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Walbert Urena SP | LAA
Angels' Walbert Urena: Strikes out seven in loss
Urena (8-9) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings to take the loss versus the Astros on Wednesday.
Urena has had a rollercoaster month, going 2-2 with seven runs allowed over 19.1 innings. The right-hander didn't pitch poorly Wednesday, but he was tagged for a Christian Vazquez solo shot in the third inning and two more runs in the fourth to send him to the loss. Urena is now at a 2.80 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 109:59 K:BB through 112.2 innings over 23 games (21 starts) on the year. He's lined up to make his next start at home against the Guardians.
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Christian Vazquez C | HOU
Astros' Christian Vazquez: Goes yard in win
Vazquez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Angels.
Vazquez has homered in his last two games and now has seven long balls on the year. His blast in the third inning opened the scoring Wednesday. The veteran catcher is hitting .219 with a .628 OPS, 25 RBI, 21 runs scored, one stolen base and seven doubles over 233 plate appearances. Vazquez has seen a slight uptick in playing time lately while Yainer Diaz is stuck in a 3-for-23 slump.
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Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Secures 18th save
Hader walked one and struck out none in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Angels.
Hader's scoreless streak is up to 13.2 innings, and he has a 13:3 K:BB with seven saves and a win in that span. The closer has been excellent this season, converting all 18 of his save chances. He's maintained a 0.87 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 41:11 K:BB through 31 innings.
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Ethan Pecko SP | HOU
Astros' Ethan Pecko: Short outing in debut
Pecko allowed two runs on three hits, three walks and a hit batsman while striking out four over 3.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Angels on Wednesday.
Pecko threw just 49 of 89 pitches for strikes in his major-league debut. He hadn't been working particularly deep into games with Triple-A Sugar Land prior to his call-up, going five frames or more in just two of his last six outings, and that carried into his first MLB game. He has a 4.94 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 71:28 K:BB across 74.2 innings in Triple-A this year and may ultimately need a bit more time at that level before he's ready to be a full-time contributor in the majors. If Pecko gets another turn through the Astros' rotation, he is tentatively lined up to get a road start versus the Yankees next week.
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Andres Chaparro 1B | WAS
Nationals' Andres Chaparro: Three-run homer in win
Chaparro went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run, double, and two additional runs scored in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Rangers.
Chaparro now has four three-RBI games since the All-Star break as he is playing more at first base since Luis Garcia was traded to the Yankees. The Nationals took a 6-0 lead after Chaparro launched a no-doubter to left off Peyton Gray in the seventh inning. The 27-year-old Chaparro is crushing it at the plate since the All-Star break with a 1.182 OPS, seven home runs, 17 runs, and 25 RBI in 25 games.
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Jose Tena DH | WAS
Nationals' Jose Tena: Homer in shutout win
Tena went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's win over the Rangers.
Tena kicked off the scoring with a solo shot to straightaway center field in the third inning off righty Kumar Rocker. Tena sees most of his action as a designated hitter but got his second start of the season in left field Wednesday. The 25-year-old is slashing .233/.304/.393 with seven homers and 20 RBI in 206 at-bats this year against righties, against whom he gets most of his opportunities.
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Kumar Rocker SP | TEX
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Ineffective in loss
Rocker (4-10) took the loss Wednesday against the Nationals, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings.
After ending July with two consecutive wins on quality starts, Rocker has gone 0-2 with a 6.87 ERA in four August outings. It took Rocker 92 pitches (58 strikes) to get through five innings of work against a scuffling Washington team. The 26-year-old has pedestrian stats this year, owning a 4.46 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 109:48 K:BB, and 17 home runs allowed in 121 innings. The right-hander will look to bounce back next week on the road versus the White Sox.
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Cade Cavalli SP | WAS
Nationals' Cade Cavalli: Eleven strikeouts in shutout
Cavalli (11-5) earned the win Wednesday against the Rangers, allowing no runs on three hits and one walk while striking out 11 over six innings.
Cavalli secured his second straight game with double-digit strikeouts and his eighth consecutive quality start while retiring the final 11 batters he faced. The righty is now 7-1 in his last 10 starts, giving up just 14 earned runs to lower his season ERA to 3.22 and WHIP to 1.22 alongside a 162:42 K:BB in 142.2 innings. The 28-year-old lines up for a favorable matchup next week at home against the Rockies.
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Braden Montgomery RF | CHW
White Sox's Braden Montgomery: Key knock in win
Montgomery went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI on Wednesday against the Cubs.
Montgomery came to the plate with two baserunners in scoring position in the eighth inning, and he drove in both with a double to provide insurance runs for the White Sox. He has at least one hit in five of his last six starts, driving in six runs with a double and a triple in that span.
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Vinnie Pasquantino 1B | KC
Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino: Homers in comeback win
Pasquantino went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and three total runs in the 9-7 win over the Athletics on Wednesday.
Pasquantino returned this series after a near three-week stint on the injured list due to right wrist soreness. The 28-year-old started Kansas City's comeback from a four-run deficit with a solo homer in the sixth and an RBI single in the eighth, the latter of which started off a seven-run frame. The first baseman showed no rust during his first series back from the injury, going 6-for-12 with three extra-base hits, three RBI and three runs.