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Jake Bauers 1B | MIL
Brewers' Jake Bauers: Reaches base four times
Bauers went 3-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Cardinals.
Bauers logged his first multi-hit effort since Sept. 7 versus the Pirates. The first baseman looked to be gaining playing time early in the week, but this was just his third start in the last five games as Andrew Vaughn has reclaimed a share of the action at first base. Bauers is batting .405 (15-for-37) over 14 games this month and is up to a .235/.345/.400 slash line with seven home runs, eight steals, 27 RBI and 27 runs scored across 200 plate appearances this season.
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Sal Frelick RF | MIL
Brewers' Sal Frelick: Clubs homer in loss
Frelick went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Cardinals.
Frelick resumed his hitting streak after getting a day off Thursday, and he's now homered in consecutive contests. He's hit safely in seven straight games, going 8-for-26 (.308) with eight RBI in that span. The outfielder is at a .295/.361/.417 slash line, 12 homers, 62 RBI, 75 runs scored and 19 stolen bases across 135 contests this year.
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Jacob Misiorowski SP | MIL
Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski: Early hook in loss
Misiorowski (5-3) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.2 innings to take the loss Friday versus the Cardinals.
Misiorowski got scored on in both of the first two innings and threw just 45 of 77 pitches for strikes. After the game, manager Pat Murphy told reporters the team is considering having Misiorowski pitch out of the bullpen in the final week of the regular season due to his recent struggles as a starter, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Misiorowski has given up 21 runs over 30.1 innings across seven outings since returning from a lower-leg injury, and coupled with his career-high 127 innings across all levels, it's possible the rookie right-hander is running out of steam. If Misiorowski is officially moved to the bullpen, Erick Fedde could be a candidate to take his place for the final regular-season turn through the rotation, though neither of them seems likely to occupy a starting role in the postseason.
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Alec Burleson 1B | STL
Cardinals' Alec Burleson: Racks up three hits in win
Burleson went 3-for-4 with a double, a hit-by-pitch and a run scored in Friday's 7-1 win over the Brewers.
This was Burleson's third straight multi-hit effort, and he's logged two homers, one triple and four doubles over 10 games since returning from a wrist injury. The 26-year-old is up to a career-high 25 doubles this season while adding 18 homers, 66 RBI, 53 runs scored, five stolen bases and a .289/.342/.466 slash line through 132 contests. Burleson continues to occupy a starting role at first base.
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Andrew Alvarez SP | WAS
Nationals' Andrew Alvarez: Chased early in loss
Alvarez (1-1) took the loss on Friday, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 3.1 innings.
Alvarez entered the fourth inning with a 4-2 lead but was charged with four runs while failing to escape the frame. It was the first time the young southpaw allowed more than two runs in his four major-league outings, and he now owns a 2.84 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB across 19 innings with the Nationals. He lines up to finish the 2025 campaign in a road matchup with Atlanta next week.
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Sonny Gray SP | BOS
Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Secures 14th win
Gray (14-8) allowed one run on nine hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over six innings to earn the win over the Brewers on Friday.
Gray was a little generous with the hits, but he was able to limit the damage to a Sal Frelick solo shot in the third inning. This was Gray's first quality start of September -- he's allowed 13 runs over 22.1 innings across his four outings this month. For the season, he now has a 4.33 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 194:36 K:BB through 174.2 innings spanning 31 starts. He's lined up for his season finale next week in a road start versus the Giants, and he's within striking distance of earning his third 200-strikeout campaign.