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Trevor Rogers SP | BAL
Marlins' Trevor Rogers: Walk issues persist
Rogers didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Cleveland, allowing one run on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts across five innings.
The lone run charged against Rogers came on a solo homer by Gabriel Arias in the second inning. Although Rogers yielded his fewest hits in a start this season, he had to navigate through plenty of traffic after walking four batters. The southpaw has issued multiple walks in eight straight starts and owns a 5.37 ERA and a 52:31 K:BB over 62.0 innings on the year. He's tentatively schedule to take the mound during a three-game series in Washington next weekend.
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Drew Smith RP | WAS
Mets' Drew Smith: Earns second save
Smith earned his second save Sunday, allowing one hit and one walk over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning against the Phillies.
Smith entered the game with two on and one out attempting to preserve a two-run lead after Jake Diekman and Reed Garrett had gotten seven outs between them beginning in the seventh inning. A base hit allowed an inherited runner to score, but Smith then benefitted from a great defensive play by Mets catcher Luis Torrens, who started a 2-3 double play to end the game. It was far from a clean outing for Smith, who was making just his second appearance since returning from an IL stint of more than a month due to shoulder inflammation. The right-hander will continue to hold a high-leverage spot in the Mets' bullpen and get occasional save chances while the team awaits the return to health and form of Edwin Diaz (shoulder).
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Jose Alvarado RP | PHI
Phillies' Jose Alvarado: Blows second save
Alvarado (1-3) suffered the loss Sunday, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning against the Mets. He struck out two.
Alvarado entered the game with a one-run lead looking to preserve his 12th save, but things went downhill quickly. After allowing a walk and a single to start the inning, an infield single by Mark Vientos tied the game. Then with the bases loaded and one out, a hit-by-pitch followed by a passed ball allowed two more runners to score, saddling Alvarado with his second blown save and third loss of the season. Sunday's outing came on the heels of five consecutive scoreless appearances since his last blown save, which came May 24 in Colorado. The outing lifted Alvarado's ERA to 3.54 with a 1.14 WHIP and 31 strikeouts through 28 innings this season.
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Shota Imanaga SP | CHC
Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Cruises to sixth win
Imanaga (6-1) picked up the win Sunday against the Reds, allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk in 6.2 innings. He struck out seven.
Imanaga notched his seventh quality start of the season despite allowing a home run for the third consecutive start. The southpaw struggled in his previous two appearances, allowing 12 runs (eight earned) in just 8.2 innings. Despite the recent rough patch, the 30-year-old rookie has been excellent this season, pitching to a 1.96 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP with an elite 72:11 K:BB in 69 innings. He will look to build off Sunday's start his next time out, currently scheduled for next weekend versus the Cardinals.
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Taijuan Walker SP | LAA
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Tough-luck end to great start
Walker did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against the Mets. He struck out six.
Walker cruised through five innings, allowing just one baserunner while maintaining a three-run lead. In the sixth, after having allowed a one-out base hit and a two-out walk, and with left-handed Brandon Nimmo coming to the plate, Walker was pulled at just 79 pitches in favor of lefty Gregory Soto. Soto proceeded to allow both inherited runners plus an additional run to score, not only saddling Walker with two earned runs but also allowing the Mets to tie the game, thus ending Walker's opportunity to record his fourth win. It was a bit of an unlucky ending for Walker, who pitched very well Sunday after having allowed 12 earned runs over 15.2 innings during his previous three starts. He's next scheduled to take the hill in a tough matchup next weekend when the Phillies travel to Baltimore to take on the Orioles.
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Carson Spiers RP | CIN
Reds' Carson Spiers: Fans seven in relief
Spiers pitched 5.2 scoreless innings of relief Sunday against the Cubs, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out seven.
Spiers got called up Sunday morning and immediately saw game action, relieving Frankie Montas in the second inning. The long reliever made his fifth appearance of the season for the Reds, replacing Emilio Pagan (lat) in the bullpen. The 26-year-old dominated the Cubs, punching out seven batters and lowering his ERA from 3.29 to 2.33. It remains to be seen if Spiers will be used as a starter, but he should continue to work in a multi-inning role -- Spiers has pitched three or more innings in all of his appearances this season.
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Jakob Junis RP | TEX
Brewers' Jakob Junis: Ready for third rehab outing
Junis (shoulder) will continue his rehab assignment Wednesday in Arizona and will pitch in either a simulated game or in a rookie-level Arizona Complex League game, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The right-hander made his second rehab outing with Triple-A Nashville on Saturday and allowed one run on two hits and one walk over 2.1 innings. Depending how Wednesday's outing goes, Junis could then be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list, but it's unclear whether the Brewers plan to have him serve in a starting role or as a multi-inning reliever.
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Frankie Montas RP | NYM
Reds' Frankie Montas: Records just four outs
Montas (3-5) took the loss Sunday against the Cubs, allowing four earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two in 1.1 innings.
The right-hander never found his footing Sunday, loading the bases in the first inning and surrendering a bases-clearing double to Ian Happ. Things didn't get much better for Montas in the second inning as he allowed an RBI single before exiting with runners on second and third. Those runners did not come around to score, but Montas was highly disappointing following a dazzling performance at Coors Field last week, when he recorded nine strikeouts over seven scoreless innings. The 31-year-old currently owns a 4.55 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP with 44 strikeouts in 55.1 innings, but his inconsistency makes him a high-risk, high-reward play for fantasy managers. He will look to rebound in his next start, currently scheduled for next weekend in Milwaukee.
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Bryse Wilson RP | MIL
Brewers' Bryse Wilson: Roughed up in loss
Wilson (3-3) took the loss Sunday against Detroit, surrendering seven earned runs on six hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out four.
Wilson uncharacteristically got shelled Sunday, allowing more than three earned runs for the first time this season. The 26-year-old did not allow a home run for the first time since May 6, but Wilson has been struggling after a hot start to the season. Over his past six appearances, Wilson has allowed five or more hits in all of them, pitching to a 6.11 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP over 28 innings. He will look to rebound in his next start, currently scheduled for next weekend versus Cincinnati.
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Kyle Freeland SP | COL
Rockies' Kyle Freeland: Begins rehab assignment in Arizona
Freeland (elbow) covered two scoreless innings and gave up one hit and no walks while striking out one in his first rehab start Saturday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
Freeland will likely need at least two more rehab starts to build up his pitch count before he's ready to return from the 60-day injured list and rejoin the Colorado rotation, perhaps at some point in the second half of June. The southpaw has been shut down since mid-April with a left elbow strain.