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Michael Wacha SP | KC
Royals' Michael Wacha: Turns in quality start
Wacha allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out five without walking a batter over 6.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Tuesday.
Wacha put together a quality start for the fourth time in five starts since the All-Star break. In that span, he's allowed 10 runs (eight earned) over 31.1 innings. Wacha remains effective at eating innings -- he's covered six or more frames in 18 of his 24 starts this season while pitching to a 3.46 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 117:41 K:BB through 150.2 innings overall. The veteran's next start is projected to come at home versus the Athletics.
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Blake Snell SP | LAD
Dodgers' Blake Snell: Strikes out 10 in return
Snell allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out 10 over six innings in a no-decision versus the Royals on Tuesday.
Snell's long-awaited return from an elbow procedure was well worth the wait. He had pitched in just one other game this season after opening the year on the injured list due to a shoulder injury. He had loose bodies removed from his elbow after that May 9 start versus Atlanta. Assuming he can stay healthy, Snell is poised to be a big boost for the Dodgers' rotation and his fantasy managers' lineups down the stretch. He threw 84 pitches (55 strikes) in Tuesday's game, so he shouldn't be facing much in the way of a limitation heading into his next start, which is projected to be in Colorado early next week.
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Carson Whisenhunt SP | SF
Giants' Carson Whisenhunt: Rebounds for third win
Whisenhunt (3-3) allowed one run on four hits, three walks and a hit batsman while striking out two over 5.2 innings to earn the win over the Astros on Tuesday.
Whisenhunt had arguably his best outing of the season so far, though it was mostly because the Astros couldn't capitalize on many of their chances. Still, Whisenhunt had allowed 14 runs over his three previous starts, so this was a step in the right direction. The southpaw has a 6.11 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 22:18 K:BB through 28 innings over six starts this season, and that walk rate is likely to remain a problem. He's projected to make his next start on the road in Cleveland.
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Hunter Brown SP | HOU
Astros' Hunter Brown: Takes second loss
Brown (3-2) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings to take the loss versus the Giants on Tuesday.
Brown threw 56 of 89 pitches for strikes in a decent outing, but the Astros didn't give him much help. The right-hander has surrendered 12 runs over 28.1 innings while adding a 28:13 K:BB over five starts since the All-Star break, providing solid but unremarkable pitching in most of his outings in that stretch. For the year, he's at a 3.68 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 67:35 K:BB through 63.2 innings over 12 starts. Brown's next start is projected to be in a favorable home matchup versus the Angels.
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Mitch Bratt SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Mitch Bratt: Submits quality start Tuesday
Bratt allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four over six innings in a no-decision versus the Rockies on Tuesday.
Bratt cruised until giving up a game-tying home run to Kyle Karros in the sixth inning. He's allowed just three runs over his last 18 innings while adding a 15:8 K:BB in that span. Bratt won the battle to stay in the rotation even after Michael Soroka returned from a glute injury, and with none of Arizona's other starting pitchers on the injured list expected back before September, Bratt is poised for a few more turns through the rotation. The 23-year-old has logged a 3.74 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 25:19 K:BB through 33.2 innings over his first seven starts in the majors. He's tentatively lined up to make his next start on the road in Boston.
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Nick Martinez SP | TB
Rays' Nick Martinez: Tosses complete game
Martinez (12-3) earned the win Tuesday against the Athletics, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out five over nine innings.
Martinez needed just 101 pitches, throwing 68 for strikes, to go the distance for the first time in his career. Lawrence Butler took him deep for a two-run homer in the fourth inning, but Martinez limited the Athletics until the ninth when Tampa Bay already held a commanding lead. The right-hander has now completed at least five innings in 11 consecutive starts, collecting seven wins during that stretch. Across 23 starts this season, Martinez owns a 2.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 78:20 K:BB over 138 innings. He's scheduled to face the Orioles at home Monday.
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Tomoyuki Sugano SP | COL
Rockies' Tomoyuki Sugano: Bounces back Tuesday
Sugano (12-5) allowed two runs on six hits and struck out five without walking a batter over six innings to earn the win over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Sugano has three quality starts and four wins over five outings since he returned from a bout of back spasms. In that span, he's given up just 11 runs over 29.1 innings, though he's been tagged for eight home runs, including a pair of solo shots in Tuesday's outing. With 24 homers allowed this season, the long ball has been the main cause of the few struggles Sugano has had. He's at a 4.43 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 66:26 K:BB through 113.2 innings over 21 starts. His next start is projected to be in a matchup to avoid, as he's lined up to get the ball at home against the Dodgers early next week.
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Kyle Harrison SP | MIL
Brewers' Kyle Harrison: Rocked for eight runs in loss
Harrison (9-3) took the loss Tuesday against the Padres, allowing eight runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings.
After tossing five innings of one-hit ball in his return to the rotation, Harrison experienced the complete opposite Tuesday. The left-hander surrendered a season-high 10 hits -- three of which left the yard -- while allowing eight runs before being chased in the fifth inning. The disastrous outing caused his ERA to jump from 2.84 to 3.47, though he still owns a strong 1.13 WHIP and offers plenty of swing-and-miss upside with 114 strikeouts across 93.1 innings this season. Harrison is scheduled to face the Mariners at home Tuesday in his next start.
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Walker Buehler SP | SD
Padres' Walker Buehler: Earns seventh win
Buehler (7-5) earned the win Tuesday against the Brewers, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings.
Buehler threw his second-highest pitch total of the season, tossing 58 of his 98 pitches for strikes, and completed six innings for the first time in 11 starts. His lone run allowed came in the third inning following a leadoff single and a hit batter. After surrendering 20 runs across 11 innings during a disastrous stretch in early July, the right-hander has allowed no more than three runs in each of his last five starts. Through 24 outings this season, Buehler owns a 4.88 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 100:47 K:BB across 114.1 innings. He's next scheduled to face the Mets on Monday.
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Ryan Johnson SP | LAA
Angels' Ryan Johnson: Settles in after leadoff homer
Johnson did not factor into the decision Tuesday against the Rangers, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.1 innings.
Johnson served up a solo homer to Joc Pederson, the first batter of the game, to make it eight consecutive outings with a home run allowed. After the first inning, the right-hander held Texas hitless over the next three frames before Austin Wynns led off the fifth with a single, and Johnson was pulled one batter later. He's now limited opponents to one run in each of his two starts since being recalled Aug. 1, which could help him avoid another option to Triple-A Salt Lake when Yusei Kikuchi (shoulder) returns from the injured list. Across 11 starts and three relief appearances this season, Johnson owns a 6.71 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 43:27 K:BB over 55 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to make another start Sunday against the Royals.