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Taj Bradley SP | MIN
Rays' Taj Bradley: Headed to extended spring training
Bradley (pectoral) will throw three innings Wednesday at the Rays' extended spring training facility, MLB.com reports.
Bradley threw a two-inning live batting practice session Friday and will now take the next step in his recovery. He'll need to increase his pitch count and stamina before returning, though he could be activated from the 15-day injured list in the first half of May.
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Edward Cabrera SP | CHC
Marlins' Edward Cabrera: Coming off IL to start Monday
Cabrera (shoulder) will be activated from the injured list and start Monday against the Giants, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
The plan had been for Cabrera to make one more rehab start, but he'll make his season debut Monday instead after A.J. Puk had to be pushed back due to illness. Cabrera has been on the shelf with a right shoulder impingement but pitched well in three rehab starts, allowing two runs (one earned) with a 12:8 K:BB over 12.2 frames. The righty went 5.2 innings and threw 82 pitches in his last rehab outing, so he should be able to handle a relatively normal workload Monday.
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A.J. Puk RP | ARI
Marlins' A.J. Puk: Start pushed back to Wednesday
Puk has been scratched from Monday's start against the Giants due to an illness and is now scheduled to start Wednesday versus the Giants, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Edward Cabrera (shoulder) will come off the 15-day injured list to start Monday in Puk's place. Puk has gotten off to a terrible start this season, allowing 10 runs (seven earned) while walking 14 over 10.2 innings.
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James Paxton SP | BOS
Dodgers' James Paxton: Struggles with command Sunday
Paxton did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Padres, allowing three runs on three hits and eight walks while striking out one over five innings.
The fact that Paxton only managed to give up three runs while issuing a career-high eight walks is impressive in its own way. He issued at least one walk in every inning but managed to pitch himself out of trouble for the most part. He did allow a solo home run to Manny Machado to begin the fourth and later came back out for the sixth where he walked the first two batters before being replaced by Ryan Brasier, who would allow both inherited runners to score. Through three starts, Paxton owns a respectable 2.81 ERA but that also comes with a concerning 1.50 WHIP and 10:14 K:BB in 16 innings. He'll look to be more effective his next time out, which currently projects to be against the Mets next weekend.
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Yu Darvish SP | SD
Padres' Yu Darvish: Low strikeout numbers Sunday
Darvish did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Dodgers, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two over five innings.
All of the damage against Darvish came in the fourth inning after he allowed an RBI single to Will Smith before Max Muncy brought him home with a two-run shot to right field. Outside of that, Darvish did not face much traffic on the bases, though he posted just seven whiffs on 92 pitches and has seen his strikeout numbers decrease in each start since he had seven March 28. The 37-year-old owns a 4.18 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 22:10 K:BB in 23.2 innings and will go for his first win of the year his next time out, which projects to be against the Blue Jays.
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Miles Mikolas RP | WAS
Cardinals' Miles Mikolas: Can't escape fifth in loss
Mikolas (1-2) took the loss Sunday against the Diamondbacks, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings.
Mikolas tossed four scoreless frames before the Diamondbacks rallied in the fifth and chased him out of the inning. He would allow a sacrifice fly to Jace Peterson and an RBI double to Jake McCarthy before walking consecutive hitters and exiting the game with the bases loaded. The bullpen did him no favors, allowing all three inherited runners to score. Mikolas didn't fool many in this one, registering just five whiffs on 75 pitches. It's been mixed results for Mikolas early on, as he'll take a 5.82 ERA and 1.43 WHIP into his next start, which projects to be against the division-leading Brewers next weekend.
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Zac Gallen SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen: Blanks Cardinals in win
Gallen (3-0) threw six shutout innings in a win over the Cardinals on Sunday, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Gallen continued his excellent start to the season with his second scoreless outing in his last three starts. The Cardinals were able to scatter four hits against him and their only threat came in the second with bases loaded and one out, but Gallen was able to escape without any harm by striking out Brandon Crawford and getting Mike Siani to ground out. Five of his seven strikeouts came from his knuckle curve, as he registered 11 whiffs on the afternoon. He's allowed one run or fewer in three-of-four starts so far and boasts an excellent 1.64 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB in 22 innings. He'll look to keep things rolling his next time out on the road against the Giants.
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Luis Castillo SP | CHW
Mariners' Luis Castillo: Takes tough-luck loss
Castillo (0-4) took the loss Sunday against the Cubs, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings. He struck out nine.
Castillo had his best outing of the early season but failed to get much run support to put him in line for a win. The Cubs scored on in the opening frame before Michael Busch connected on a no-doubter to right field in the fourth to give them a 3-0 cushion. Still, it was the first time Castillo managed to reach six innings this year and issue zero free passes while striking out a season-high nine batters, as he seems to be trending in the right direction. He'll be in search of his first win his next time out, which currently projects to be on the road against the Rockies.
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Alex Wood RP | ATH
Athletics' Alex Wood: Struggles continue in no-decision
Wood did not factor into the decision, allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks over 4.1 innings during Sunday's 7-6 win over the Nationals. He struck out four.
Wood needed 100 pitches to collect 13 outs, allowing 11 baserunners and four runs in the process. A Lane Thomas homer in the fifth left him on the hook for a three-run deficit, but the Oakland bats came to life in the sixth, providing six runs and rendering Wood with merely a no-decision. This is the fourth straight outing to start the season that Wood has failed to make it past five innings, and he now holds an 8.10 ERA and 2.10 WHIP over 16.2 innings through four starts. Those numbers are poor enough to label his hold on a spot in the starting rotation tenuous at best, even with a team like Oakland that could benefit from his veteran presence. His next start is tentatively scheduled to take place next weekend in Cleveland for a matchup with the Guardians.
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Trevor Williams RP | TEX
Nationals' Trevor Williams: Another effective start
Williams did not factor into the decision, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk over 5.1 innings during Sunday's loss to Oakland. He struck out seven.
Williams held a 6-1 lead entering the bottom of the sixth but allowed two of three runners faced in the inning to reach prior to being pulled. He then sat by as he watched the bullpen allow both inherited runners to score plus as additional four more that provided the winning one-run margin for the Athletics. The ninth-year veteran has gotten off to a very solid start for the Nationals, winning his first two starts prior to putting his team in position again on Sunday. The competition will ramp up in his next start, currently scheduled to take place next weekend during a home series against the Astros.