Kikuchi allowed one run on seven hits and no walks while striking out four batters over seven innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati on Wednesday.
Kikuchi's efficiency was particularly notable Wednesday; he needed just 88 pitches to complete seven frames, throwing 58 strikes and issuing zero walks. That's a dramatic improvement after he had walked multiple batters seven times in his previous nine outings and had completed six innings just once during that span. Kikuchi didn't miss many bats with only six whiffs and four punchouts, but the tradeoff of being able to go deep into the contest is something that the Angels almost certainly prefer. Kikuchi lowered his season ERA to 3.42 with the strong outing, and he's next lined up to face the Rangers on the road.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Yields two homers in loss
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Kikuchi (6-8) allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three over four innings to take the loss versus the Athletics on Friday.
Kikuchi gave up a solo shot to leadoff hitter Shea Langeliers in the first inning and then surrendered a three-run blast in the third to Colby Thomas. Over his last eight starts, Kikuchi has been tagged for four runs on four occasions. This was his shortest outing since a two-inning start April 26 in Minnesota, and he's completed six frames just once since the start of July. Overall, Kikuchi still has a decent 3.52 ERA through 143 innings on the year, but his 1.44 WHIP and 149:61 K:BB tell a less pleasant story. His next start is projected to be at home versus the Reds.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Plenty of support in sixth win
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Kikuchi (6-7) picked up the win in Saturday's 7-4 victory over the Tigers, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out seven.
The southpaw wasn't at his sharpest, but he generated 30 called or swinging strikes on his 102 pitches (64 total strikes) and got backed by three homers from the Angels. Kikuchi has completed six innings only once since the beginning of July, compiling a 4.68 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 47:14 K:BB through 42.1 innings over that stretch. He'll try to tighten things up in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend against the A's.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Notches win, quality start
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Kikuchi (5-7) earned the win over Tampa Bay on Monday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over six innings.
Kikuchi gave up a run in the first inning but kept the Rays from scoring over the remainder of his six frames. The southpaw surrendered just one extra-base hit (a double) and racked up 11 whiffs en route to seven punchouts. While Kikuchi's 5-7 record isn't impressive, he's quietly put together a solid first season in Los Angeles. The team's lone All-Star owns a 3.22 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 139:56 K:BB over 134 frames spanning 24 starts. His numbers could be even better if not for a .317 BABIP against him, which ranks seventh-highest among qualified starters.
Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Peppered by Rangers in no-decision
Rotowire
Kikuchi didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Rangers, allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits and no walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
While Kikuchi didn't issue a walk for the first time in his last seven starts, he did concede a season-high 10 knocks. The 34-year-old southpaw failed to throw a single spotless inning, though just one of his hits allowed traveled for extra bases. Kikuchi will bring a 3.30 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 132:54 K:BB across 128 frames into next week's scheduled home outing versus the struggling Rays, who carry a .580 OPS versus left-handed pitching since the start of July.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Lasts 4.2 frames in loss
Rotowire
Kikuchi (4-7) was charged with the loss Thursday versus the Mariners after allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks across 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
The left-hander kept Seattle off the board and had a 1-0 lead through four innings, but Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena went deep in the fifth to flip the script. It was just the second time this season, and first since April 26, that Kikuchi failed to last at least five frames. The 34-year-old has a 3.23 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 127:54 K:BB over 122.2 innings this season and lines up to make his next start at home versus the Rangers next week.
Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Strikes out eight in no-decision
Rotowire
Kikuchi did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 9-5 loss to the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over five innings.
Kikuchi allowed runs in the first and fifth innings before departing at 91 pitches. The southpaw allowed just three hard-hit balls and generated a whopping 19 whiffs, including 10 on his fastball, but he's now failed to deliver a quality start in any of his four July outings. He'll take a 3.13 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 123:52 K:BB across 118 innings into a home matchup with the Mariners next week.
Kikuchi (4-6) picked up the win in Saturday's 10-5 victory over the Diamondbacks, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.
The southpaw served up a pair of solo shots to Eugenio Suarez but otherwise was in control until the sixth inning, when a 105 mph Josh Naylor comebacker with two outs struck him on the left shoulder. He stayed in the game for one more batter, but after a Randal Grichuk RBI single made it a 6-3 game, interim manager Ray Montgomery elected to lift the Angels' lone All-Star representative as a precaution, leaving him one out shy of his ninth quality start. There's been no word yet that he sustained any kind of lingering injury, and Kikuchi heads into the break with a 3.11 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 115:49 K:BB through 113 innings.
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