• Kirby Yates whiffs three in save against Dodgers
    Kirby Yates struck out three in a scoreless ninth to get a save against the Dodgers on Thursday.

    Advice: Yates did allow a walk, but this was a much better effort than the one he had Wednesday when he picked up a save but was fortunate to not blow the opportunity. The right-hander has been outstanding for the overwhelming majority of 2024, and this scoreless outing gives him a 1.11 ERA along with 10 saves. He isn’t giving up this closing gig. Not anytime soon, anyway. Rotoworld Thursday, 10:09 pm
  • Garrett Crochet weaves gem with 13 strikeouts
    Garrett Crochet struck out 13 batters over seven innings of one-run baseball but didn’t pick up a decision Thursday against the Mariners.

    Advice: Crochet was absolutely dominant while taking advantage of a team that strikes out at an enormous rate, so the results are equally impressive and not surprising. He did allow a solo homer to Tyler Locklear, but outside of that and a Victor Robles double, it was smooth sailing for the 24-year-old. The 13 punchouts are a season-high, but this is a hurler who has already fanned 116 batters in just-under 83 innings with a 3.16 ERA. Crochet is an absolute must-start regardless of opponent, and he gets the Astros on Wednesday. Rotoworld Thursday, 9:23 pm
     
  • Throws six scoreless in no-decision
    Steele did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out five over six scoreless innings.

    Advice: Steele cruised through five innings then ran into some trouble in the sixth, but he escaped a bases-loaded jam and departed with a 2-0 lead at 93 total pitches. Steele earned his third quality start in his past four outings, but he is still winless on the season after the bullpen allowed three runs. Despite the tough luck, Steele's 3.22 ERA and 1.09 WHIP through nine starts are actually lower than his ratios last season, when he finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting. He will try to earn his first win against the Giants next Tuesday. Rotowire.com Thursday, 6:53 pm
     
  • Steele tosses six scoreless in no-decision
    Justin Steele threw six shutout innings and got a no-decision against the Cubs on Thursday.



    Advice: Steele gave up three hits, walked one and struck out five. He was in line for his first win of the season before the bullpen blew the lead. Steele lowered his ERA to 3.22 with the effort. After missing all of April due to injury, he’s now completed at least five innings and had at least five strikeouts in six consecutive starts. Steele finished fifth in the National League Cy Young award voting last year and appears to have regained that form this year. The 28-year-old left-hander is set to face the Giants at home next week.

    Rotoworld Thursday, 6:13 pm
     
  • Nails down 16th save
    Kimbrel struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 16th save of the season in a 4-2 win over Atlanta.

    Advice: Facing the team he made his debut with back in 2010, Kimbrel delivered his 12th straight appearance without allowing an earned run. The hot streak has lowered the veteran closer's ERA on the season to 2.59, to go along with a 0.95 WHIP and 34:10 K:BB through 24.1 innings. Rotowire.com Thursday, 7:19 am
  • Hit with first loss
    Miller (1-1) took the loss Wednesday, giving up a solo home run in one-third of an inning as the A's fell 5-4 to the Padres.

    Advice: With one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jackson Merrill drove the first pitch he saw from Miller down the right-field line for a walk-off homer. The Oakland closer may be wearing down -- over his last eight appearances he's served up three long balls and been scored upon four times, leading to a 5.59 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB through 9.2 innings during that stretch. Rotowire.com Thursday, 6:21 am
     
  • Close call in ninth save
    Yates allowed a run on two hits and a walk over one inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers.

    Advice: Yates wasn't sharp in the ninth inning, putting runners on first and second with two outs. Jason Heyward doubled to center field to knock in one run, but Andy Pages ignored a stop sign at third base and the relay throw from Marcus Semien to Jonah Heim was in time to get the final out at the plate. Prior to Wednesday, Yates was on a six-inning scoreless streak dating back to May 15, though he had just one save in that span due to the Rangers' generally poor play. For the season, he's at a 1.16 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 29:11 K:BB through 23.1 innings while adding nine saves and two holds. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 10:52 pm
  • Kirby Yates holds on for ninth save vs. Dodgers
    Kirby Yates allowed one run in the ninth inning for the save against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

    Advice: Yates was summoned in the ninth inning to close out the game with a two-run lead. He put two runners on with a hit and a walk with two outs before Jason Hayward doubled to bring home a run. Andy Pages would be called out at home on the play to end the game. Yates picks up his ninth save of the season while posting a 1.16 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and a 29/11 K/BB ratio across 23 1/3 innings. Rotoworld Wednesday, 10:12 pm
  • Unravels in no-decision
    Sanchez did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the Red Sox, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts over four innings.

    Advice: Sanchez opened with three scoreless frames before allowing a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth, then he surrendered three straight hits to open the fifth and was pulled at just 67 pitches. All three inherited runners came around to score, marking the first time since April 29 that Sanchez yielded four runs or more in a start. On the season, Sanchez now owns a 3.07 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 61:23 K:BB through 13 starts. He lines up next against the Padres on Monday. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 8:57 pm