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Gavin Stone SP | LAD
Dodgers' Gavin Stone: Allows five runs in loss
Stone (9-5) allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out five over four-plus innings to take the loss Friday versus the Athletics.
Stone gave up multiple home runs for the second start in a row, as Shea Langeliers and Seth Brown each took him deep for solo shots in the fourth inning. Stone stayed in for the fifth, but he couldn't get an out, and Joe Kelly also allowed an inherited runner to score on a two-run home run by Brent Rooker. This was the fourth time in five outings that Stone has given up at least four runs. He now has a 3.63 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 87:31 K:BB across 111.2 innings through 20 starts this year. Walker Buehler (hip) will require another rehab start, so Stone is likely to get at least one more turn through the rotation, which is tentatively projected to be at home versus the Phillies. With River Ryan pitching well in his first stint in the majors, Stone's place in the rotation over the remainder of August is up in the air.
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Tyler Anderson SP | LAA
Angels' Tyler Anderson: Tagged with 10th loss
Anderson (8-10) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three over five innings to take the loss versus the Mets on Friday.
Anderson is now up to 10 losses in the season, making him the 12th starter this season with double-digit losses. The 2024 All-Star still carries a 3.05 ERA, which is the best of any of those starters with 10 or more losses. Anderson's recent home/away splits have been puzzling though, as he's now given up 19 runs across his last five home starts while allowing only four runs in his five most recent road starts.
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Joey Estes SP | ATH
Athletics' Joey Estes: Impressive in win over Dodgers
Estes (5-4) allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings to earn the win over the Dodgers on Friday.
Estes was shaky early, allowing a two-run home run to Teoscar Hernandez, but he quickly settled in. The right-hander recorded 15 straight outs before walking two with two outs in the sixth inning, only to get a strikeout to avoid trouble. Estes has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his last four outings (three starts), covering 20.1 innings in that span. For the season, he has a 4.77 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 59:21 K:BB over 77.1 innings across 15 appearances (14 starts). The 22-year-old's next outing is projected to be a favorable home matchup against the White Sox.
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Kutter Crawford SP | BOS
Red Sox's Kutter Crawford: Unspectacular in win
Crawford (7-8) earned the win Friday against Texas, allowing five runs on six hits and one walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.
The 28-year-old righty made his third straight start allowing five or more runs, as he was lucky to be bailed out by his offense to collect the win. Across those three outings, Crawford has yielded an incredible 12 homers, with the Rangers launching four long balls Friday night -- including two Corey Seager solo shots. Despite allowing a league-leading 26 home runs this season, Crawford has pitched to a 3.81 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 122:30 K:BB across 127.2 innings. He looks to keep the ball in the yard in his next start, currently slated to be versus the Royals on the road next week.
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Joe Ryan SP | MIN
Twins' Joe Ryan: Cruises to seventh win
Ryan (7-7) earned the win Friday against the White Sox, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out seven.
The Minnesota right-hander took care of business against a feeble Chicago lineup, picking up his first post-All-Star break win in this 103-pitch performance. The only blemish on his evening came in the third inning when Miguel Vargas launched a two-run homer to left field. Ryan has now pitched to a 3.59 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 145:23 K:BB across 133 innings this season. The 28-year-old is scheduled to make his next against the Cubs at Wrigley Field next week.
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Shane Baz SP | BAL
Rays' Shane Baz: Sharp in no-decision
Baz allowed two runs, six hits and one walk while striking out five over 5.1 innings in a no-decision against the Astros on Friday.
Baz ran into trouble in the fourth inning but otherwise worked in and out of trouble in another solid showing for the young right-hander. Baz is still looking for his first win of the season, but he's yet to allow more than three runs in any of his five starts. The 25-year-old has five or more strikeouts in four starts this season and will carry a 3.60 ERA into a matchup vs the Cardinals next week.
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Yusei Kikuchi SP | LAA
Astros' Yusei Kikuchi: Strikes out 11 in Astros debut
Kikuchi did not factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rays. He allowed two runs on three hits and three walks with 11 strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Kikuchi gave up a double and home run to the first two batters he faced as a member of the Astros and then proceeded to get 17 outs while giving up one hit. The 11 strikeouts were the most by an Astros pitcher in his team debut since Gerrit Cole in 2018 and tied for the fourth most in a debut in team history. Kikuchi now has 43 strikeouts in his last five starts (26.1 innings), but he's also allowed 20 runs in that stretch.
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Spencer Schwellenbach P | ATL
Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Reaches double-digit Ks again
Schwellenbach did not factor into the decision in Friday's 5-3 win versus Miami, allowing three runs on six hits and no walks over seven innings. He struck out 10.
After punching out a career-high 11 in his last start, the Atlanta rookie generated an impressive 17 whiffs en route to his 10 punchouts in this 94-pitch outing. After allowing a two-run homer to Jonah Bride in the first inning, the only other blemish on Schwellenbach's performance was a 416-foot solo shot given up to Jake Burger in the third. The right-hander has been splendid post-All-Star break, firing 20 innings with a 3.15 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 29:0 K:BB. Schwellenbach is currently slated to face the Brewers at home in his next start.
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Valente Bellozo RP | COL
Marlins' Valente Bellozo: Fans five in no-decision
Bellozo did not factor into the decision in Friday's 5-3 loss to Atlanta, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.
The Miami right-hander was recalled Friday to make his first start since July 2 after pitching to a 3.21 ERA across 14 innings at Triple-A since his last major league appearance. The 24-year-old tossed 66 pitches before being lifted in the sixth after allowing a leadoff triple to Whit Merrifield. The two earned runs on Bellozo's ledger were Merrifield -- who later scored on an Austin Riley RBI groundout -- and a solo homer allowed to Orlando Arcia in the fifth. If the Marlins rookie sticks in the rotation, his next start would be slated to come against the Reds at home next week.
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Tarik Skubal SP | LAD
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Stumbles late vs. Royals
Skubal (12-4) took the loss Friday against Kansas City, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out eight.
Skubal was solid for most of the night Friday, holding the Royals to three runs through his first six innings while racking up eight strikeouts for the third time in his last four starts. However, the left-hander allowed a pair of singles with one out in the seventh before he was replaced by Shelby Miller, who'd allow both inherited runs to score. It's the first loss for Skubal since June 19 -- he'd gone 4-0 with a 2.02 ERA in his previous six outings (40 innings). Skubal still sports a stellar 2.47 ERA on the year with a 0.95 WHIP and an AL-leading 162 strikeouts through 22 starts (136.1 innings). Skubal will look to get back into the win column his next time out -- he's currently lined up to face the Mariners on the road next week.