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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.
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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.
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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).
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Spencer Arrighetti RP | TOR
Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Flirts with no-no, fans 11
Arrighetti (7-11) threw 7.2 scoreless innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out 11.
Arrighetti dominated a potent Phillies lineup, racking up 11 strikeouts and bringing a no-hitter into the eighth inning before an Austin Hays infield single broke up the bid. The 24-year-old has been on a tear in August, posting a robust 1.95 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 13.1 K/9 in 32.1 innings (five starts). Arrighetti has recorded three double-digit strikeout outings in August while lowering his ERA from 5.58 to 4.63. One of the hottest pitchers in baseball, Arrighetti will look to keep rolling in his next start, currently scheduled for next week in Cincinnati.
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Luis Castillo SP | CHW
Mariners' Luis Castillo: Solid in 11th win
Castillo (11-12) picked up the win Wednesday, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings in a 6-2 victory over the Rays. He struck out four.
The 31-year-old right-hander left the mound after 97 pitches (60 strikes) just short of his 18th quality start of the season, but it was still a respectable performance from Castillo. In eight starts since the All-Star break, he's posted a 3.94 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 51:11 K:BB through 48 innings. Castillo will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Oakland.
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Tanner Bibee SP | CLE
Guardians' Tanner Bibee: Surrenders three long balls
Bibee escaped with a no-decision in Wednesday's win against Kansas City, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six in five innings.
Bibee uncharacteristically allowed three home runs Wednesday, including two in the opening frame to Michael Massey and Vinnie Pasquantino. The three home runs matched the total he allowed in his first six starts (33 innings) coming out of the All-Star break. Bibee was able to limit the damage and come away with a no-decision, but he has now allowed nine total runs over his last two starts. Despite the recent struggles, the 25-year-old has had an impressive sophomore season, posting a 3.65 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a dazzling 156:35 K:BB across 143 innings (26 starts). He will look to exact revenge in a rematch with the Royals early next week.
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Michael Wacha SP | KC
Royals' Michael Wacha: Falls apart late in no-decision
Wacha came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's loss to the Guardians, allowing five earned runs on nine hits while striking out seven in six-plus innings. He did not issue a walk.
Wacha allowed just two runs over the first six innings and was on pace to record his sixth consecutive quality start, but a three-run seventh inning soured an otherwise efficient outing. Bo Naylor led off the seventh with a solo home run before back-to-back singles by Steven Kwan and Andres Gimenez chased Wacha from the game. Both of those runners came around to score to give Wacha five earned runs on the night, the most he has allowed since May 4. Wednesday's outing represents a minor blemish in what has been an excellent campaign for the veteran, particularly since the All-Star break. Since the intermission, the 33-year-old is a perfect 5-0 with a 2.90 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 42:11 K:BB in 49.2 innings (eight starts). He is scheduled for a rematch against Cleveland early next week.
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Tylor Megill SP | NYM
Mets' Tylor Megill: Named Friday's starter
Megill will be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to start Friday's game against the White Sox, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
With Paul Blackburn set to miss some time due to a hand injury, Megill is now set to come up from the minors to fill the open spot in New York's rotation. The 29-year-old righty owns a 5.17 ERA and 1.43 WHIP through 47 innings in the big leagues, though he will have the benefit of facing the White Sox in his first outing back, the team with the worst scoring offense in the majors.
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Matt Manning SP | PHI
Tigers' Matt Manning: Resumes mound work
Manning (lat) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions twice weekly and is aiming to return to action before Triple-A Toledo's regular season ends Sept. 22, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Manning last pitched July 14 before informing the Tigers during the All-Star break that he was dealing with a right lat strain. He was shut down from activity for about a month before he resumed his throwing program. Though both Manning and the Tigers are optimistic he'll pitch again this season for the Triple-A club, he may not have enough time to get fully stretched out for a traditional starting role.
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Jack Leiter SP | TEX
Rangers' Jack Leiter: Officially promoted
The Rangers recalled Leiter from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.
Leiter will officially serve as the Rangers' 27th man as he starts the second game of Wednesday's twin bill, though he is expected to remain in the big-league rotation for another several starts. The 24-year-old right-hander gave up 17 runs in only 9.1 innings over his first three MLB starts early in the season, but he's since logged a 3.83 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 51.2 innings in Triple-A.