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Jose Urquidy RP | PHI
Astros' Jose Urquidy: Six scoreless innings
Urquidy allowed six hits and one walk in six scoreless innings, striking out three in a 3-2 win Thursday over Detroit. He did not factor into the decision.
While Urquidy allowed more than a baserunner per inning, only two managed to reach scoring position. With just three strikeouts, he held the Tigers scoreless while relying on his defense to make plays. It was the best start of the year for the 27-year-old and the first time he lasted six innings. Urquidy has walked only four batters in 25.2 innings, slightly better than his career rate of 1.7 walks per nine innings.
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Tarik Skubal SP | LAD
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Looks good in no-decision Thursday
Skubal allowed just two runs on six hits across six innings but did not factor in the decision in Thursday's loss to the Astros. He didn't walk anyone and struck out nine.
A pair of solo home runs provided all the Houston offense against Skubal, as the lefty otherwise stymied a tough lineup. However, he got zero run support while he was in the game and would have taken his third loss of the season if not for a Jeimer Candelario two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning. Skubal probably deserves more than one win with his 3.04 ERA and 29:3 K:BB across 26.2 innings, but the Detroit offense has been stagnant this year. He'll look to keep pitching well in his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Athletics.
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Antonio Senzatela RP | MIL
Rockies' Antonio Senzatela: Allows seven hits
Senzatela allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out one across 4.1 innings Thursday against the Nationals. He did not factor into the decision.
Senzatela allowed a home run to Juan Soto in the first inning, but he scattered six additional hits and avoided further significant damage. Senzatela exited the game in the fifth frame with runners on first and third but was bailed out by Jhoulys Chacin who induced a double play from the first batter he faced. As is usually the case, Senzatela was reliant upon generating soft contact as he recorded only one strikeout and five swinging strikes on 86 total pitches. For the season, he has seven strikeouts across 24 innings, yet he's still maintained a solid 3.75 ERA.
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Spenser Watkins SP | WAS
Orioles' Spenser Watkins: Unable to get through five innings
Watkins allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out two in 4.2 innings during a 5-3 win Thursday over Minnesota. He did not factor into the decision.
Watkins had a chance to get through five innings with the lead but gave up a two-out, two-run homer on a 3-0 pitch to Byron Buxton. After hitting the next batter with a pitch on a 2-0 count, he was removed from the game. He was fairly wild Thursday, throwing only 41 of his 76 pitches for strikes. While he has a solid 3.22 ERA through 22.1 innings, there are some warning signs, most notably his 10:10 K:BB rate. He'll likely make his next start early next week in St. Louis.
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Aaron Civale RP | CHC
Guardians' Aaron Civale: Earns first win
Civale (1-2) allowed four earned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out eight across 5.2 innings to earn the win Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Civale surrendered a two-run home to Vladimir Guerrero in the first inning, but he then settled in to hold Toronto scoreless for the following four frames. His outing was soured a bit after he allowed a two-run double in the sixth frame prior to exiting, though he still managed his first win of the campaign. Civale also recorded a season-best eight strikeouts, which was backed by 16 swinging strikes on 99 total pitches. Even with the improved outing, Civale owns a 9.45 ERA with a 22:6 K:BB across 20 innings.
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Jose Berrios SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jose Berrios: Roughed up in Cleveland
Berrios (2-1) allowed six earned runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out none across 4.2 innings to take the loss Thursday against Cleveland.
Berrios began his outing with two scoreless innings but surrendered at least one earned run in each of his final three frames. He allowed a two-run home run to Steven Kwan in the third inning and has now allowed at least one long ball in four of his six starts. After a bumpy start to the campaign, Berrios had allowed only four earned runs across his last 18.2 frames. However, Thursday's poor outing jumped his ERA to 5.34 on the season, and he has a subpar 20:10 K:BB across 28.2 innings.
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Cole Irvin RP | LAD
Athletics' Cole Irvin: Lands on injured list
Irvin (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Irvin has been dealing with shoulder soreness, and while no further diagnosis has been announced, he'll be out until at least mid-May. He delivered strong results early in the campaign, maintaining a 2.93 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 27.2 innings. The team has not officially named a starter for Friday's game against the Twins to replace Irvin, though Zach Logue is the leading candidate.
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Rich Hill SP | KC
Red Sox's Rich Hill: Tosses five scoreless
Hill didn't factor into the decision after allowing one hit and one walk across five scoreless innings during Thursday's 8-0 loss to the Angels. He struck out six.
Hill was masterful, scattering two base runners across five innings, but as expected, the veteran only threw 68 pitches and was relieved by Tanner Houck, who surrendered seven runs. After allowing seven runs over his first two starts, Hill has found his groove, tossing 13 straight scoreless innings over his last three starts. During that stretch, he's allowed just five hits and four walks while striking out 11. Thursday was the first time this season he's completed five innings as he remains in search of his first win.
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Hunter Greene SP | CIN
Reds' Hunter Greene: Gets hook in third inning
Greene (1-4) took the loss after allowing eight runs on nine hits and one walk across 2.2 innings during Thursday's 10-5 loss to the Brewers. He struck out seven.
Greene allowed five home runs, including back-to-back to start the game, but he did strike out seven of the eight batters he faced. This is beginning to be a trend for the 22-year-old right-hander, who has allowed 10 home runs through his first five major league starts. Greene's upside is evident in his strikeout numbers (29 through 20.2 innings), but the youngster will have to find a way to keep the ball in the yard quickly if he's to bring down his 8.71 ERA.
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Adrian Houser SP | SF
Brewers' Adrian Houser: Picks up another win
Houser (3-2) earned the win Thursday, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and one walk across five innings in a 10-5 win over the Reds. He struck out six.
Houser struggled out of the gate, allowing four singles and three runs in the top of the first, but the 29-year-old was able to settle down and tossed back-to-back scoreless innings after the bumpy start. Tyler Stephenson tagged Houser for a solo shot in the fourth and another run came around to score in the fifth, but it wasn't charged to Hauser due to a throwing error from Omar Narvaez. Thanks to another dominant showing from the Brewers' offense, Houser didn't need his best stuff to earn a third straight win.