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  • Fans eight in fifth win
    Lugo (5-1) picked up the win Wednesday in a 6-1 victory over the Blue Jays, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out eight.

    Advice: The 34-year-old right-hander generated an impressive 35 called or swinging strikes over 101 pitches as he baffled Toronto hitters. The quality start was Lugo's sixth in seven trips to the mound, and the two-year, $30 million contract he signed in December is looking like an absolute bargain for the Royals. Lugo will take a 1.60 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 31:11 K:BB through 45 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Brewers. Rotowire.com Today, 5:29 am
     
  • Justin Steele goes 3 1/3 innings in rehab start
    Justin Steele (hamstring) was a bit rusty in his first minor league rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, giving up three runs on six hits over his 3 1/3 innings of work.

    Advice: The 28-year-old southpaw walked one and struck out four on the day, throwing 41 of his 63 total pitches for strikes. Cubs’ skipper Craig Counsell told reporters afterwards that all went well with Steele’s start and that he’ll meet the team in Chicago on Friday to determine the next step. It had been anticipated that Steele would only require one minor league rehab start before he was cleared to return, and it’s looking like that very well could be the case. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:28 pm
    Justin SteeleCHC - SP
    W, 8-3 vs MIA
    New Player Note
    IL15
     
  • Solid rehab outing
    Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that everything went well during Steele's (hamstring) rehab start with Triple-A Iowa, and the left-hander will meet with the team Friday after a Thursday workout, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

    Advice: The 28-year-old hurt his hamstring in late March, but he's in the latter stages of his rehab program. It was only the first rehab outing for Steele, but if he checks out well Friday it's possible his next start comes with the big-league club. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:25 pm
    Justin SteeleCHC - SP
    W, 8-3 vs MIA
    New Player Note
    IL15
     
  • Mason Miller silences Pirates in non-save spot
    Mason Miller fired a perfect ninth inning on Wednesday in a non-save situation against the Pirates.

    Advice: Miller got the call to protect a four-run lead in the final frame after needing 16 pitches to close out Tuesday’s victory less than 24 hours ago. He got Jack Suwinski to ground out and fanned Henry Davis before coaxing a game-ending ground out from Ke’Bryan Hayes. He averaged 100.8 mph on his fastball and needed just 10 pitches to spin a perfect frame. The hard-throwing 25-year-old righty has reeled off 12 consecutive scoreless appearances since April 2, and has converted eight saves to go along with a microscopic 1.26 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 29/4 K/BB ratio across 14 1/3 innings of work. Simply put, he’s one of the best relievers in baseball already. Rotoworld Yesterday, 3:07 pm
     
  • Seth Lugo holds Jays to one run, earns fifth win
    Seth Lugo pitched seven innings of one-run ball in defeating the Blue Jays on Wednesday.

    Advice: Lugo fanned eight today, giving him 17 strikeouts in his last two outings. He totaled just 14 in his first five starts of the year, so this is a big improvement. That he opened up 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA looked like a fluke, given where his stuff was at, but these last two wins have seemed quite a bit more legitimate. Rotoworld Yesterday, 2:49 pm
     
  • Zach Eflin gives up three runs in defeat
    Zach Eflin dropped to 1-4 after giving up three runs in 5 2/3 innings Wednesday against the Brewers.

    Advice: Eflin struck out six and walked none. The big blow was a William Contreras two-run double on a pitch a good four inches inside with two outs in the second. Another batter likely would have fouled that one off, but Contreras is just too good. Fortunately, Eflin won’t face anyone like him with the White Sox coming to town next week. Rotoworld Yesterday, 1:49 pm
     
  • Falls to Milwaukee
    Eflin (1-4) took the loss Wednesday against the Brewers, allowing three runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out six.

    Advice: Eflin allowed a two-run double to William Contreras in the third inning before allowing a solo homer to Willy Adames in the sixth. The 30-year-old Eflin has now been stuck with a loss in consecutive starts -- he's allowed seven earned runs over 11.2 innings in that span. Eflin's ERA is now up to 4.17 with a 1.17 WHIP and 36:4 K:BB in seven starts this year. He'll look to get back on track in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week against the White Sox. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 1:35 pm
     
  • Availability still in question
    Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he's not sure whether Kimbrel (back) will be available to pitch Wednesday versus the Yankees, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

    Advice: Hyde said something similar prior to Tuesday's game and Kimbrel did not appear in that contest. It's possible the skipper is just practicing some gamesmanship here so that the Yankees have less information to work with, but either way it doesn't sound like there will be clarification prior to Wednesday's game. If Kimbrel is indeed unavailable again, Yennier Cano and Danny Coulombe are candidates for saves. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 1:20 pm
     
  • Getting rest Wednesday
    Stott is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.

    Advice: With a lefty (Patrick Sandoval) on the mound for the Angels and with the Phillies and Halos wrapping up their series with a day game after a night game, the lefty-hitting Stott will get a maintenance day. Whit Merrifield will replace Stott at second base. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:28 am
    Bryson StottPHI - 2B
    W, 7-0 vs CWS
    Player Note