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Nate Pearson RP | KC
Astros' Nate Pearson: Earns win Friday
Pearson (1-0) earned the win Friday against the Royals with two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out one.
Pearson did a good job finding the strike zone with 13 strikes on 15 pitches, and he made quick work of the seven batters he faced despite allowing a single to Salvador Perez in the sixth inning. Pearson hasn't allowed any runs in six of his seven outings this season and figures to continue as a middle reliever for Houston. He owns a 3.12 ERA across 8.2 innings and seven outings so far.
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Bryce Miller SP | SEA
Mariners' Bryce Miller: Impressive again Friday
Miller (3-0) picked up the win during Friday's 10-2 rout of the Nationals, allowing two runs on four hits over eight innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.
Both runs came on solo shots by James Wood and Dylan Crews, but Miller otherwise sailed through his second straight quality start on 91 pitches (65 strikes). The 27-year-old righty hasn't given up more than two runs in any of his six outings (five starts) since making his season debut May 13, posting a 1.54 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 36:5 K:BB through 35 innings as he puts his 2025 struggles behind him. Miller will look to stay dialed in during his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Red Sox.
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Tatsuya Imai SP | HOU
Astros' Tatsuya Imai: Gets just two outs Friday
Imai didn't factor in the decision Friday against the Royals after allowing five runs on four hits and a walk across two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
Imai tossed his first pitch holding a nine-run lead after the Astros' offensive explosion against Luinder Avila, but Imai wasn't much better and failed to complete the first inning. This was Imai's shortest outing of the season excluding the April 10 start against the Mariners in which he departed due to a right arm injury after recording just one out. Imai will carry a 6.43 ERA and 1.51 WHIP across nine outings into his next start, scheduled against the Tigers at home.
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Endy Rodriguez C | PIT
Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Flashes power in Friday's loss
Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Marlins.
After sitting out Thursday's game due to a minor hip issue, Rodriguez looked plenty healthy in his return as he took Sandy Alcantara deep in the fifth inning. The 26-year-old catcher is slashing .240/.387/.420 in 19 games since joining the big-league roster in mid-May with two homers, two steals, six RBI and nine runs, making a solid case to remain part of the picture behind the plate when Joey Bart (foot) is activated from the IL.
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Spencer Torkelson 1B | DET
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Goes deep again Friday
Torkelson went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Guardians.
Torkelson has been finding his power stroke lately, as he's now gone deep in consecutive contests and has three home runs over his last seven games. Overall, the slugging first baseman is up to 11 long balls for the season. Torkelson can't be counted on to make consistent contact at the plate, and strikeouts remain an issue, but his ability to go deep should continue to prop up his fantasy value.
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Luinder Avila SP | KC
Royals' Luinder Avila: Can't escape first inning
Avila (1-3) was tagged with the loss Friday against the Astros after allowing eight runs on five hits, including two home runs, and three walks over two-thirds of an inning.
Avila gave up two home runs to star slugger Yordan Alvarez while being responsible for eight of the nine runs the Astros scored in the first inning. This was a step in the wrong direction for Avila, who was coming off back-to-back starts in which he'd allowed just one run over five frames. Avila, who carries a 7.02 ERA over his last five starts, is slated to make his next start on the road against the Nationals.
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Braxton Ashcraft SP | PIT
Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Settles for no-decision Friday
Ashcraft didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Marlins, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four.
The right-hander didn't have his best stuff, tossing 56 of 90 pitches for strikes with just nine swinging strikes, but Ashcraft limited the damage and left the mound with the score tied 2-2. He's now failed to last longer than five innings in back-to-back starts to begin June after completing at least six frames in all six of his May outings, and fatigue may be creeping up on Ashcraft -- he's already thrown 84.2 innings in 2026 after working a career-high 118 between Triple-A and the majors last season. He'll take a 3.30 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 90:19 K:BB into his next start, which is set to come on the road next week against the A's.
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Joey Estes SP | ATH
Athletics' Joey Estes: Drawing spot start Saturday
Estes is slated to start Saturday's game against the Rockies at Las Vegas Ballpark, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The Athletics recalled Estes from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, and after he wasn't needed in relief in any of the team's ensuing three games, he'll be available to step into the vacant spot in the rotation for his 2026 MLB debut. The 24-year-old righty is likely in line for just a spot start, as Aaron Civale (shoulder) is poised to return from the 15-day injured list to slot into the rotation next week following a successful rehab outing with the Triple-A club Thursday. Estes will be making his start in a familiar setting Saturday with the Athletics hosting the Rockies at their Triple-A park in Las Vegas, but he shouldn't be on the radar as a streaming option while pitching 2,000 feet above sea level in extreme heat. He submitted a 5.95 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 39:28 K:BB across 59 innings over his 12 starts in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League prior to his call-up.
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Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Second save of season
Hader recorded his second save of the season while pitching a perfect inning in Friday's 10-8 win over the Royals. He didn't record a strikeout.
Hader has gone 2-for-2 in save chances this season, and he looks as dominant as ever despite not making his season debut until June 3 following a left shoulder strain that kept him sidelined for the first two-plus months of the campaign. Hader owns a 7:1 K:BB in five appearances in 2026 and has yet to allow a run or a hit.
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James Outman CF | DET
Tigers' James Outman: Hits first 2026 home run
Outman went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Guardians.
Playing in his first game with Detroit after getting claimed off waivers from the Twins on Thursday, Outman wasted little time hitting his first home run with his new team as well as his first long ball of the season. The outfielder mostly struggled in Minnesota, posting a .156/.229/.250 slash line across 70 plate appearances. Outman will now get a chance to turn things around with the Tigers, though it remains to be seen what his role ultimately will be, and he's likely behind Matt Vierling for center field playing time, at least for now.