-
Chris Paddack RP | TEX
Twins' Chris Paddack: Aiming to return for playoffs
Paddack (right forearm strain) does not think he'll be able to return before the end of the regular season despite a recent clean MRI, but he is hopeful he could return as a reliever for the playoffs, MLB.com reports.
Paddack has been out since July 14 due to a right forearm strain. He played catch from 60 feet Wednesday and will try to ramp up his activity the next few weeks with a goal of being ready in October. However, that may be a long shot since he's unlikely to have any game action before the playoffs and the Twins may not want to use a pitcher with such a long layoff in the postseason.
-
Joe Musgrove SP | SD
Padres' Joe Musgrove: Collects quality start
Musgrove allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out three over six innings in a no-decision versus the Cardinals on Wednesday.
Musgrove had mixed results in this contest. It was the first time in four starts since he returned from an elbow injury that he allowed multiple runs, but he also saw a full workload of 94 pitches (61 strikes) and turned in his second quality start in a row. Musgrove has been good since his return, shaking off both the injury and his struggles from early in the campaign. He's now at a 4.44 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 63:19 K:BB through 71 innings over 14 starts this season. The right-hander's next start is projected to be at home versus the Tigers.
-
Matt Foster RP | CHW
White Sox's Matt Foster: Returned to Charlotte
The White Sox returned Foster to Triple-A Charlotte after Wednesday's doubleheader versus Texas.
Foster threw two scoreless innings while serving as Chicago's opener in the nightcap, giving up two hits and a walk while recording a strikeout. He'll now return to the minors and continue to serve as organizational bullpen depth, though given his effectiveness in both the majors and Triple-A, there's a good chance he makes another appearance for the White Sox before the end of the year.
-
Andre Pallante SP | STL
Cardinals' Andre Pallante: Takes no-decision Wednesday
Pallante allowed two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Wednesday.
Pallante has not allowed more than two runs in any of his last four starts. In that span, he's given up seven runs (six earned) with a 17:10 K:BB across 25.1 innings. He's been effective as a starter this year, pitching to a 3.50 ERA over 82.1 innings across his 14 starts. Overall, he has a 3.80 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 68:35 K:BB through 92.1 innings. Steven Matz (back) may be an option for the Cardinals' rotation next week, but the team has considered moving to a six-man rotation in September, so Pallante may still be used as a starter to finish the campaign.
-
Jack Leiter SP | TEX
Rangers' Jack Leiter: Lasts four innings Wednesday
Leiter allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out four over four-plus innings in a no-decision versus the White Sox on Wednesday.
Leiter was OK in his first major-league start since May 14, but it was still a rather inefficient performance. He threw 83 pitches (56 strikes) in total and allowed two runners to reach base in the fifth inning, one of which came around to score after Jose Urena entered the game as a long reliever. Leiter has a 12.83 ERA, 2.40 WHIP and 11:8 K:BB over 13.1 innings over four starts, though it's expected he'll spend most of the rest of the campaign in the majors to get some experience. He's tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Yankees in a tough matchup.
-
Nick Nastrini SP | LAD
White Sox's Nick Nastrini: Joining MLB rotation Thursday
The White Sox will recall Nastrini from Triple-A Charlotte to start Thursday's game against the Rangers, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Through six starts in the majors, Nastrini has accrued a gaudy 8.39 ERA and 1.99 WHIP across 24.2 innings. He's posted better numbers since being sent back to the minors in early June (4.89 ERA, 1.63 WHIP through 49.2 frames) and will be facing a Rangers offense that has turned in a .602 OPS over their last 10 games, but the 24-year-old righty should still be considered a risky streaming option based on his poor MLB resume.
-
Kenta Maeda SP | NYY
Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Earns third win Wednesday
Maeda (3-6) allowed two unearned runs on four hits across 4.1 innings of relief to earn the win in Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the Angels. He walked two and struck out five.
Maeda followed opener Mason Englert, who worked the first two innings of the game. Maeda mostly pitched well, with his only major blemish being a home run by Mickey Moniak in the sixth inning following a Trey Sweeney error. The veteran righty allowed six earned runs over five innings in his last appearance, and he has an ugly 6.14 ERA overall this season, so Wednesday's effort was a pleasant surprise. It will take more sustained success for fantasy managers to trust Maeda, however, and he remains a risky option despite the step in the right direction.
-
Andrew Heaney RP | LAD
Rangers' Andrew Heaney: Effective over five innings
Heaney allowed a run on five hits and a walk while striking out two over five innings in a no-decision in the Rangers' 3-1 victory over the White Sox in a game that was suspended Tuesday and completed Wednesday.
Heaney allowed one run or zero in three of his five outings in August, including each of his last two appearances. He was able to pitch Wednesday as he didn't get an opportunity to pitch prior to the game getting suspended in the top of the first inning Tuesday. Heaney is now at a 3.95 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 133:37 K:BB over 134.1 innings through 27 starts this season. The southpaw threw 71 pitches (44 strikes) Wednesday, and while his spot in the rotation would come up for a home start versus the Athletics on Sunday, it's possible the Rangers will use a spot starter to keep Heaney on regular rest. If that happens, he'd be pushed back a day into a much tougher matchup at home versus the Yankees.
-
Chris Flexen RP | CHC
White Sox's Chris Flexen: Pitches well in loss
Flexen (2-13) allowed three runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out four over 6.1 innings to take the loss in Tuesday's game versus the Rangers, which was completed Wednesday.
Garrett Crochet started before the game was put into a weather delay just four pitches in. Flexen stayed on turn by entering the game officially as a reliever and turned in a decent performance for his second outing in a row. He's now gone four appearances without yielding a home run. Flexen is at a 5.29 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 94:55 K:BB through 134.1 innings over 28 outings (25 starts). He'll likely return to a starting role for his next game, which is projected to be at Baltimore early next week.
-
Taijuan Walker SP | LAA
Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Tagged for 13 hits, six runs
Walker (3-6) took the loss Wednesday against the Astros, allowing six earned runs on 13 hits and one walk in six innings. He did not record a strikeout.
Walker got off to a nightmarish start in this one, allowing Jose Altuve to steal home plate in the opening frame, the first of 10 runs scored by the Astros. Walker then held off the Astros until the fourth inning, when he allowed five more runs to cross on four extra-base hits, including a two-run home run by Yordan Alvarez. Walker's 13 hits allowed match Patrick Corbin and Carson Spiers for the most allowed by a pitcher this season. The 32-year-old Walker has been an unmitigated disaster since returning from a finger injury Aug. 13, posting a 9.17 ERA, 2.09 WHIP and 10:8 K:BB in 17.2 laborious innings (four starts).