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Shane McClanahan SP | TB
Rays' Shane McClanahan: Picks up second win
McClanahan (2-2) earned the win over Seattle on Thursday, completing 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five.
After striking out at least seven batters in each of his first five starts of the season, McClanahan racked up a more modest five punchouts and induced just eight swinging strikes Thursday. Nonetheless, the southpaw kept the Mariners off the scoreboard for the first four innings and departed after 5.1 frames having done enough to earn the win. McClanahan has yet to surrender more than three runs in an outing this season and has looked the part of an ace with a 3.06 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 47:9 K:BB across 32.1 innings. He's expected to next take the mound in Los Angeles against the Angels on Tuesday.
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Luis Gil SP | NYY
Yankees' Luis Gil: Fans nine in Triple-A start
Gil tossed five innings in a start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits and no walks while striking out nine.
The right-hander finally had a solid outing, going five innings for the first time this season and registering a campaign-best nine punchouts. It's otherwise been a struggle for Gil at Triple-A this season, as he has registered a 9.53 ERA and 1.76 WHIP over five starts. The 23-year-old is considered one of the Yankees' top pitching prospects after posting a 3.07 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 38:19 K:BB across 29.1 innings in his first big-league stint in 2021.
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Jose Urquidy RP | PHI
Astros' Jose Urquidy: Six scoreless innings
Urquidy allowed six hits and one walk in six scoreless innings, striking out three in a 3-2 win Thursday over Detroit. He did not factor into the decision.
While Urquidy allowed more than a baserunner per inning, only two managed to reach scoring position. With just three strikeouts, he held the Tigers scoreless while relying on his defense to make plays. It was the best start of the year for the 27-year-old and the first time he lasted six innings. Urquidy has walked only four batters in 25.2 innings, slightly better than his career rate of 1.7 walks per nine innings.
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Tarik Skubal SP | LAD
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Looks good in no-decision Thursday
Skubal allowed just two runs on six hits across six innings but did not factor in the decision in Thursday's loss to the Astros. He didn't walk anyone and struck out nine.
A pair of solo home runs provided all the Houston offense against Skubal, as the lefty otherwise stymied a tough lineup. However, he got zero run support while he was in the game and would have taken his third loss of the season if not for a Jeimer Candelario two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning. Skubal probably deserves more than one win with his 3.04 ERA and 29:3 K:BB across 26.2 innings, but the Detroit offense has been stagnant this year. He'll look to keep pitching well in his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Athletics.
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Spenser Watkins SP | WAS
Orioles' Spenser Watkins: Unable to get through five innings
Watkins allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out two in 4.2 innings during a 5-3 win Thursday over Minnesota. He did not factor into the decision.
Watkins had a chance to get through five innings with the lead but gave up a two-out, two-run homer on a 3-0 pitch to Byron Buxton. After hitting the next batter with a pitch on a 2-0 count, he was removed from the game. He was fairly wild Thursday, throwing only 41 of his 76 pitches for strikes. While he has a solid 3.22 ERA through 22.1 innings, there are some warning signs, most notably his 10:10 K:BB rate. He'll likely make his next start early next week in St. Louis.
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Aaron Civale RP | CHC
Guardians' Aaron Civale: Earns first win
Civale (1-2) allowed four earned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out eight across 5.2 innings to earn the win Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Civale surrendered a two-run home to Vladimir Guerrero in the first inning, but he then settled in to hold Toronto scoreless for the following four frames. His outing was soured a bit after he allowed a two-run double in the sixth frame prior to exiting, though he still managed his first win of the campaign. Civale also recorded a season-best eight strikeouts, which was backed by 16 swinging strikes on 99 total pitches. Even with the improved outing, Civale owns a 9.45 ERA with a 22:6 K:BB across 20 innings.
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Jose Berrios SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jose Berrios: Roughed up in Cleveland
Berrios (2-1) allowed six earned runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out none across 4.2 innings to take the loss Thursday against Cleveland.
Berrios began his outing with two scoreless innings but surrendered at least one earned run in each of his final three frames. He allowed a two-run home run to Steven Kwan in the third inning and has now allowed at least one long ball in four of his six starts. After a bumpy start to the campaign, Berrios had allowed only four earned runs across his last 18.2 frames. However, Thursday's poor outing jumped his ERA to 5.34 on the season, and he has a subpar 20:10 K:BB across 28.2 innings.
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Cole Irvin RP | LAD
Athletics' Cole Irvin: Lands on injured list
Irvin (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Irvin has been dealing with shoulder soreness, and while no further diagnosis has been announced, he'll be out until at least mid-May. He delivered strong results early in the campaign, maintaining a 2.93 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 27.2 innings. The team has not officially named a starter for Friday's game against the Twins to replace Irvin, though Zach Logue is the leading candidate.
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Rich Hill SP | KC
Red Sox's Rich Hill: Tosses five scoreless
Hill didn't factor into the decision after allowing one hit and one walk across five scoreless innings during Thursday's 8-0 loss to the Angels. He struck out six.
Hill was masterful, scattering two base runners across five innings, but as expected, the veteran only threw 68 pitches and was relieved by Tanner Houck, who surrendered seven runs. After allowing seven runs over his first two starts, Hill has found his groove, tossing 13 straight scoreless innings over his last three starts. During that stretch, he's allowed just five hits and four walks while striking out 11. Thursday was the first time this season he's completed five innings as he remains in search of his first win.
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Dylan Bundy SP | NYM
Twins' Dylan Bundy: Tests positive for COVID-19
Bundy tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and will be placed on the injured list, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Bundy surrendered nine runs during Wednesday's start against the Orioles and will now step away from the team due to the positive test. The 29-year-old's next turn through the rotation lines up for Wednesday against the Astros, and his availability for that outing is now in question. He'll need to clear MLB's testing protocols before being able to rejoin the team.