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Ben Brown RP | CHC
Cubs' Ben Brown: Fans five in bulk-relief role
Brown pitched four innings against Colorado on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out five batters. He did not factor in the decision.
Brown was blown up in his first big-league outing last weekend, allowing six runs in 1.2 innings against Texas. He was much better in his second appearance, racking up five punchouts in four frames while allowing just one run. He served as a bulk reliever in the contest, following opener Luke Little's one inning of work, and was in line for the win before the Cubs' bullpen blew a late lead. Despite that lost opportunity, this was an excellent bounce-back for Brown, and it will likely result in him getting another chance to pitch the next time the injured Justin Steele's (hamstring) spot comes up in the rotation, though it's unclear if Brown will work in bulk relief again or move into a traditional starting role.
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Joe Musgrove SP | SD
Padres' Joe Musgrove: Rebounds with quality start
Musgrove (1-1) picked up the win Wednesday against the Cardinals, allowing one run on five hits and a walk across six innings. He struck out seven.
Musgrove finally found his footing three starts into 2024, putting together his first quality start of the season and bringing down his ERA from 9.72 to 6.28. Fantasy managers who invested in Musgrove can breathe a sigh of relief, as he showed the mix of strikeout ability and power prevention that made him so effective in 2023. Musgrove will look to take another large step away from his early-season woes, with a matchup against the Cubs in San Diego on tap for his next projected start.
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Mitch Keller SP | PIT
Pirates' Mitch Keller: Another disappointing showing
Keller (0-1) took the loss Wednesday against the Nationals, yielding five runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
After giving up four earned runs in his 2024 debut, Keller appeared primed to bounce back against a sub-standard Nationals lineup. However, Keller was once again tagged for four earned runs -- including a solo homer by Joey Gallo in the second. He's been unable to replicate his 2023 success thus far, owning an ugly 6.55 ERA and 1.73 WHIP through two starts. He's lined up for another recovery chance during Monday's projected start against the Tigers.
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Trevor Williams RP | TEX
Nationals' Trevor Williams: Yields three hits in win
Williams (1-0) picked up the win Wednesday against Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
Williams was good aside than a rough second inning, retiring 13 of the 14 batters he faced outside of the frame. Both of the runs against Williams came in the second, with a leadoff double and back-to-back walks filling the bases for an eventual two-RBI single by Michael Taylor. After tying for the fifth-most homers allowed and posting a 5.55 ERA in his first season as a National, Williams looked more like his 2022 self (3.21 ERA in 89.2 innings) Wednesday. Still, he is not a recommended fantasy option in his next projected start Monday at San Francisco.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Solid over seven frames
Kelly did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over seven innings in a 6-5 loss to the Yankees. He struck out four.
Kelly allowed the leadoff runner to reach base in three of his first four innings of work and it finally cost him in the fourth when Aaron Judge jumped on a hanging sinker and sent it into the stands, giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead. The right-hander recovered nicely, however, surrendering just two singles and a walk from that point on as the Diamondbacks fell to New York in the series finale. Kelly has now logged back-to-back quality starts to open the season, posting a 12:1 K:BB over that early stretch.
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Joe Ross RP | TEX
Brewers' Joe Ross: Control issues in no-decision
Ross came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Twins, giving up two hits and five walks over 3.2 scoreless innings. He struck out three.
Making his first big-league start since late 2021, Ross threw only 38 of 73 pitches for strikes before being lifted, although he was able to avoid any damage from all the traffic he put on the basepaths. Despite the shaky outing, he might not be in much danger of losing his spot in the rotation for the time being. Per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee will likely need to use a six-man rotation over the next month, as the team is scheduled for 13 games in a row and 26 over the next 27 days.
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Jameson Taillon SP | TOR
Cubs' Jameson Taillon: Beginning assignment Sunday
Taillon (back) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Tennessee on Sunday, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.
Taillon didn't pitch at all during spring training due a strained back, but he was able to face hitters near the end of camp and has now been cleared to test his back in a game environment. It's unclear exactly how many starts the Cubs want Taillon to make before he returns to Chicago, but it will likely take him multiple outings to build up to a starter's workload.
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A.J. Puk RP | ARI
Marlins' A.J. Puk: Struggles again vs. Angels
Puk (0-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks over four innings against the Angels. He struck out five.
Puk's transition to a starting pitcher hasn't gone according to plan thus far -- the 28-year-old left-hander has allowed eight runs (six earned) through just six innings in his first two starts. While Puk has had success out of the bullpen in the majors, the Marlins seem set on having him remain in the rotation, at least while Braxton Garrett (shoulder), Edward Cabrera (shoulder) and Eury Perez (elbow) are sidelined. Puk's currently lined up for a tough road matchup versus the Yankees in his next outing.
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Michael Prosecky P | COL
Rockies' Michael Prosecky: Sidelined with elbow issue
Prosecky is on the minor-league injured list with elbow inflammation, Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline reports.
Per Mayo, Prosecky's elbow inflammation is mild and he is in the process of building back up in extended spring training, but it's obviously still a concerning injury as things stand. Prosecky, who had a 2.72 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 125 strikeouts in 109 innings for Single-A Fresno last year, will likely head to High-A Spokane once healthy.
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Walker Buehler SP | SD
Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Making another rehab start Saturday
Buehler (elbow) will make his second minor-league rehab appearance Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
Buehler had his first rehab outing with OKC on Sunday, tossing 54 pitches over 3.1 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out two batters. Though he was far from sharp in the appearance and was clocked at about 1.0 mph below his norm, the right-hander appears to have come out of the start without any setbacks. Buehler is expected to make four minor-league rehab outings in total before potentially joining the Dodgers' big-league rotation in mid-to-late April.