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Michael Plassmeyer SP | TOR
Phillies' Michael Plassmeyer: Optioned Sunday
Plassmeyer was optioned the Phillies' spring training complex Sunday.
The 26-year-old was called up to start the penultimate contest of the regular season Saturday in Game 2 of the doubleheader against the Mets, but he was rocked for 10 runs (nine earned) across 3.2 innings. Plassmeyer spent most of the campaign at Triple-A Lehigh Valley and posted a 5.05 ERA in 14 starts, so he's unlikely to receive a look during the playoffs for Philadelphia.
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Quinn Priester SP | MIL
Pirates' Quinn Priester: Allows season-high 10 hits
Priester (3-3) took the loss Saturday, allowing four runs on 10 hits and one walk over 5.1 innings against the Marlins. He struck out three.
Priester got off to a rough start, surrendering a leadoff double to Jorge Soler to start the game, along with two more singles and a run in the first inning. He would go on to allow another three more runs on the day, with the last two coming home after the right-hander was relieved by Dauri Moreta with one out in the sixth. Priester allowed a season-high 10 hits in the contest while it marked the fifth time in his last six starts in which he gave up at least four runs.
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Dylan Dodd RP | ATL
Braves' Dylan Dodd: Promoted for Sunday's start
Dodd was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Sunday's regular-season finale against the Nationals, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 25-year-old was previously announced as Atlanta's probable starter for Sunday, and he's now officially been added to the MLB roster. Dodd has a 7.62 ERA, 1.94 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB across 28.1 innings (six starts) this season, but he'll receive a chance to end the campaign on a positive note with game No. 162 being meaningless for Atlanta.
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Eric Lauer SP | LAD
Brewers' Eric Lauer: Hit hard in return
Lauer (4-6) took the loss Saturday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and four walks over four innings against the Cubs. He struck out two.
Chicago handed Lauer a rude welcome in his first big-league appearance since being demoted to Triple-A in June as the Cubs tallied six runs in the opening frame on three home runs. The 28-year-old southpaw surrendered two more scores in the fourth and will close the chapter on a disappointing 2023 campaign with a 4-6 record, 6.56 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 43:24 K:BB, while serving up 16 home runs in just 46.2 innings this season.
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Joan Adon SP | WAS
Nationals' Joan Adon: Middling in no-decision
Adon did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over four innings in a 5-3 loss against Atlanta. He struck out five.
Adon turned in another brief start, failing to go more than five innings for a sixth consecutive outing while yielding three runs. Over that stretch (27.2 innings), Adon posted a 7.48 ERA and 28:18 K:BB with an 0-4 record.
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Jordan Wicks SP | CHC
Cubs' Jordan Wicks: Struggles in short start
Wicks allowed six runs on six hits across 1.2 innings and did not factor into the decision Saturday against the Brewers. He walked one and struck out one.
Wicks allowed a pair of home runs and was yanked after tossing 44 pitches, but Chicago still managed to win 10-6. This was the young lefty's worst start of his rookie season, as he came into the contest having allowed only 11 earned runs across his first 33 innings. The poor outing pushed his ERA from 3.00 to 4.41, though it was still a promising debut for Wicks. He should have the inside track on a rotation spot to begin the 2024 season.
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Spencer Strider SP | ATL
Braves' Spencer Strider: Notches 20th win
Strider (20-5) earned the win Saturday, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over five innings against the Nationals. He struck out seven.
Strider closed out the 2023 regular season on a high note Saturday, posting a quality start and fanning seven batters en route to his 20th win of the campaign. While the 24-year-old allowed three or more runs in five of his last six starts, Strider managed to finish 2023 with a 3.86 ERA and 281:58 K:BB across 186.2 innings while leading the league in wins and strikeouts.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Takes hard-luck loss
Kelly (12-8) allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out five over seven innings to take the loss Saturday versus the Astros.
Kelly pitched well, but the RBI double he surrendered to Jose Abreu in the fourth inning was the lone run for either team. The Diamondbacks had chances with five hits and six walks but couldn't even the score. Kelly concludes the regular season with a 3.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 187:69 K:BB through 177.2 innings over 30 starts. He should be a part of Arizona's wild-card round rotation.
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Drew Smyly SP | CHC
Cubs' Drew Smyly: Starting Sunday
Smyly will start Sunday's game against the Brewers, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Smyly figures to work a few innings in what may turn out to be a bullpen game for Chicago after the club was eliminated from postseason contention Saturday night. The veteran southpaw has plenty of experience in a starting role, though he was converted to a reliever for the final month of the season and has worked only 15.2 innings over 11 appearances in September.
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Michael Wacha SP | KC
Padres' Michael Wacha: Seven scoreless in 14th win
Wacha (14-4) earned the win Saturday, allowing three hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings against the White Sox. He struck out seven.
The 32-year-old scattered three singles and needed just 87 pitches to complete seven scoreless innings en route to his 14th victory of the campaign. Outside of a recent seven-run start against the Dodgers, Wacha compiled a 6-1 record with a 2.82 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 48:15 K:BB across 44.2 innings after returning from a shoulder injury Aug. 15. Building upon a resurgent 2022 season for the Red Sox, the right-hander's first year in San Diego concludes with a 3.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 124:43 K:BB across 134.1 innings with his highest win total since Wacha went 17-7 in 2015.