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Jon Heasley RP | TB
Royals' Jon Heasley: Struggles in spot start
Heasley (0-1) was lit up in his MLB debut Friday, allowing four earned runs over four innings in a loss to the Mariners. He gave up six hits, struck out five and walked none in the contest.
Heasley got the chance to make his big-league debut Friday after Brady Singer was put on the 10-day injured list for an unspecified reason. The 24-year-old gave up all four runs on a pair of homers by Jared Kelenic. The prized outfielder got to him for a two-run blast in the second and another in the fourth to give the Mariners a comfortable four-run cushion. Heasley made the jump from Double-A Northwest Arkansas to make the start, and it remains to be seen if he will pitch for the big-league club again in 2021.
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Jose Marte RP | LAA
Angels' Jose Marte: Takes loss in return
Marte (0-1) was tagged with the loss Friday against the Athletics after allowing an unearned run while walking two across 0.2 innings.
Marte, who had been out nearly a month for undisclosed reasons, entered the game with one out in the sixth inning but was unable to get the job done due to some command issues. Aside from walking two of the four batters he faced, he only tossed six of his 18 pitches for strikes. Despite this shaky outing, Marte should remain in the Angels' bullpen for the remainder of the campaign.
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Matt Barnes RP | WAS
Red Sox's Matt Barnes: Throws inning Friday
Barnes allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over a scoreless eighth inning in Friday's 7-1 win over Baltimore.
Barnes made his first appearance since coming off the COVID-19 injured list and was given a soft landing spot for the occasion. He had issues throwing strikes, running the count full on the first three batters and needing 28 pitches (16 strikes) to close out the inning. Barnes eventually escaped unscathed, but it wasn't the type of performance one expects from a closer. The Red Sox will likely utilize him in low-leverage situations until he can regain the form he showed over the first four months of the season.
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Andrew Kittredge RP | BAL
Rays' Andrew Kittredge: Grabs ninth win
Kittredge (9-3) was credited with the win in an extra-inning victory over the Tigers on Friday, firing a perfect 10th inning during which he recorded a strikeout.
Kittredge preserved a 4-4 tie with an ultra-efficient frame in which he got seven of his nine pitches into the strike zone. He was then rewarded with the victory courtesy of Brett Phillips' game-winning three-run home run in the home half of the 10th. The veteran right-hander's season win total is easily a career best, and the fact he's been able to combine it with seven saves, six holds, a 1.55 ERA and 0.90 WHIP has made him a fantasy goldmine as far as non-full-time closers go.
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Taylor Hearn RP | KC
Rangers' Taylor Hearn: Coughs up seven runs
Hearn (6-5) allowed seven runs on eight hits and three walks over 3.1 innings Friday, striking out four and taking a loss against the White Sox.
Hearn gave up two runs through the first three innings before the White Sox bats came alive in the fourth. He allowed four runs in the inning, including a three-run double by Luis Robert, and was charged with another after he was removed from the game. Hearn recorded a 4.01 ERA while going 4-0 in his previous four outings. The 6-foot-6 southpaw now owns a 4.52 ERA with an 87:37 K:BB through 93.2 innings He's projected to face the Orioles on the road next week.
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Alex Young RP | CIN
Indians' Alex Young: Sent down Friday
Young was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Friday.
Young posted a 7.84 ERA and 2.13 WHIP in 10.1 innings across his last 10 appearances. Cleveland recalled J.C. Mejia from Columbus in a corresponding move.
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Jean-Carlos Mejia RP | MIL
Indians' J.C. Mejia: Back with big club
Mejia was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Friday.
Mejia was up with the big club for a doubleheader Tuesday but did not make an appearance. With two more twin bills awaiting Cleveland next week, Mejia will provide a fresh arm for the team. Alex Young was optioned to Columbus in a corresponding move.
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Gregory Soto RP | PIT
Tigers' Gregory Soto: Headed for X-rays
Soto was hit on the hand by a comebacker in the ninth inning Friday and will undergo X-rays to assess any potential injury, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Soto remained in the game after being hit, though the Tigers' coaching staff noted that the spin rate on his slider was down significantly. As a result, he was checked on by trainers and pulled from the game, though not before he allowed three baserunners without recording an out. Michael Fulmer followed the southpaw into the game and would likely serve as the Tigers' full-time closer if Soto was forced to miss game action.
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Michael Fulmer RP | NYY
Tigers' Michael Fulmer: Charged with blown save
Fulmer allowed a hit and struck out one batter in Friday's loss to the Rays. He was not charged with a run but was tagged with a blown save.
Fulmer took over in the ninth inning after Gregory Soto loaded the bases with no outs. All three runs would come in to score and Fulmer was charged with the blown save as the Rays forced extra innings. In 11 appearances since his last blown save Aug. 19, the 28-year-old righty registered a 1.46 ERA with an 11:3 K:BB. Fulmer is sporting a 3.23 ERA with nine saves this season.
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Luis Patino RP | SD
Rays' Luis Patino: Coughs up four runs
Patino allowed four runs on six hits and a walk over six innings Friday against Detroit. He struck out four and did not factor in the decision.
Patino served up a leadoff shot to Akil Baddoo on the third pitch of the game. He later allowed a pair of runs in the second, and then a fourth and final run in the third. The right-handed rookie was in line for his fourth loss before the Rays forced extra innings. His ERA is up to 4.73 through 70.1 innings and he's allowed 10 runs through 13 frames (6.92 ERA) over his last three appearances. Patino is projected to face the Marlins at home next week.