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  • Mitch Spence to start for Athletics on Friday
    Athletics’ manager Mark Kotsay told reporters that Mitch Spence will start on Friday night against the Royals in Kansas City.

    Advice: Kotsay noted that for now, it’s just a one-start thing, but that if Spence pitches well he could secure a spot in the team’s rotation. The 26-year-old Rule-5 pick has registered a 4.26 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 22/7 K/BB ratio over 25 1/3 innings in 11 appearances with the A’s this season. He threw 72 pitches against the Marlins on May 5, so he may be able to work deep enough into Friday’s outing to earn a victory if the A’s offense provides enough support. Rotoworld Today, 2:35 pm
     
  • Dominant in first MLB win
    Skenes (1-0) earned the win over the Cubs on Friday, issuing just one walk while striking out 11 over six hitless innings.

    Advice: Skenes was lights out in his second big-league start -- he struck out the first seven batters faced while holding the Cubs without a baserunner until Michael Busch's one-out walk in the fifth inning. Skenes has certainly looked as-advertised to start his career -- he averaged 99.3 MPH with his fastball Friday, generating a 44-percent whiff rate with the pitch. The 21-year-old right-hander has allowed three runs through his first 10 innings while striking out 18. Skenes will look to keep rolling in his next outing, tentatively lined up as a home matchup with the Giants. Rotowire.com Today, 2:33 pm
     
  • Throwing off mound
    Eovaldi (groin) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

    Advice: Friday will mark the first time Eovaldi has thrown off a mound since being diagnosed with a right groin strain May 3. He's eligible to return from the IL on Saturday, but considering the right-hander is just now resuming mound work, he may still be a week or two from returning to Texas' rotation. A clearer timeline for his return may emerge once he progresses to facing live hitters. Rotowire.com Today, 2:26 pm
     
  • Paul Skenes goes six hitless, fans 11 in first win
    Paul Skenes pitched no-hit ball for six innings, striking out 11, in the Pirates’ 9-3 win over the Cubs on Friday.

    Advice: Skenes was overwhelming in striking out the first seven batters he faced, and he didn’t let up much after that. He allowed only one hard-hit ball, a 107-mph groundout from Miguel Amaya. In fact, six of his seven non-strikeout outs came on grounders. It was a clear step forward from his debut last week and even a little extra impressive because it came against a lineup that had just seen him. Rotoworld Today, 2:25 pm
     
  • Kyle Hendricks gets roughed up by Pirates in loss
    Kyle Hendricks was lit up for eight runs — seven earned — and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings Friday in a loss to the Pirates.

    Advice: Hendricks had a decent effort against the same lineup Sunday in his first start off the IL, but the Pirates had his number today. It perhaps shouldn’t have been quite as bad as it was; he actually wound up with a nice 35% CSW and none of the nine hard-hit balls he allowed came in over 103.9 mph. He struck out four and walked none. Hendricks’ spot is probably safe for now, but similar results this weekend against Atlanta might force the Cubs to make a change even before Jordan Wicks returns. Rotoworld Today, 2:25 pm
     
  • Another rehab outing on tap
    Francis (forearm) is scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

    Advice: Francis opened the rehab assignment Tuesday and covered two scoreless innings. The 28-year-old righty-hander will likely fill a long-relief role upon his return, so he could be deemed ready for activation following Sunday's outing. Rotowire.com Today, 2:19 pm
     
  • Requires additional rehab start
    Urquidy (forearm) will make another rehab start after his upcoming outing at Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Manager Joe Espada said Urquidy is slated for four innings (60-65 pitches) in Saturday's contest, so the Astros will keep him in the minors for an additional rehab appearance in hopes of stretching him out further. The 29-year-old righty struggled in his first rehab outing, giving up three earned runs across 2.2 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land. Assuming his third start in the minors will be his last, Urquidy is in line to pitch again for the Astros in Seattle on May 29. Rotowire.com Today, 2:15 pm
    José UrquidyHOU - SP,RP
    5:10 pm vs MIL
    New Player Note
    IL15
     
  • Athletics option Hogan Harris to Triple-A
    Athletics optioned LHP Hogan Harris to Triple-A Las Vegas.

    Advice: With Brandon Bielak joining the big league roster on Friday, someone needed to get the boot, and it looks like Harris drew the short straw this time around. The 27-year-old southpaw posted a 4.15 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and an 8/3 K/BB ratio over 8 2/3 innings with the A’s. He’ll continue to refine his craft at the Triple-A level for the time being. Rotoworld Today, 2:11 pm
     
  • Recalled by Houston
    The Astros recalled Mushinski from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday.

    Advice: Since being optioned to Triple-A on April 12, Mushinski has appeared in 12 games for Sugar Land, registering a 4.15 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB over 13 frames. The southpaw has not yielded a run over his last six minor-league outings, and he'll provide left-handed depth out of the bullpen for Houston. The Astros optioned right-hander Shawn Dubin to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. Rotowire.com Today, 2:10 pm