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  • Shane Baz strikes out eight on Friday at Triple-A
    Shane Baz struck out eight and allowed one run over six innings on Friday for Triple-A Durham.

    Advice: It’s time. Baz followed up last weekend’s 10-strikeout gem with another dazzling performance, allowing just four hits and one walk over six masterful frames. The 24-year-old top pitching prospect has completed his rehabilitation process from Tommy John surgery and appears poised to return to the majors at some point this month. He averaged 96.5 mph on his four-seam fastball in this one, while generating 14 swinging strikes and finishing with an astronomical 45 percent CSW. His ability to consistently generate whiffs on his fastball/slider combo will drive his fantasy appeal moving forward. Simply put, he should be rostered in all fantasy formats at this juncture. Rotoworld Today, 4:03 am
     
  • Clayton Kershaw to make rehab start on Wednesday
    Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) will make his first minor league rehab start at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday.

    Advice: Kershaw made it through another simulated game without issue on Thursday, so this was seemingly the most obvious next step for him. The 36-year-old hurler is going to need several outings there to build up his stamina and is expected to be ready to join the Dodgers’ rotation at some point around the All-Star break. Rotoworld Yesterday, 3:45 pm
    Clayton KershawLAD - SP
    6:10 pm vs KC
    Player Note
    IL60
     
  • Next step could be rehab stint
    Kershaw (shoulder) completed three simulated innings at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, and he could be ready to pitch in rehab games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, per MLB.com.

    Advice: Kershaw's fastball hit 88-89 mph in the sim game, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, which is in the range of his usual velocity over the past three seasons. Manager Dave Roberts proclaimed the future Hall of Famer to be "much further" along in his recovery than initially expected. Kershaw will almost certainly need to log multiple rehab starts, and the Dodgers are very unlikely to rush him back, but the southpaw could be ready to make his season debut sometime in July. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:38 am
    Clayton KershawLAD - SP
    6:10 pm vs KC
    Player Note
    IL60
     
  • Crushed in loss
    Nola (8-3) took the loss to the Red Sox on Thursday, allowing eight runs on 11 hits and two walks with two strikeouts over 3.2 innings.

    Advice: Nola had two disastrous innings, allowing four runs in both the second and fourth. The fourth inning was especially rough, as he surrendered a three-run homer to Tyler O'Neill and was unable to complete the frame. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the eight earned runs allowed by Nola tied a career high, and his season ERA climbed from 2.77 to 3.48. Despite the rise in ERA, Nola had previously rattled off five consecutive quality starts and owns a 1.08 WHIP and 78:24 K:BB in 14 outings. He will look to rebound next week in a home matchup with the Padres. Rotowire.com Thursday, 7:42 pm
     
  • Logs another quality start in win
    Houck (7-5) earned the win against the Phillies on Thursday, allowing three runs on eight hits and no walks with five strikeouts over six innings.

    Advice: He tossed three scoreless innings then loaded the bases and surrendered a three-run double to Kyle Schwarber in a rough fourth. Houck rebounded with two more scoreless frames to earn his fifth straight quality start and received plenty of offensive support, as the Red Sox tagged Aaron Nola for eight runs. Houck has now allowed three or fewer earned runs in 13 of 14 starts and has been one of baseball's biggest breakouts so far in 2024. On the season, he owns a 2.08 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 89:15 K:BB in 91 innings. Houck lines up to start next week against the Blue Jays. Rotowire.com Thursday, 7:40 pm
     
  • Houck gets seventh win against Phillies Thursday
    Tanner Houck allowed three runs in six innings and got the win in the Red Sox’ 9-3 victory over the Phillies on Thursday.

    Advice: Houck gave up eight hits, walked none and struck out five. The win was his seventh of the season. Houck has allowed more than three earned runs in a start only once in 14 starts this year. His ERA is now 2.08 on the season. The 27-year-old right-hander is set to face the Blue Jays on the road next week.

    Rotoworld Thursday, 7:12 pm
     
  • Nola hammered for eight runs Thursday
    Aaron Nola allowed eight runs in 3 2/3 innings and got the loss against the Red Sox on Thursday.



    Advice: Nola gave up 11 hits, walked two and struck out two. He had allowed more than two runs in just three of his previous 13 starts. Nola allowed four runs in the second and fourth innings. His ERA jumped from 2.77 to 3.48 with the blow up. The 31-year-old right-hander will look to turn things back around against the Padres at home next week.

    Rotoworld Thursday, 7:07 pm
     
  • Pitching final sim game
    Kershaw (shoulder) will throw a three-inning simulated game Thursday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

    Advice: Kershaw most recently tossed a two-inning simulated game with the Dodgers' Single-A affiliate in Rancho Cucamonga on June 7, with reports suggesting that his fastball touched 90 miles per hour in the outing. He'll increase his workload in Thursday's simulated game, which will be his last before he begins what will likely be a multi-start minor-league rehab assignment, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. Rotowire.com Thursday, 3:05 pm
    Clayton KershawLAD - SP
    6:10 pm vs KC
    Player Note
    IL60
     
  • Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) throws another sim game
    Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) threw a three-inning simulated game on Thursday at Dodgers Stadium.

    Advice: Kershaw, who is in the final stages of his rehabilitation from offseason shoulder surgery, appears poised to embark on a minor league rehab assignment at some point next week and could be ready to jump back into the Dodgers’ starting rotation following next month’s All-Star break. Rotoworld Thursday, 3:02 pm
    Clayton KershawLAD - SP
    6:10 pm vs KC
    Player Note
    IL60