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Jameson Taillon SP | TOR
Cubs' Jameson Taillon: Labors in loss
Taillon (7-6) took the loss Sunday against Houston, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
Taillon couldn't complete five innings Sunday, as the Astros worked him up to 107 pitches before a two-run home run by Jose Altuve prompted manager Craig Counsell to pull Taillon. Taillon has surrendered six home runs in his last three starts, going 0-3 with a 10.66 ERA and nine strikeouts over 12.2 innings during that stretch. He'll look to get back on track against the Cardinals next weekend.
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Ke'Bryan Hayes 3B | CIN
Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes: Doubles twice, scores three runs
Hayes went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's win over the Mets.
Hayes got things going early with a two-run single and a run scored in the first inning. He later doubled and scored in the fifth and seventh frames. He's on an eight-game hitting streak and collected multiple hits in each contest during the Pirates' three-game sweep of the Mets. Hayes has gone 13-for-29 (.448) during his hitting streak, raising his season slash line to .246/.297/.305 through 307 plate appearances.
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Kyle Finnegan RP | DET
Nationals' Kyle Finnegan: Goes three innings to grab win
Finnegan (1-2) walked two and struck out two over three scoreless and hitless innings to earn the extra-innings win over the Angels on Sunday.
Finnegan was brought in to keep the game tied in the ninth inning. He achieved that goal and did the same in the 10th before protecting the three-run lead the Nationals generated in the 11th. It's just the fourth time all season he's been asked to cover more than one inning, though three of those instances have been in his last seven appearances. Finnegan was also fresh for this outing, while every other reliever in the Nationals' bullpen had pitched Friday or Saturday, and he got through it on 30 pitches (20 strikes). He's posted decent numbers with a 2.61 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 25:10 K:BB across 31 innings, and he's also converted 18 of 23 save chances in 30 appearances. The Nationals are traveling back home for a three-game series versus the Tigers that starts Tuesday, so Finnegan should have plenty of time to rest up for the next save chance that arises.
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Mitchell Parker RP | WAS
Nationals' Mitchell Parker: Yields three runs in no-decision
Parker allowed three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings in a no-decision versus the Angels on Sunday.
Parker held his own in this outing, throwing 48 of 76 pitches for strikes. He lost four of his six starts in June, but he was able to limit the damage to three runs or less in five of them. Parker is now at a 4.63 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 62:36 K:BB through 91.1 innings over 17 starts this season. The southpaw's next start is expected to be at home versus the Red Sox.
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Oneil Cruz CF | PIT
Pirates' Oneil Cruz: Rips two homers
Cruz went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in Sunday's win over the Mets.
Cruz has struggled heavily throughout June, but he finally broke out of a slump Sunday. His two-run shot in the first inning snapped his 14-game homerless drought before he added another two-run blast in the seventh. He's up to 15 home runs on the season, though just three of those have come during his last 25 games. Cruz is slashing .210/.321/.419 with 26 extra-base hits and 35 RBI through 74 games.
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Matt Strahm RP | KC
Phillies' Matt Strahm: Escapes with save
Strahm allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless inning while earning a save over Atlanta on Sunday.
Strahm was in charge of finishing off the 2-1 victory and ran into some trouble. However, he forced a Stuart Fairchild flyout with runners on the corners to end the contest. Strahm now has five saves this season, including three since June 14. He owns a 3.78 ERA with a 37:9 K:BB through 33.1 frames. Orion Kerkering tossed a scoreless eighth inning with three strikeouts Sunday, and Jordan Romano did not make an appearance after yielding four runs Saturday.
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Matt Waldron RP | WAS
Padres' Matt Waldron: Entering rotation Monday
The Padres will call up Waldron from Triple-A El Paso to start Monday's game in Philadelphia, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
After making 26 starts for the Padres in 2024, Waldron will be joining the Padres for the first time this season. He spent the early part of the season on the injured list while recovering from an oblique strain, but he's been making regular turns out of the Triple-A rotation since late May and owns a 5.24 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB in 22.1 innings with El Paso. While those numbers don't necessarily make the knuckleballer deserving of a promotion, the Padres were short on alternatives to fill the fifth spot in the rotation due to Ryan Bergert (forearm) recently joining Yu Darvish (elbow), Michael King (shoulder) and Joe Musgrove (elbow) on the injured list. Darvish is the closest of that quartet to returning from the IL, but since his timetable is still somewhat vague, Waldron could be needed to make multiple turns through the rotation before the All-Star break.
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Ranger Suarez SP | BOS
Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Fans eight in win
Suarez (7-2) yielded a run on four hits and a walk over seven innings Sunday, striking out eight and earning a win over Atlanta.
Suarez was tagged with a solo home run by Sean Murphy in the second inning but was otherwise dominant in the rivalry matchup. Suarez did not allow another runner to reach scoring position and forced 14 swinging strikes, including seven with his cutter. He's thrown at least seven innings in five straight outings, registering a 1.26 ERA during that stretch. Suarez owns a terrific 2.00 ERA with a 67:17 K:BB through 72 innings this season. He's currently in line to face the Reds at home next weekend.
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Spencer Strider SP | ATL
Braves' Spencer Strider: Takes loss in quality start
Strider (3-6) yielded two runs on five hits and three walks over seven innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against Philadelphia.
Strider worked through four shutout frames before the Phillies broke through and scored a pair in the fifth inning. He was handed the tough-luck loss after Atlanta's offense managed only one run. Strider threw 56 of 95 pitches for strikes and forced 10 whiffs, including seven with his slider. Strider had racked up 29 punchouts during a three-start winning streak before Sunday's outing. He now owns a 3.86 ERA with a 57:20 K:BB across 49 innings. Strider is in line for a home matchup against the Orioles next weekend.
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Thairo Estrada 2B | BAL
Rockies' Thairo Estrada: Three base knocks and steal in win
Estrada went 3-for-5 with a steal and one RBI in Sunday's 4-3 extra-innings win at Milwaukee.
The Colorado second baseman notched his second three-hit performance of the weekend when he laced a clutch RBI single in the 10th to give his team a 3-2 lead. After collecting the hit, Estrada picked up his first steal of the season when he swiped second off Brewers closer Trevor Megill. Estrada is now slashing .292/.323/.393 with a homer, 13 RBI and six runs scored across 96 total plate appearances.