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Ceddanne Rafaela CF | BOS
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Goes deep in win
Rafaela went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-0 win over the Rays.
Rafaela gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead with a solo shot off Jesse Scholtens in the fourth inning. The 25-year-old has enjoyed a strong start to the month, going 10-for-31 with two home runs, six RBI and two stolen bases through eight games since the calendar flipped to May. On the year, he's slashing .278/.345/.413 with three homers, 16 RBI, 17 runs scored and two steals across 139 plate appearances.
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Reid Detmers SP | LAA
Angels' Reid Detmers: Wild in loss to Blue Jays
Detmers (1-3) took the loss against the Blue Jays on Friday, allowing two runs on two hits and six walks with three strikeouts over 3.2 innings.
Detmers limited the damage but lacked command from the start, throwing just 56 of 99 pitches for strikes while issuing a season-high six walks. It marked the first time he failed to complete four innings all season and snapped a streak of four straight outings working into the sixth frame or beyond. The southpaw owns a 4.33 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 47:15 K:BB across 43.2 innings and lines up for a road matchup against the Guardians next week.
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Dylan Cease SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Strikes out 10 in win
Cease (3-1) earned the win over the Angels on Friday, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings.
Cease was simply dominant, generating 19 whiffs on 97 pitches while limiting the Angels to just one extra-base hit. It marked the second straight seven-inning outing for the 30-year-old, and he's now registered double-digit strikeouts three times this season. He'll carry a 2.58 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 66:18 K:BB across 45.1 innings into a home matchup against the Rays next week.
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Foster Griffin SP | CLE
Nationals' Foster Griffin: Goes seven strong for fourth win
Griffin (4-1) earned the win against the Marlins on Friday, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts over seven innings.
Griffin allowed two runs in the first inning before dazzling with six scoreless frames, generating 17 whiffs on 103 total pitches while notching a career-high nine strikeouts. The southpaw has been rolling, allowing just four combined earned runs over four consecutive quality starts. He'll carry an impressive 2.12 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 42:15 K:BB across 46.2 innings into a road test in Cincinnati.
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Brandon Lockridge LF | MIL
Brewers' Brandon Lockridge: Suffers laceration, X-rays negative
Lockridge suffered a deep laceration down to the bone of his right knee during Friday's win over the Yankees, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
X-rays on Lockridge's knee came back negative for a fracture, but manager Pat Murphy said that the outfielder is still going to be sidelined for "a while" because of his laceration. That means a trip to the injured list is probably in Lockridge's future, and a return to the majors is likely in the cards for Blake Perkins.
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Robby Snelling SP | MIA
Marlins' Robby Snelling: Mixed results in debut
Snelling (0-1) took the loss against the Nationals on Friday, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts over five innings.
Snelling allowed three runs with two outs in the first inning but battled to keep Washington off the board from there. He generated 12 whiffs on 86 pitches but generally struggled with command, issuing four walks and yielding multiple baserunners in every frame except a clean fourth. It was still a respectable debut for the 22-year-old, who entered Friday with a 1.86 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 44:15 K:BB across 29 innings at Triple-A Jacksonville. He lines up for a road matchup against the Twins next week.
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PJ Poulin RP | WAS
Nationals' PJ Poulin: Earns one-out save
Poulin earned the save in Friday's 3-2 win over the Marlins, allowing one walk and recording one out in the ninth inning.
Poulin was summoned with a runner on first and two outs to face lefty Joe Mack before the Marlins countered with right-handed hitter Heriberto Hernandez. Poulin walked Hernandez before inducing a game-ending groundout to earn his first save of the season. It was likely just a matchup play after current closer Gus Varland picked up a save Thursday. On the year, Poulin owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB across 18.2 innings, adding three holds and serving as an opener in five of his 19 appearances.
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Aroldis Chapman RP | BOS
Red Sox's Aroldis Chapman: Earns eighth save
Chapman earned the save in Friday's 2-0 win over the Rays, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Chapman was summoned to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning and slammed the door on 18 pitches. The 38-year-old has been flawless in back-to-back appearances and has now held opponents scoreless in nine straight outings. For the year, he's converted all eight of his save chances while posting a 0.71 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB across 12.2 innings.
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Louie Varland RP | TOR
Blue Jays' Louis Varland: Nails down fifth save
Varland pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-0 win over the Angels.
Varland was called upon to finish off a team shutout in the ninth inning and did so on just 11 pitches. The 28-year-old has now converted all five of his save chances, solidifying himself as the clear favorite for save chances in Toronto. He's been stellar this season, allowing just one earned run while posting a 1.07 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB across 19.2 innings.
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Brandon Lockridge LF | MIL
Brewers' Brandon Lockridge: Carted off field
Lockridge was removed from Friday's game against the Yankees with an apparent right leg/knee injury, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Lockridge crashed hard into the wall while trying to make a sliding catch in foul territory, and he wasn't able to put any weight on his right leg after being helped to his feet. He had to leave the game on a cart, and the Brewers will almost certainly send him in for imaging to determine whether he suffered a fracture. If the 29-year-old needs to spend time on the IL, Blake Perkins would be a candidate to return to the majors and get at-bats against left-handed starters.