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  • Evan Phillips nets seventh save Thursday vs. Nats
    Evan Phillips struck out two in a perfect ninth inning on Thursday against the Nationals to record his seventh save of the season.

    Advice: Phillips was called upon to guard a one-run lead in the ninth inning and needed just 14 pitches (10 strikes) to slam the door for the second time in the brief three-game series. The 29-year-old righty has converted each of his seven save opportunities this season to go along with a microscopic 0.84 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 13/4 K/BB ratio across 10 2/3 innings (11 appearances). Rotoworld Today, 3:58 pm
     
  • MacKenzie Gore allows one run in loss to Dodgers
    MacKenzie Gore yielded one run over six innings on Thursday in a loss to the Dodgers.

    Advice: Gore coaxed an impressive 17 swinging strikes, but it only led to four strikeouts and a pedestrian 27 percent CSW. He gave up only seven hits as a second-inning solo shot by Teoscar Hernández represented the lone tally against him in this one. Yet, it was still enough to hand him a loss as Washington’s offense mustered only one run on seven hits combined. He’ll bring a respectable 3.12 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 38/8 K/BB ratio across 26 innings (five starts) into a challenging road matchup on Tuesday against the defending World Series champion Rangers. Rotoworld Today, 3:54 pm
     
  • Nabs another start Sunday
    Elder is slated to start Sunday's game against the Guardians in Atlanta.

    Advice: Elder staged a successful 2024 MLB debut Monday, holding the Marlins scoreless over 6.2 innings while striking out four and allowing nine baserunners in a winning effort. He joined the Atlanta rotation as a replacement for Darius Vines and should have some staying power with the big club due to Spencer Strider (elbow) being out for the season. Elder compiled a 3.81 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 128:63 K:BB across 174.2 innings with Atlanta in 2023. Rotowire.com Today, 3:44 pm
     
  • Being optioned
    The Astros are optioning France to Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of their trip to Mexico City on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: France is being optioned to clear a spot for Framber Valdez, who will start Sunday. In France's last outing Tuesday, he took the loss while allowing five runs on five hits and four walks over five innings against the Cubs. The 29-year-old has now given up multiple home runs in consecutive starts. The move prompts questions about how the Astros rotation lines up going forward. Rotowire.com Today, 3:30 pm
     
  • Report: Astros demoting J.P. France to Triple-A
    The Athletic’s Chandler Rome reports the Astros plan to demote J.P. France to Triple-A Sugar Land.

    Advice: Nothing official yet, but France appears headed back to the minors with ace Framber Valdez set to return for Sunday’s showdown against the Rockies in Mexico City. The 29-year-old righty holds an inflated 7.46 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 22/12 K/BB ratio across 25 1/3 innings (five starts). The real surprise here isn’t that France is getting demoted, but that top pitching prospect Spencer Arrighetti appears to be sticking around, despite his initial struggles at the highest level. Rotoworld Today, 3:27 pm
     
  • Justin Lawrence picks up save against Rockies
    Justin Lawrence picked up a save Thursday with a scoreless ninth inning against the Padres.

    Advice: Lawrence picked up a strikeout and didn’t allow a hit while throwing 8-of-14 pitches for strikes. That’s the second save of the season for the 29-year-old, and he lowered his ERA to 5.59 with the scoreless frame. Lawrence should see the majority of the save chances for the Rockies, but those chances might be few and far between. Rotoworld Today, 3:19 pm
     
  • Dakota Hudson struggles again in start vs. Padres
    Dakota Hudson gave up six runs in 3 1/3 innings on six hits while picking up no decision against the Padres on Thursday.

    Advice: Hudson walked four with four strikeouts to match. This is not going very well. The right-hander has now given up at least four runs in his last three outings, and seen his ERA balloon to 6.57 in the process. Simply put, Hudson is to set lineups against as long as he’s a member of the Colorado rotation. He gets the Marlins next. Rotoworld Today, 3:16 pm
    Dakota HudsonCOL - SP,RP
    W, 10-9 vs SD
    New Player Note
     
  • Vasquez pulled in third after allowing four
    Randy Vasquez was charged for four runs in 2 2/3 innings of work in a no-decision against the Rockies on Thursday.

    Advice: Vasquez threw 72 pitches — 47 of them for strikes — while allowing two walks with two strikeouts. The right-hander was handed a 4-1 lead in the second, but he gave up a three-spot in that inning before being pulled. It’s another shaky start for the 25-year-old, and his ERA now sits at an unhealthy 5.87 for his trouble. Assuming he stays in the rotation, Vasquez’s next start will come against the Reds on Tuesday. Rotoworld Today, 3:16 pm
     
  • Zack Wheeler stymies Reds in win
    Zack Wheeler threw six shutout innings in a 5-0 win over the Reds, allowing just one hit while striking out eight.

    Advice: Wheeler did walk four batters on the day but he also posted an impressive 36 percent whiff rate and 33 percent CSW. He beat the Reds with heat today, getting the most whiffs on both his four-seamer and sinker, and got only a 17 percent chase rate. Basically, he came at the Reds in the zone and they weren’t able to handle it on Thursday. The effort lowered his season ERA to 1.93 and he’ll look to keep it going in a much easier matchup against the Angels next time out. Rotoworld Today, 2:17 pm