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Zack Wheeler SP | PHI
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: No run support in loss
Wheeler (0-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Cardinals, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five over seven innings.
The Phillies failed to give Wheeler any run support despite getting 11 baserunners during the game. Wheeler was unable to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard forever. He shut them out through three frames before Nolan Gorman took him deep in the fourth. The Cardinals then padded their lead in the fifth with two more runs after opening the inning with a pair of hits. If you look past the record, Wheeler has been excellent thus far with a 1.89 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 20:2 K:BB in 19 innings. He'll look for his first win of the year in his next start, which looks to come Sunday against the Pirates.
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Sonny Gray SP | BOS
Cardinals' Sonny Gray: Earns win in 2024 debut
Gray (1-0) tossed five shutout innings in a win over the Phillies on Tuesday. He allowed five base hits and no walks while striking out five.
Gray held a dangerous Phillies lineup in check and looked to be in complete control in his season debut. He faced one over the minimum through three frames and only had to deal with multiple baserunners in the fifth. Gray was efficient too, only needing 64 pitches to get through five innings and put himself in line for a win. The 34-year-old will continue to increase his pitch count with each start and has a golden opportunity ahead of him with a matchup against the Athletics.
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Cristian Javier SP | HOU
Astros' Cristian Javier: Pitches into sixth versus Royals
Javier pitched 5.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Royals.
Javier was able to extend his scoreless streak to 15 innings to open the 2024 campaign by blanking the Royals through four frames Tuesday. The right-hander ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth inning, surrendering a two-out. two-run triple to Bobby Witt before another unearned run came around to score later in the frame. Through three starts, Javier has produced a 1.10 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 13 strikeouts over 16.1 innings. He's tentatively set to return to the mound Sunday at home versus the Rangers.
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Cole Ragans RP | KC
Royals' Cole Ragans: Ineffective versus Astros
Ragans gave up three runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out five over five innings in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Astros. He did not factor into the decision.
Ragans didn't have his best stuff Tuesday, and it was evident early when he allowed three batters to reach base in each of the first two innings. The left-hander had given up only six hits over two starts coming into the matchup with Houston, a figure the Astros came close to doubling. Although Ragans couldn't find his groove Tuesday, his ability to limit the damage was impressive. He'll look to get back on track in his next projected start, which lines up for Sunday on the road against the Mets.
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Reynaldo Lopez RP | ATL
Braves' Reynaldo Lopez: Secures first win of 2024
Lopez (1-0) picked up the win in Tuesday's 6-5 victory over the Mets, allowing three hits and three walks over six scoreless innings while striking out six.
The 30-year-old right-hander delivered his second quality start in as many trips to the mound this season, and this time, Lopez got rewarded with a win. He tossed 59 of 94 pitches for strikes, and so far his conversion back to a starting role has been a resounding success. Lopez will take a 0.75 ERA and 11:5 K:BB through 12 innings into his next outing, which lines up as a road start in Miami this weekend.
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Adrian Houser SP | SF
Mets' Adrian Houser: Tagged with loss Tuesday
Houser (0-1) took the loss Tuesday as the Mets were downed 6-5 by Atlanta, giving up five runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out only one.
The 31-year-old right-hander did manage to keep the ball in the yard, but that was about the only positive takeaway from this performance. Houser managed just 54 strikes among his 95 pitches and generated a meager six swinging strikes, and he also hit two batters with pitches for good measure. Through his first two starts and 10 innings of the season, Houser carries a 5.40 ERA and 4:5 K:BB. Even as a streaming option he holds only marginal fantasy appeal in his next start, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Royals.
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Chris Bassitt SP | BAL
Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Notches first win
Bassitt (1-2) picked up the win in Tuesday's 5-3 victory over the Mariners, allowing one run on five hits and four walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out eight.
The veteran right-hander wasn't exactly sharp and threw 115 pitches (72 strikes), but Bassitt has a shutout going until he served up a solo shot to Dominic Canzone in the seventh inning. After issuing a career-high 59 walks in 2023 over 200 innings, Bassitt's had genuine control issues to begin the current campaign. Through his first 16 innings, he has a 17:9 K:BB to go along with a 5.06 ERA. He'll look to rein in the free passes in his next start, which lines up for this weekend against the Rockies.
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George Kirby SP | SEA
Mariners' George Kirby: Hit hard in Tuesday's loss
Kirby (1-2) took the loss Tuesday in Toronto, coughing up five runs on eight hits over four innings as the Mariners fell 5-3. He struck out three without walking a batter.
Three of the hits off the right-hander went for extra bases, including a two-run shot by Bo Bichette in the third inning -- the first homer of the year for the Blue Jays shortstop, and the first Kirby has served up. He pounded the strike zone per usual, tossing 64 of 87 pitches for strikes, but he wasn't fooling anyone and generated only four swinging strikes. Kirby will carry a 6.91 ERA and 13:2 K:BB through 14.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home against the Reds early next week.
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Frankie Montas RP | NYM
Reds' Frankie Montas: Falls to Milwaukee
Montas (2-1) took the loss Tuesday against the Brewers, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out four.
After two perfect innings to start his night, Montas allowed the first three batters to reach in the third, ultimately surrendering three runs in the frame. He'd then allow a pair of unearned runs in the fifth en route to his first loss with the Reds. The 31-year-old Montas allowed just one run over through 11.2 innings in his first two starts prior to Tuesday. Despite the loss, it's been an encouraging start to the campaign for the right-hander -- Montas now sports a 2.16 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB across 16.2 innings. He's currently in line for a road matchup with the Mariners in his next outing Monday.
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Joe Ross RP | TEX
Brewers' Joe Ross: Sharp in first win
Ross (1-0) earned the win Tuesday against the Reds, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk over 6.1 innings. He struck out seven.
Ross looked good Tuesday, holding Cincinnati to a lone run through his first six innings en route to his first big-league win since 2021. The 30-year-old right-hander has allowed just two earned runs over 10 innings through his first two starts. Ross figures to remain in the rotation until Wade Miley (shoulder) and Jakob Junis (shoulder) are able to return. He's currently in line to face the Padres in his next start early next week.