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Carlos Martinez SP | SF
Cardinals' Carlos Martinez: Heading right back to hill
Martinez (shoulder) is scheduled to make another relief appearance for Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander's workload in his Friday appearance was a modest 11 pitches, so he'll be right back to work less than 48 hours later. The outing will mark his fourth in eight days since beginning a minor-league rehab assignment. Assuming it goes off without setbacks, Martinez will then likely be asked to work a multi-inning appearance and/or pitch on consecutive days as yet another benchmark towards eventual activation.
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Jacob deGrom SP | TEX
Mets' Jacob deGrom: Fires seven strong innings
DeGrom (3-4) earned the win against the Marlins on Saturday by allowing only one run on five hits over seven innings. He fanned eight and walked one.
DeGrom was in top form again Saturday as he pounded the zone with 78 strikes in 106 pitches, throwing first-pitch strikes to 20 of 27 batters. The Mets were finally able to provide some run support, though deGrom still pitched in an RBI single of his own. The 30-year-old has delivered seven frames in each of his last three outings while allowing only three runs on 11 hits with a 21:4 K:BB. DeGrom now has a 3.26 ERA and 1.11 WHIP, and lines up to face either the Nationals or Marlins late next week.
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Sandy Alcantara SP | MIA
Marlins' Sandy Alcantara: Falters in sixth inning
Alcantara (1-4) took the loss against the Mets on Saturday by allowing four runs on eight hits across 5.2 innings. He struck out one and walked two.
Alcantara entered the sixth inning with the game tied 1-1 but gave up back-to-back solo homers and was eventually removed after giving up an RBI single to opposing pitcher Jacob deGrom. The 23-year-old has a 5.11 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 28:23 K:BB over 44 innings and lines up to face the Mets again next weekend.
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Zach Eflin SP | BAL
Phillies' Zach Eflin: Delivers four-hit shutout
Eflin (5-3) earned the win against the Royals on Saturday by allowing only four hits and no runs in a complete-game effort. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
Eflin allowed only two runners into scoring position all game as he pounded the strike zone with 76 strikes in 110 pitches. It's the 25-year-old's second complete game of the year and he has now allowed two runs on 15 hits and two walks over his last three starts, covering 25 innings. Eflin will seek his fourth straight victory Friday versus the Rockies.
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Miles Mikolas RP | WAS
Cardinals' Miles Mikolas: Strikes out seven in loss
Mikolas allowed two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk across seven innings to take the loss against the Pirates on Saturday.
The 30-year-old continued his hot streak Saturday, but the Cardinals failed to support him with enough runs. While Mikolas fell to 4-3 this season, owners have to love the 1.35 ERA he's submitted over his last three starts. Mikolas owns a 3.83 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 54 innings this season. His next scheduled start is against the Rangers on the road Friday.
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Jordan Lyles RP | KC
Pirates' Jordan Lyles: Yields one hit in victory
Lyles allowed one run on one hit with six strikeouts and three walks across six innings to earn a victory over the Cardinals on Saturday.
The 26-year-old continued his masterful start to the season, turning in perhaps his best outing of the year. While he did walk three batters -- one of which came around to score -- that's acceptable given that he yielded just one hit. In his last two outings, he's allowed two runs in 12.2 innings. Overall, Lyles is 3-1 with a 2.09 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 35 strikeouts in 38.2 innings. His next start is expected to come Thursday in San Diego.
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Zach Davies SP | WAS
Brewers' Zach Davies: Settles for no-decision
Davies allowed one run on six hits with five strikeouts and a walk across 6.1 innings in a no-decision against the Cubs on Saturday.
The 26-year-old didn't give up back-to-back hits until the fifth inning, but that led to the Cubs tying the game. Davies worked out of a jam in the sixth to keep the score tied, and when he walked his first batter in the seventh, the bullpen came on to retire the final two hitters of the frame. Unfortunately his team didn't provide him enough run support to win, but Davies has won four of his last seven starts and has yet to lose one because he hasn't allowed more than two runs in an outing. Davies is 4-0 with a 1.54 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 31 strikeouts in 46.1 innings. He is scheduled to pitch again against the Phillies on Thursday.
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Cole Hamels SP | SD
Cubs' Cole Hamels: Yields one run in no-decision
Hamels allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts and three walks across seven innings in a no-decision against the Brewers on Saturday.
The only run Hamels gave up came on a home run in the fifth, but the Cubs tied the game at one in the bottom of the inning. However, that was also the only run he got in run support, so even though the Cubs did eventually win in extra innings, Hamels did not factor into the decision. Hamels has settled for four straight no-decisions, but he is 3-0 with a 3.08 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 49 strikeouts in 49.2 innings. His next start should come against the Nationals on Friday.
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Vince Velasquez RP | KC
Phillies' Vince Velasquez: Expects brief absence
Velasquez (forearm) is optimistic that he'll only miss one start while on the 10-day injured list, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Velasquez reportedly felt something in his arm after throwing a slider in his last start Monday against the Cardinals. Cole Irvin will fill in for him Sunday but could head back to the minors if Velasquez is indeed ready to pitch again soon.
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Cole Irvin RP | LAD
Phillies' Cole Irvin: Set to debut Sunday
Irvin will be called up Sunday to make his big-league debut against the Royals, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Vince Velasquez landed on the injured list with a right forearm strain, so Irvin could have the opportunity to stick around for more than just one start should he impress Sunday. Irvin was never a particularly top prospect but saw his stock rise after recording a 2.57 ERA for Triple-A Lehigh Valley last season. His 5.5 percent walk rate in 31 starts and one relief appearance at that level is quite strong, but his modest 19.5 strikeout rate limits his upside.