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Marco Gonzales RP | TEX
Pirates' Marco Gonzales: Clarity coming soon
The Pirates hope to have answers about Gonzales' (elbow) status "sooner rather than later," MLB.com reports.
There has been very little information available about Gonzales' status since he landed on the injured list April 14. He has consulted with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who ordered Gonzales to undergo additional testing. It appears that the results of the imaging are still unknown, but that information should eventually provide a clearer timeline for Gonzales' return to the mound.
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Jose Butto SP | SF
Mets' Jose Butto: Takes tough-luck loss against Cubs
Butto (0-2) took the loss against the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six batters over six innings.
Butto pitched well in the outing, notching his third quality start of the campaign and racking up 15 swinging strikes. However, he was outshined by impressive rookie Shota Imanaga, who had another dazzling performance with seven scoreless frames. Despite the loss, Wednesday's effort should continue to keep Butto's name on the minds of fantasy managers who are looking to improve their rotation. Though the right-hander doesn't have overpowering stuff, he's impressed so far this season, posting a 2.57 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 31:14 K:BB over 28 innings.
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Daulton Jefferies SP | PIT
Giants' Daulton Jefferies: Takes loss as primary pitcher
Jefferies (0-2) took the loss against the Red Sox on Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 2.2 innings.
Jefferies was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to make what was initially expected to be a spot start. The Giants instead opted to open the game with lefty Erik Miller on the mound before handing the ball to Jefferies to begin the second inning. Jefferies got out of his first frame unscathed but gave up two runs in the third and two more in the fourth to put himself in line for the loss. The 28-year-old has yielded nine earned runs across 4.2 innings over his two outings this season, and it's not clear if he'll get additional big-league opportunities (either as a traditional starter or primary pitcher) while Blake Snell (thigh) remains on the injured list.
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Walker Buehler SP | SD
Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Making season debut Monday
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Buehler (elbow) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Monday's game against the Marlins in Los Angeles, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Monday will mark Buehler's first start on a big-league mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2022. He made six starts during his minor-league rehab assignment, posting a 4.15 ERA and 1.62 WHIP while striking out 21 batters and walking nine across 21.2 innings. Since he's nearly two years removed from his last big-league start, the 29-year-old right-hander could show a bit of rust in his first few outings as he gets used to facing MLB hitters again.
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Kutter Crawford SP | BOS
Red Sox's Kutter Crawford: Bounces back with quality start
Crawford (2-1) earned the win over San Francisco on Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six batters over seven innings.
Crawford took his first loss of the campaign his previous time out when he allowed season highs of four runs (three earned) and 10 hits against the Cubs. The right-hander got back on track with a strong outing Wednesday, notching his third quality start and second victory of the season. Crawford has been outstanding for the Red Sox early in the campaign, ranking fifth among qualified starters with a 1.56 ERA through 40.1 innings. He's added a 40:13 K:BB and 1.07 WHIP to emerge as one of the league's most pleasant surprises thus far.
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Dakota Hudson SP | LAA
Rockies' Dakota Hudson: Drops to 0-5
Hudson (0-5) took the loss against Miami on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings.
It was a bit of a tough-luck loss for Hudson, as he held the Marlins scoreless until they tagged him for two runs in the fifth inning. The right-hander returned to the mound for the sixth frame and was pulled with two men on base, falling one out shy of a quality start. Despite the loss, this was one of Hudson's better starts this season -- he came in having allowed at least three earned runs in four of his five outings. The veteran hurler is not an attractive fantasy target given his 5.93 ERA and 18:17 K:BB through 30.1 innings on the campaign.
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Anthony Maldonado RP | HOU
Marlins' Anthony Maldonado: Secures first big-league save
Maldonado earned a save against the Rockies on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.
The Marlins went to Maldonado with a three-run ninth-inning lead, and the rookie delivered a perfect frame, needing just 13 pitches to set Colorado down in order. The rookie right-hander was used as a spot starter in his big-league debut last week and in middle relief Monday, and he's yet to give up a run through five innings, so manager Skip Schumaker appears comfortable deploying him in a variety of situations. Team closer Tanner Scott has struggled with his control this season, posting a 12:14 K:BB over 12.2 frames, and he was used in the eighth inning Wednesday, picking up a hold. Scott does have four saves in five chances, though, so there's probably no reason to believe that a changing of the guard for the team's closer role is imminent.
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Corbin Burnes SP | ARI
Orioles' Corbin Burnes: Tagged with first loss
Burnes (3-1) took the loss Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk across six innings against the Yankees. He struck out six
All the damage against Burnes came in the fifth inning when Oswaldo Cabrera launched a two-run home run. Despite allowing three or fewer runs for a seventh straight start, Burnes was stuck with the loss Wednesday as the Orioles offense could only manage three total hits and didn't score. While Burnes has allowed a home run in six of his seven starts this season, he owns a 2.61 ERA over 41.1 innings with 41 strikeouts -- the sixth most in the American League. Burnes is lined up for a start against the Nationals on Tuesday.
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Luis Gil RP | NYY
Yankees' Luis Gil: Lands two-hit win
Gil (2-1) picked up the win Thursday, allowing two hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 6.1 scoreless innings against Baltimore.
Gil rebounded from his first bad start of the season, completing six innings for the first time all season while blanking the O's. Gil has allowed three or fewer hits in all but one start this season, but has allowed 20 walks in 31 innings, leading to an overall ERA of 3.19. The 26-year-old has been a pleasant surprise in the back end of the Yankees rotation and could find himself among the elite fantasy pitchers if he can reign in his walk problem. Gil's set to toe the rubber next against the Astros on Tuesday.
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Roddery Munoz RP | HOU
Marlins' Roddery Munoz: Shines in second big-league start
Munoz (1-0) earned the win over Colorado on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over six innings.
Munoz was recalled from the minors Wednesday to make the start in place of Jesus Luzardo, who is on the IL with an elbow injury. The right-handed rookie was solid in his MLB debut April 20, allowing two runs with seven punchouts over five frames, and he was even better Wednesday, holding the Rockies scoreless until the sixth inning and picking up both his first career victory and first career quality start. Munoz hasn't fared well in Triple-A this season -- he has an ugly 8.62 ERA and 9:14 K:BB over 15.2 frames -- so his success with the Marlins so far is somewhat surprising. That said, he's certainly pitched well enough to earn another start, though his opportunity to do so may depend on when Braxton Garrett (shoulder) is ready to return to the rotation and/or on whether the Marlins prefer to opt for a bullpen game at some point with the team's next off day not slated until May 9.