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Robbie Ray SP | SD
Giants' Robbie Ray: Records fourth straight victory
Ray (8-6) earned the win over Colorado on Saturday, completing six innings and allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters.
All of the runs Ray surrendered came on a Cole Carrigg three-run homer in the first inning. The lefty hurler bounced back nicely after that rough first frame, retiring 14 of the final 18 batters he faced. Ray registered his fourth consecutive win and quality start, though this was his least effective outing during that stretch. He now has a 3.45 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 86:46 K:BB over 101.2 innings spanning 18 appearances this year.
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Christian Yelich DH | MIL
Brewers' Christian Yelich: Goes yard in loss
Yelich went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Yelich had gone 0-for-12 over his previous four games, though he did draw five walks in that span. His lone hit Saturday was a fifth-inning homer off Merrill Kelly that got the Brewers on the board. Yelich is now batting .246 with a .720 OPS, six homers, 28 RBI, 40 runs scored, six stolen bases, 10 doubles and a triple over 54 contests this season.
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Adrian Del Castillo DH | ARI
Diamondbacks' Adrian Del Castillo: Homers in Saturday's win
Del Castillo went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.
This was his first homer since May 26 versus the Giants. In the 16 games in between long balls, the catcher batted just .158 (6-for-38) while receding into a backup role. He's hitting .185 with a .555 OPS, five homers, 23 RBI, 12 runs scored, four doubles and no stolen bases over 164 plate appearances this season. Del Castillo's playing time could dwindle even more once James McCann (quadriceps) returns from the injured list, which is expected to happen as soon as Monday.
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Riley O'Brien RP | STL
Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Nails down league-leading 22nd save
O'Brien secured the save Saturday against the Cubs, allowing no runs on no hits and one walk in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
That makes it nine straight successful conversions in save situations for O'Brien, who's been pretty reliable as the St. Louis closer. Through 36.1 innings, the 31-year-old right-hander has a 3.72 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 35:12 K:BB with 22 saves in 26 opportunities. O'Brien now stands alone atop the National League in saves after entering Saturday in a three-way tie with Jhoan Duran and Mason Miller.
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Paul Sewald RP | TOR
Diamondbacks' Paul Sewald: Shaky in 20th save
Sewald allowed a run on one hit and struck out two over one inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Brewers.
Sewald had another shaky appearance, but he was able to uphold the lead. He's given up seven runs over his last 5.2 innings, but he's converted all three of his save chances in that span. On the season, the closer has a 4.50 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 35:8 K:BB through 32 innings while converting 20 of 21 save opportunities.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Snaps skid Saturday
Kelly (6-8) allowed two runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings to earn the win over the Brewers on Saturday.
Kelly lost all five of his starts and had a 7.31 ERA in June, but he was able to get back in the win column in his first July outing. The veteran right-hander limited the damage to a two-run home run by Christian Yelich in the fifth inning Saturday. Kelly is now at a 5.71 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 53:35 K:BB across 86.2 innings through 15 starts on the year. His next start is projected to be on the road in San Diego.
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Shota Imanaga SP | CHC
Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Mixed bag in seventh loss
Imanaga (5-7) took the loss Saturday against the Cardinals, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out eight.
Imanaga had plenty of swing-and-miss stuff going, fanning eight and generating 16 whiffs, but he was still inefficient with 86 pitches on the evening. Saturday disrupted a seven-start streak of at least five innings for the 32-year-old left-hander, who also tied a season high in walks. Imanaga is next lined up for a relatively tough assignment at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, holding a 4.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 100:26 K:BB over 103 innings.
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Kyle Leahy SP | STL
Cardinals' Kyle Leahy: Dazzles in seventh win
Leahy (7-4) notched the win Saturday against the Cubs, allowing no runs on three hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out six.
Leahy was magnificent Saturday, scattering three singles across five shutout frames. It was somewhat surprising to the 29-year-old right-hander get pulled after just 77 pitches given how well he was performing, but it's worth noting he's crossed the 90-pitch marker just four times in 117 stars for the year. Leahy will aim to further improve on a 3.86 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 73:33 K:BB over 86.1 innings against the division-rival Brewers in his next scheduled outing.
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Brandon Woodruff SP | MIL
Brewers' Brandon Woodruff: Will go on IL with labrum injury
Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that Woodruff was diagnosed with an inflamed labrum in his right shoulder following his early exit from Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks and will be placed on the injured list, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Woodruff will go on the IL for the second time this season due to a labrum injury, with his first stint lasting about six weeks. If he faces a similar recovery timeline this time around, Woodruff wouldn't be a rotation option for the Brewers until at least early August. Woodruff ended up taking the loss in Saturday, when he allowed three runs on two hits and one walk while striking out six across 3.2 innings.
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Austin Riley 3B | ATL
Braves' Austin Riley: Snaps long homer drought
Riley went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 14-3 win over the Mets.
Saturday was a breakout performance of sorts for the struggling third baseman, who had collected just three RBI in his prior 12 outings. Riley also ripped his first homer since May 20 and his first extra-base hit since June 16. Through 352 plate appearances, Riley is still slashing a paltry .207/.287/.338 with nine long balls, 12 doubles, 41 RBI but does have a career-high four stolen bases.