• Cole Ragans collects win in rain-shortened start
    Cole Ragans held the Blue Jays to one run over five innings to collect his first win of the season in a rain-shortened start.

    Advice: Ragans would have been able to go another inning or two if not for a nearly four-hour rain delay that eventually wound up ending the contest altogether. The 26-year-old left-hander bounced back from a dreadful outing last Saturday agains the Orioles when he allowed seven runs in just 1 2/3 innings. A run-scoring single by Ernie Clement in the fourth inning accounted for the only damage against him in this one.. Ragans has mostly looked the part so far in 2024, and he’ll have a rematch with the Blue Jays on Tuesday. Rotoworld 18 minutes ago
    Cole RagansKC - SP,RP
    W, 2-1 vs TOR
     
  • José Berríos handed loss in rain-shortened start
    José Berríos allowed two runs over five innings with just one strikeout on Thursday in a loss to the Royals.

    Advice: Berríos also walked three while allowing three hits. The 29-year-old right-hander had to battle over his five frames, but he was able to hold the Royals scoreless after allowing a two-run homer to Salvador Perez in the first inning. He likely would have been able to go deeper in this game if not for an extended rain delay, as he exited after throwing just 67 pitches. Berrios boasts an excellent 1.23 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 28/12 K/BB ratio across 36 2/3 innings (six starts). He’ll be back on the mound with a rematch against the Royals on Tuesday. Rotoworld 21 minutes ago
  • 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
  • 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
     
  • 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