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Chris Bassitt SP | BAL
Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Let down by defense
Bassitt allowed seven runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out two over 3.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Rangers on Tuesday.
A pair of Toronto errors, including one by Bassitt himself, helped minimize the damage to his ERA. The Blue Jays would recover from the deficit Bassitt created, which helped him avoid taking the loss. Still, he wasn't very sharp with just 48 of his 80 pitches landing for strikes. Since the All-Star break, he's been charged with four or more runs in six of his 11 outings, alternating between decent and poor performances the whole time. The right-hander is now at a 4.16 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 166:63 K:BB through 166.2 innings over 30 starts this season. Bassitt's next start is projected to be on the road versus the Rays.
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Nathan Eovaldi SP | TEX
Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi: Lit up in no-decision
Eovaldi allowed seven runs on 11 hits and two walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Blue Jays on Tuesday.
The two teams traded rallies in the contest -- Eovaldi was tagged for four runs in the fifth inning just after the Rangers had established a lead. This was one of Eovaldi's worst performances of the year, as the seven runs and 11 hits allowed were both season highs. His ERA is up to 3.96 with a 1.13 WHIP and 154:38 K:BB through 156.2 innings over 27 starts. He posted four straight quality starts from Aug. 17 to Sept. 4, but he's struggled in two straight outings. He'll look to get back on track in his next projected start, which is expected to be in Oakland with the Rangers seemingly shifting to a six-man rotation to close out the campaign.
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Shane Baz SP | BAL
Rays' Shane Baz: Breezes to third win
Baz (3-3) earned the win Tuesday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over seven innings. He struck out six.
The 25-year-old flamethrower was outstanding in this 96-pitch performance, generating an impressive 18 whiffs -- with 10 alone coming on his fastball -- en route to his six punchouts. All the damage Boston was able to do came via a Triston Casas two-run homer in the second inning. This marks the fifth consecutive outing in which Baz has yielded two or fewer runs, as he's pitched to a 2.03 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 24:11 K:BB over 31 innings during that span. He is scheduled to make his next start against Toronto at home this weekend.
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Nick Pivetta RP | SD
Red Sox's Nick Pivetta: Concedes three homers in loss
Pivetta (5-11) took the loss Tuesday against the Rays, allowing four runs on five hits and no walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out six.
After posting three consecutive quality starts, the 31-year-old allowed three home runs in an outing for the first time since May 8 at Atlanta. Thankfully, Pivetta limited the damage by firing his first walk-free start since July 24 and giving up all solo shots. After pitching to a 3.81 ERA across 87.1 innings before the All-Star break, the Boston right-hander has faded a bit in the second half, going 1-4 with a 4.78 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 64:12 K:BB across 52.2 innings. He lines up to make his next start against the Twins at home this weekend.
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Albert Suarez RP | BAL
Orioles' Albert Suarez: Short outing vs. Giants
Suarez (8-6) took the loss Tuesday against San Francisco, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks over 3.1 innings. He struck out three.
Suarez got off to a rough start, allowing a first-inning homer to Mike Yastrzemski on his second pitch of the game before the Giants tacked on two more runs in the second. The 34-year-old Suarez came into the day with a 2.43 ERA over his previous seven outings. His ERA now sits at 3.60 with a 1.32 WHIP and 98:41 K:BB across 122.2 innings this season. Suarez will look to get back on track in his next start, currently lined up for this weekend at home against the Tigers.
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Zebby Matthews SP | MIN
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Yields one run in no-decision
Matthews did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the Guardians, allowing one run on five hits and one walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
The Minnesota rookie right-hander held his own against the division leaders in Cleveland, as he tallied five or more Ks for the fifth time in his seven starts. However, he allowed another long ball -- his ninth in 30 big-league innings - when Lane Thomas cracked a 424-foot solo shot in the fourth. With this effort, Matthews lowered his season ERA from 7.17 to 6.30, and he's also pitched to a 5.74 FIP, 1.60 WHIP and 32:6 K:BB. He currently projects to make his next start against the Red Sox on the road this weekend.
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Gavin Williams SP | CLE
Guardians' Gavin Williams: Fans seven in loss
Williams (3-10) took the loss Tuesday against the Twins, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out seven.
The Cleveland right-hander's losing streak now stands at three, although, he performed much better in this 89-pitch outing. Williams entered having allowed eight runs across his last six innings and managed to generate a solid 16 whiffs en route to his seven punchouts. The 25-year-old just couldn't handle Matt Wallner, as the Minnesota slugger drove in both runs allowed via a pair of RBI singles. Williams has now pitched to a 5.12 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 76:30 K:BB across 70.1 innings this season. He lines up to make his next start against the Cardinals in St. Louis this weekend.
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Tanner Houck SP | BOS
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: On track to start Wednesday
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that there's a "big chance" Houck (shoulder) will start Wednesday's game against the Rays, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
The 28-year-old was scratched from his scheduled start Friday versus the Yankees after receiving extra rest between outings in order to combat a "dead arm" phase, but he's now on the cusp of making his first start since Sept. 5. Assuming Houck pitches Tuesday as indicated by Cora, the right-hander could have some workload limitations while making his first start in two weeks.
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Jeffrey Springs SP | ATH
Rays' Jeffrey Springs: Ruled out for rest of season
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Springs (elbow) is feeling better but will not return from the 15-day injured list this season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Springs landed on the IL earlier this month with left elbow fatigue, roughly six weeks after he returned to the majors following a long rehab from Tommy John surgery. While Springs' current elbow issue doesn't seem to be overly concerning, the Rays would have little to gain by rushing him back before the regular season concludes.
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Grayson Rodriguez SP | LAA
Orioles' Grayson Rodriguez: Could return as reliever
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Tuesday that it's possible Rodriguez (lat) temporarily pitches out of the bullpen when he eventually returns from the 15-day injured list, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Rodriguez is throwing off a mound and is "moving in the right direction," per Elias, as the right-hander works his way back from a lat strain. However, he is simply running out of time to get built back up before the end of the regular season, so the Orioles might have no choice but to use him in relief initially as they rebuild his stamina on the fly. Rodriguez has been sidelined since early August.