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Jacob deGrom SP | TEX
Rangers' Jacob deGrom: Rebounds in eighth win
DeGrom (8-7) notched the win against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out nine.
Jackson Holliday tagged deGrom for a solo shot in the opening inning, but that was all Baltimore would muster on the scoreboard Saturday. The nine strikeouts were the star right-hander's most since June 30 in Cleveland, and it was an encouraging bounce-back performance after he gave up seven hits in each of his prior three outings. DeGrom will bring a career-worst 3.87 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 144:30 K:BB over 118.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance in Anaheim against the division-rival Angels.
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Taj Bradley SP | MIN
Twins' Taj Bradley: Fans seven in no-decision
Bradley took a no-decision against the Brewers on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out seven.
Bradley had some strong swing-and-miss stuff going, inducing 13 whiffs on top of his seven punchouts, but it wasn't enough to help him log what would've been his fourth straight quality start. The right-hander continues to be a reliable rotation piece for the Twins, working at least five innings in 11 consecutive outings. Bradley will take a career-best 3.76 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 148:55 K:BB over 131.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance against Philadelphia.
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Seth Lugo SP | KC
Royals' Seth Lugo: Quality start in fifth win
Lugo (5-7) earned the win against the Cubs on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out five.
Lugo was pretty effective against a formidable Cubs lineup, tossing 61 of his 90 pitches for strikes while hanging on for a quality start after giving up his third run of the game in the sixth inning. Saturday's outing marked the 36-year-old right-hander's fourth quality start in his past five outings as well. Lugo will carry a pedestrian 4.41 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 104:46 K:BB over 134.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance against the Angels in Anaheim.
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Max Scherzer SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Top-10 all time in strikeouts
Scherzer did not factor into the decision Saturday against the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four across 5.1 innings. He did not issue a walk.
Scherzer turned back the clock in Philadelphia, keeping the Phillies off the board for the first five innings. His punchout of Kyle Schwarber in the sixth was his fourth of the game, and it moved Scherzer up to 10th on the all-time leaderboard with 3,516 career strikeouts, surpassing Walter Johnson. Unfortunately for Scherzer, the good times were short-lived after he gave up back-to-back solo home runs to Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, leading to the right-hander being pulled. In what is likely Scherzer's last season, he needs 18 more strikeouts to match Gaylord Perry for ninth on the all-time Ks leaderboard. Scherzer's next start is scheduled for next week at the Rogers Centre against the Yankees.
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Walbert Urena SP | LAA
Angels' Walbert Urena: Early exit Saturday
Urena (7-8) took the loss Saturday, coughing up four runs on four hits and three walks over 2.1 innings as the Angels were routed 7-0 by the Marlins. He struck out two.
The rookie right-hander faced the minimum six batters through the first two innings, but the wheels came off in the third, and Urena got the hook after just 50 pitches (30 strikes) in his shortest appearance since moving into the rotation in mid-April. The rough outing ended a streak of three straight quality starts for Urena, and he allowed just three earned runs total over his last five outings. He'll take a 2.83 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 97:55 K:BB through 101.2 innings into his next start, which is set to come at home next week against the Rangers.
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Jake Bennett SP | BOS
Red Sox's Jake Bennett: Falls to A's on Saturday
Bennett (7-5) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings as the Red Sox were downed 7-3 by the A's. He struck out five.
After an impressive beginning to his career, big-league hitters may have figured Bennett out. The left-hander has been tagged for at least three runs in four straight outings, stumbling to a 5.09 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB over 23 innings. He has worked at least five frames in all 13 of his starts for Boston, however, and with the team's pitching depth depleted by trades and injuries, his spot in the rotation seems secure even if his performance continues to regress. Bennett lines up to make his next start on the road next weekend in Pittsburgh.
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Griffin Jax SP | TB
Rays' Griffin Jax: Scratched from Saturday's start
Tampa Bay scratched Jax from his scheduled start against the Mariners on Saturday due to right elbow discomfort, per Ryan Bass of Rays.tv.
The Rays will resort to a bullpen game after scratching Jax from the second game of a three-game set with the Mariners due to discomfort in his right elbow. Tampa Bay named Casey Legumina its opener for Saturday's affair. Jax owns a 6-9 record with a 3.63 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 100:30 K:BB in 91.2 innings this season.
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Gage Jump SP | ATH
Athletics' Gage Jump: Fans career-high 11
Jump (5-7) picked up the win Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings in a 7-3 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out 11.
The 11 Ks were a career high for the rookie left-hander in his 14th big-league start, while the quality start was his fifth. Jump has completed six innings in two of four outings since the All-Star break, but he got tagged for 12 runs in 8.1 frames in the other two trips to the mound. He'll take a 4.46 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 84:33 K:BB through 72.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Rangers.
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Gerrit Cole SP | NYY
Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Fastest Yankee to 1,000 Ks
Cole (6-5) picked up the win in Saturday's 5-4 victory over Atlanta, allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.
The veteran right-hander recorded his 1,000th strikeout as a member of the Yankees when he caught Matt Olson looking to end the fifth inning. Cole accomplished that feat in just 139 appearances, becoming the fastest pitcher to reach the milestone in franchise history and breaking the mark held by CC Sabathia, who racked up 1,000 Ks in pinstripes in 162 games. Cole has given up three runs or fewer in seven straight outings, posting a 2.72 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 53:7 K:BB in 43 innings during that sizzling stretch. He'll look to win his fourth straight decision in his next start, which is set to come on the road next weekend in Toronto.
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Carlos Rodon SP | NYY
Yankees' Carlos Rodon: Roughed up in rehab start
Rodon (elbow) allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four in his first rehab outing with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.
Rodon was cleared to begin his rehab assignment after landing on the injured list July 3 due to left elbow inflammation. The 33-year-old was pulled after throwing 48 pitches, with 29 of them going for strikes. Rodon will likely need to make at least one more start in the minors before rejoining the big-league rotation.