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TJ Friedl CF | CIN
Reds' TJ Friedl: Goes to hospital Saturday
Friedl left Saturday's game against the Mets after experiencing shortness of breath, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Friedl was checked on by trainers before leaving in the seventh inning. The 29-year-old outfielder left the stadium for a local hospital to get precautionary tests, which didn't reveal any serious issues. Friedl went 1-for-3 before exiting the game, with Rece Hinds taking over in right field while Jake Fraley shifted to center.
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Rowdy Tellez 1B | ATL
Pirates' Rowdy Tellez: Goes deep Saturday
Tellez went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run and two walks across both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Nationals.
Tellez didn't start in the first game of the twin bill, but he came up as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and drilled a 443-foot, two-run blast to right field. The first baseman added a walk later in that contest before going 0-for-4 with another walk in the nightcap. Even with the Game 1 homer Saturday, Tellez has had a rough start to September, going 3-for-18 with seven strikeouts over his first seven games.
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Andres Chaparro 1B | WAS
Nationals' Andres Chaparro: Four hits, three RBI in twin bill
Chaparro went a combined 4-for-9 with a home run and three RBI across both games of a doubleheader sweep versus the Pirates on Saturday.
Chaparro went a quiet 1-for-4 in the opener but was a big producer in the nightcap. He plated Washington's first run in Game 2 with a third-inning single and then tied the score in the seventh frame with a two-run blast to left field. Chaparro has three homers and nine RBI over his past seven contests.
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Spencer Bivens RP | KC
Giants' Spencer Bivens: Drawing start Sunday
Bivens will start Sunday's game against the Padres, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Bivens will be making his second MLB start, with each of his last 13 appearances with San Francisco coming out of the bullpen after he tossed five innings and allowed one run in a no-decision during his start against the Dodgers on June 30. Despite being deployed in relief lately, Bivens should be relatively stretched out after he tossed four innings and 54 pitches in his most recent appearance in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks. Landen Roupp and Tristan Beck are candidates to piggyback or work multiple innings behind Bivens if the right-hander isn't able to offer the Giants as much length in a starting role as expected.
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Dylan Crews RF | WAS
Nationals' Dylan Crews: Plates three runs in doubleheader
Crews went a combined 2-for-6 with a home run, a double, two walks, two runs, three RBI and two stolen bases across both games of Saturday's doubleheader sweep versus Pittsburgh.
Crews did most of his damage in Game 1, when he knocked a solo homer and a run-scoring double in addition to swiping two bags. Though he went hitless in the nightcap, the rookie outfielder contributed with a sacrifice fly. Crews entered Saturday in a 3-for-21 slump with zero extra-base hits over his previous five contests, and he's slashing .233/.320/.512 with three home runs, six RBI, six runs and five steals through his first 11 big-league games.
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Aroldis Chapman RP | BOS
Pirates' Aroldis Chapman: Blows save Saturday
Chapman (5-5) took the loss and blew the save against the Nationals in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two batters over two-thirds of an inning.
Chapman entered in the ninth frame after Pittsburgh scored twice to take a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth. The veteran fireballer retired two of the first three batters he faced but then allowed back-to-back singles followed by back-to-back doubles as Washington plated four runs. Before Saturday, Chapman had converted both of his save opportunities since David Bednar was moved out of the closer role, but Saturday's blow-up may allow Dennis Santana -- who picked up a save Monday and has fired 12 straight scoreless outings -- to get additional ninth-inning looks.
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Mitch Keller SP | PIT
Pirates' Mitch Keller: Let down by bullpen Saturday
Keller allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out eight batters over six innings in a no-decision against Washington in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader.
Keller had been struggling coming into Saturday, losing four of his previous five starts and posting a 7.46 ERA and 1.66 WHIP while serving up seven homers over 25.1 innings during that span. The right-hander turned things around with an effective outing against the Nationals, notching just his second quality start across his past seven appearances and keeping the ball in the park in addition to racking up eight punchouts. Keller departed with a 4-2 lead, but Pittsburgh's bullpen gave up six runs over the final three innings to stick him with a no-decision. Keller has just one victory over 10 starts since the All-Star break, though he's posted a strong 51:15 K:BB in 52.1 innings during that stretch.
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Pedro Pages C | STL
Cardinals' Pedro Pages: Delivers winning hit Saturday
Pages went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Mariners.
Pages came through in the eighth inning, launching a Logan Gilbert slider over the left-field fence for the only scoring play of the game. Pages has gone 4-for-14 (.286) over four games in September, but three of those hits have been homers. The catcher is up to six long balls, 22 RBI, 17 runs scored, one stolen base and a .245/.287/.396 slash line through 172 plate appearances this season.
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Mitchell Parker RP | WAS
Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Pitches poorly in no-decision
Parker allowed four runs on six hits and four walks while striking out five batters over 3.1 innings in a no-decision in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader with Pittsburgh.
Parker fell behind quickly in the contest, allowing a pair of runs in the first inning and another in the second. He was able to get through a scoreless third but was pulled in the fourth after allowing the first two batters he faced to reach base (he was credited with one out when Alika Williams was thrown out trying to score on a double). Overall, Parker threw just 46 of 78 pitches for strikes and tied a season high with four free passes. This marks the third time across his past five starts that he's failed to complete more than four frames.
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Andrew Kittredge RP | BAL
Cardinals' Andrew Kittredge: Snags another win
Kittredge (4-4) allowed a hit and a run while striking out one over one scoreless inning to earn the win Saturday over the Mariners.
Kittredge kept the game scoreless in the top of the eighth inning, and the Cardinals broke through in their half of the frame with a two-run home run by Pedro Pages. Kittredge extended his scoreless streak to nine innings, a span in which he's allowed four hits and two walks while striking out seven over nine innings. The setup man has a 2.98 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 56:18 K:BB with one save and 32 holds over 60.1 innings this season.