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Walker Buehler SP | SD
Padres' Walker Buehler: Short start Saturday
Buehler allowed four runs on three hits and four walks while striking out one over two innings in a no-decision versus the Blue Jays on Saturday.
Buehler and Trey Yesavage both labored in the early innings of this contest. Buehler ended up throwing just 65 pitches (31 strikes) in his shortest start of the season. He heads into the All-Star break on a wicked skid, having allowed 20 runs and six home runs over his last 11 innings. Overall, he has a 5.36 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 81:35 K:BB through 89 innings over 19 starts.
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Bubba Chandler SP | PIT
Pirates' Bubba Chandler: Fans six in no-decision Saturday
Chandler didn't factor into the decision in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out six.
It was a slightly better effort for Chandler after he failed to strike out a batter and coughed up four runs over four innings during his prior start, but the 23-year-old right-hander is still struggling to find some consistency. He heads into the All-Star break with a 4.77 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 85:55 K:BB through 94.1 innings.
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Braxton Ashcraft SP | PIT
Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Hit hard in no-decision Saturday
Ashcraft didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Brewers, coughing up five runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.
All five hits off Ashcraft went for extra bases, including homers by Jake Bauers in the second inning and Sal Frelick in the fifth. The right-hander has served up six long balls in his last three starts as he shows signs of fatigue -- Ashcraft's tossed 113.1 innings already this season, nearly matching the 118 innings he tossed all of last season between Triple-A and the majors. Despite the swoon before the All-Star break, he still sports a 3.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 128:27 K:BB on the year.
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Brandon Sproat SP | MIL
Brewers' Brandon Sproat: Early exit in Saturday's matinee
Sproat didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Pirates, giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks over three innings. He struck out three.
The 25-year-old right-hander also plunked three batters and uncorked a wild pitch, getting the hook after 83 pitches (51 strikes) and forcing the Brewers to go to their bullpen much earlier than they wanted in the twin bill. Sproat has failed to get an out in the fifth frame in three of his last five starts, but he's still managed to put together a 3.68 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB over 22 innings during that stretch. His spot in the rotation is precarious, but Sproat sees likely to stick around for a while given the current state of Milwaukee's rotation, which recently had Jacob Misiorowski (fatigue) and Kyle Harrison (elbow) miss starts.
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Nick Lodolo SP | CIN
Reds' Nick Lodolo: Likely bound for IL
Reds manager Terry Francona said after Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Cubs that Lodolo (finger) will likely require a stint on the injured list, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Lodolo was pulled in the sixth inning of Saturday due to a blister on his left finger, taking a no-decision after allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five frames. The southpaw notably missed the first six weeks of the season due to a blister on the same finger, though it's unclear if he'll require as lengthy of an absence this time around. Assuming the Reds move him to the IL on Sunday, Lodolo wouldn't be eligible to pitch again until July 27.
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Tyler Mahle SP | ATL
Giants' Tyler Mahle: Seven innings of one-run ball
Mahle (2-8) earned the win Saturday against the Rockies, allowing one run on five hits and three walks in seven innings. He struck out four.
Facing a soft matchup at home against the last-place Rockies, Mahle delivered one of his finest outings of the campaign Saturday. The 31-year-old right-hander matched a season high in innings during his second quality start of 2026, emptying the tank for a season-most 104 pitches. Despite Saturday's gem, Mahle still has a lackluster 5.31 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 73:32 K:BB over 78 innings ahead of the All-Star break.
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Kyle Freeland SP | COL
Rockies' Kyle Freeland: Mixed results in eighth loss
Freeland (2-8) took the loss Saturday against the Giants, allowing four runs on six hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out nine.
Freeland was working on producing one of his best starts of the season, as he fanned a season-high nine, but Casey Schmitt launched a three-run home run in the sixth inning to leave a big dent on the hurler's line. The 33-year-old left-hander still turned in his fourth outing of the year of at least six frames, but he's now given up multiple runs in 13 consecutive appearances. Freeland has struggled to offer much fantasy viability in 2026, posting a career-worst 7.36 ERA and 1.57 WHIP despite an otherwise encouraging 79:18 K:BB over 88 innings.
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Matthew Liberatore SP | STL
Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Throws six scoreless innings
Liberatore (5-6) allowed four hits and a walk while striking out six over six scoreless innings to earn the win over Atlanta on Saturday.
This was Liberatore's first quality start in over two months -- his previous was May 7 versus the Padres. He has completed six frames in just four of his 19 starts on the year, as elevated walk (3.5 BB/9) and home run (1.6 HR/9) rates have limited his ability to pitch deep into games. He's at a 5.00 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 88:36 K:BB through 93.2 innings but heads into the All-Star break with a 2.25 ERA across his past thee outings.
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Freddy Peralta SP | TB
Mets' Freddy Peralta: Can't find plate in eighth loss
Peralta (5-8) took the loss Saturday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs on three hits and five walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out six.
It was another laborious outing by Peralta, who has now failed to complete five frames in all three of his July starts thus far. The 30-year-old right-hander has battled his control all year long, as he has issued at least one walk in all of his 19 starts since Opening Day versus Pittsburgh, However, he was at least able to strike out Tsung-Che Cheng to escape a bases-loaded jam in the second inning Saturday to limit the damage. Peralta has been a big disappointment during his first year with the Mets, holding a 4.66 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 104:44 K:BB over 104.1 frames.
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Nick Lodolo SP | CIN
Reds' Nick Lodolo: Exits game with blister
Lodolo was removed in the sixth inning of Saturday's game against the Cubs due to a blister on his left index finger, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
A trainer came out to the mound to examine Lodolo's left index finger after the southpaw gave up a leadoff homer in the sixth inning. The blister was severe enough for Lodolo to be taken out of the game, and he'll end his start having allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four across five innings. He's dealt with blisters over the past couple of seasons and needed a stint on the 15-day injured list in 2025, but his recovery timeline should become clearer once he's evaluated further.