Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Collects long-relief save
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Parker earned a save in the Nationals' 3-2 win over the Mets on Sunday. He allowed two hits and no walks while striking out two across 3.2 scoreless innings.
Parker was dispatched in the sixth inning with two men on base and one out and managed to maintain the Nationals' one-run cushion by getting Jeff McNeil to pop out before striking out Mark Vientos. Parker remained in the game over the following three innings and successfully kept the Mets off the board to collect the first save of his major-league career. The 25-year-old southpaw posted a 7.19 ERA and 1.54 WHIP (across 56.1 innings) in 11 starts since the All-Star break, which prompted the Nationals to move Parker to the bullpen Friday.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Shifting to bullpen
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The Nationals have demoted Parker to the bullpen, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Parker has a 7.19 ERA in the second half and a 5.85 ERA over 30 starts for the Nationals this season. He should get another opportunity to compete for a spot in the rotation next season, but for the rest of this year he'll likely be a low-leverage reliever. The Nationals had been using a six-man rotation and will now revert to a traditional five-man setup.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Pummeled in loss
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Parker (8-16) suffered the loss Monday against Atlanta, coughing up six runs on 10 hits and one walk over five innings with one strikeout.
The Washington southpaw turned in his third appearance allowing double-digit hits this season while conceding six or more runs for the sixth time. Parker's tough campaign has been downright brutal since the All-Star break, as he's produced a 7.19 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 35:17 K:BB across 56.1 innings in the second half. Through 158.1 total frames, the 25-year-old now sports an unsightly 5.85 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 5.7 K/9. Parker is currently scheduled to next take the mound on the road against the Mets this weekend.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Earns win with quality start
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Parker (8-15) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over 7.2 innings Tuesday, striking out two and earning a win over the Marlins.
Parker gave up one run through seven innings before the Marlins scored a second run in the eighth inning. Prior to that, the only damage against him was Joey Wiemer's solo shot in the second. Parker earned his first win since July 26 after going 0-5 with a dreadful 9.28 ERA over his last seven appearances. Tuesday's outing marked his first time completing at least seven innings since April 22. For the year, he's sporting a 5.69 ERA with a lackluster 100:56 K:BB through 153.1 frames. Parker is currently slated to face the Pirates at home this weekend.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Can't compete five frames Wednesday
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Parker came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 10-5 win over the Marlins, giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
A fifth-inning error by Luis Garcia helped soften the blow to Parker's ERA, but the southpaw had trouble putting batters away and wasn't able to qualify for the win after running his pitch count up to 91 (66 strikes). He hasn't picked up a victory since July 26, going 0-5 over his last seven starts with a 9.28 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 24:12 K:BB in 32 innings. Parker will try to turn things around in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in a rematch with Miami.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Lit up again Saturday
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Parker (7-14) took the loss Saturday, coughing up six runs on six hits and a walk over five innings as the Nationals were downed 6-4 by the Phillies. He struck out three.
The left-hander kept Philly off the board for three innings before crumbling, and he got the hook after 103 pitches (68 strikes). Parker was hit hard once again, as four of the six hits he gave up went for extra bases, including homers by Edmundo Sosa and Trea Turner. Parker is 0-4 over his last five starts, a stretch in which he's produced a 12.00 ERA, 1.95 WHIP, 3.0 HR/9 and 13:11 K:BB over 21 innings. Despite those ghastly numbers, the Nats haven't provided any hints that his rotation spot is in jeopardy. He'll try to turn things around in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Rays.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Takes third straight loss
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Parker (7-13) took the loss Tuesday against the Royals, allowing five runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three in 5.1 innings.
Parker allowed five batters to reach and saw all five come in to score. He made one big mistake to Vinnie Pasquantino, who turned on an inside fastball for a three-run blast. Parker otherwise was able to induce weak contact and his box score looks far worse than his actual outing. Still, the left-hander has now given up 17 earned runs and four homers across his last three starts and lines up to complete a two-start week against the Phillies this weekend.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Mauled by Milwaukee
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Parker (7-11) took the loss Friday as the Nationals were downed 16-9 by the Brewers, surrendering eight runs on 12 hits and a walk over four-plus innings. He struck out three.
The lefty served up a pair of homers to light-hitting Blake Perkins, but Parker didn't have better luck against the rest of the Milwaukee lineup. It's the second time in Parker's last four starts that he's been tagged for seven or more runs, and he's gone seven straight outings without striking out more than four batters, a stretch in which he's labored to a 6.99 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 19:12 K:BB over 37.1 innings. He'll try to pull out of the tailspin in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Athletics.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Logs quality start in win
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Parker (6-10) earned the win against the Padres on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts over five innings.
Parker allowed two runs in the third inning but was otherwise strong despite generating just six whiffs on 82 pitches. It was an encouraging effort after the southpaw surrendered 16 runs (11 earned) over his previous two July outings, and he's now logged two quality-start victories against the Padres since June 23. He'll carry a 5.00 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 70:41 K:BB across 108 innings into a road matchup with the Twins next weekend.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Yields three runs in no-decision
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Parker allowed three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings in a no-decision versus the Angels on Sunday.
Parker held his own in this outing, throwing 48 of 76 pitches for strikes. He lost four of his six starts in June, but he was able to limit the damage to three runs or less in five of them. Parker is now at a 4.63 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 62:36 K:BB through 91.1 innings over 17 starts this season. The southpaw's next start is expected to be at home versus the Red Sox.
Parker (5-8) earned the win over San Diego on Monday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one batter over six innings.
Parker entered Monday having lost each of his past five starts, but he was able to get back in the win column while also tossing his second straight quality start. The southpaw didn't miss many bats -- he notched just one punchout and five whiffs -- but managed to limit the damage against him despite giving up two homers. Parker's lack of strikeout stuff and 4.59 season ERA make him an unappealing option in most fantasy leagues, but he's been able to stay healthy and remain in the rotation for the Nationals throughout the campaign, as he's tied for the team lead with 16 starts.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Crushed for six runs in loss
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Parker (4-7) took the loss against the Marlins on Friday, allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three across 3.1 innings.
Parker gave up a run in each of the first two innings before yielding four runs in the third, highlighted by a two-run double by Dane Myers. Parker struggled with his control with only 48 strikes on 87 pitches. The 25-year-old southpaw yielded three runs or less in each of his first five starts this season but has done so just three times in his last nine outings. Parker now sits at a 4.84 ERA and 1.35 WHIP (across 74.1 innings), which is fourth- and sixth-worst, respectively, among qualified National League starters. He is tentatively lined up to face the Rockies at home next week.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Struggles early in loss
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Parker (4-5) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two over five-plus innings to take the loss versus the Diamondbacks on Sunday.
By his recent standards, this was actually one of Parker's better starts. It didn't go well early on, as he allowed all three runs, including a two-run home run by Eugenio Suarez, in the first inning, but he retired 14 straight batters before exiting after a leadoff walk in the sixth. Parker has allowed at least three runs in seven straight outings, and this was the third time in that span he's completed at least five innings. He's already on shaky ground in Washington's rotation, and he has a 4.71 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 42:28 K:BB through 65 innings over 12 starts. Parker is tentatively lined up for a home start versus the Rangers in his next outing.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: On shaky ground in rotation
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Parker could be in danger of losing his rotation spot after posting an 8.46 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 20:15 K:BB through 27.2 innings over his last six starts, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
The southpaw held a 1.39 ERA on April 22, but since then things have completely fallen apart for Parker, who served up three homers in 4.2 innings during his most recent outing May 27 in Seattle. The Nationals will give him more time to figure things out, but if Parker's struggles continue into June, he could be painting a bullseye on his back to lose his rotation spot when the team decides prospect Cade Cavalli is ready to be promoted from Triple-A Rochester.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Back in win column
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Parker (4-3) earned the win against Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four across 5.1 innings.
All three runs Parker allowed came in the second inning, starting with a solo homer from Matt Olson followed by back-to-back RBI doubles. Parker bounced back to toss 3.1 scoreless innings, and the Nationals' bullpen kept Atlanta off the board to give the 25-year-old southpaw his first win since April 22. It was a return to form for Parker, who had given up four earned runs or more in each of his last four outings after yielding three runs or fewer in each of his first five starts of the season. He'll look to make it two wins in a row in his next start, tentatively slated for this weekend at home against the Giants.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Cleared for next start
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Parker (knee) will make his next start Tuesday versus Atlanta at Nationals Park.
Parker's previous start (also against Atlanta) was cut short last Wednesday, when he was struck in the left knee by a 107.2 mile-per-hour comebacker off the bat of Austin Riley midway through the fifth inning. According to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, Parker was able to make his between-starts bullpen session Friday without issue, so he's not expected to be operating with any restrictions Tuesday. Through his first nine starts of the season, Parker owns a 3-3 record, 4.32 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 32:24 K:BB across 50 innings.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Hit by comebacker
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Parker was removed from his start Wednesday against Atlanta after getting hit on his left leg by a line drive, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
A 107-mph comebacker off the bat of Austin Riley connected with Parker's leg in the fifth inning, and he was taken out of the game immediately afterward. He'll presumably head for imaging to determine if he suffered any fractures as a result of the incident, and the Nationals should provide more details soon. The 25-year-old southpaw finished the day with four earned runs allowed and six strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Struggles continue vs. St. Louis
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Parker (3-3) took the loss against the Cardinals on Friday, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five across four innings.
Parker got off on the wrong foot when he gave up a two-run double to Willson Contreras in the first inning. The 25-year-old southpaw yielded additional runs in the third and fourth frames before being lifted, finishing his outing with 96 pitches (59 strikes) and nine whiffs. Parker allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his first five starts of the season, but over his last three outings he's posted a 10.38 ERA, 2.23 WHIP and 6:11 K:BB across 13 innings. He'll look to get back on track in his next start, tentatively slated for next week on the road against Atlanta.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Struggles during loss
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Parker (3-2) took the loss in Friday's game against the Reds after surrendering five runs on five hits and four walks while striking out one batter in four innings.
The Reds put up five runs on Parker in the first three innings of the game, including two-RBI doubles from Santiago Espinal in the first inning and Tyler Stephenson in the third. Parker's poor outing Friday wasn't much different than his previous outing against the Mets, and he's now given up 11 earned runs in nine innings across his past two outings while posting an abysmal 1:9 K:BB. He'll aim to get back on track when he takes the mound against the Cardinals next weekend.
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Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Rough opening frame
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Parker did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Mets, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and five walks over five innings.
While Parker's final line was disappointing, the left-hander did good work to make it through five innings after allowing five runs on 43 pitches in the first. Parker had held opponents to one run or fewer in four of his first five starts coming into Sunday -- his ERA now sits at 2.65 with a 1.13 WHIP and 20:16 K:BB across 37.1 innings. Parker's currently lined up for a road matchup with the Reds in his next outing.
