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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 4 minutes ago
     
  • Rocked in loss
    Cruz (1-2) took the loss against the Padres on Wednesday. He allowed four runs on three hits and a walk while striking out one over a third of an inning.

    Advice: Cruz entered to start the seventh inning of a 2-2 game but surrendered two singles and a walk before Jake Cronenworth belted a grand slam. The right-hander faced one more batter, striking out Manny Machado, before departing. Other than Wednesday's effort and another in which he walked three batters, Cruz has pitched well over 13 outings. He entered Wednesday with a 1.59 ERA with 21 strikeouts over 11.1 innings. Rotowire.com 22 minutes ago
     
  • Projected starter Tuesday
    Gallen (hamstring) is the projected starter for next Tuesday's game against the Reds.

    Advice: Gallen was removed from his previous start due to a hamstring injury but was in line to take his next turn this week. The right-hander had been expected to start Wednesday, which was moved to Friday, but will now will be pushed back until next week. There is no issue with the hamstring; Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo opted instead to take advantage of upcoming days off in the schedule to give Gallen extra time. Rotowire.com 39 minutes ago
     
  • Needed for length in loss
    Walston allowed two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out five over 3.2 innings in Wednesday's 8-0 loss to the Dodgers.

    Advice: Walston, a starter at Triple-A Reno who made his major-league debut Wednesday, was recalled earlier in the day following Tuesday's surprise bullpen effort that left the club in need of a fresh arm. His length was needed immediately, as starter Jordan Montgomery was ambushed by the Dodgers early. Walston navigated around a walk and two hits over three scoreless frames before running into trouble in the seventh inning. That's when the left-hander's shaky command -- three walks including one with the bases loaded -- caught up to him. Rotowire.com 52 minutes ago
     
  • Records ninth save
    Clase earned the save over the Astros on Wednesday, striking out one over a perfect 10th inning.

    Advice: Clase entered the contest with a one-run lead in the bottom of the 10th and needed only five pitches to retire the side and secure his ninth save of the season. The right-hander has now converted each of his last five save attempts (over nine appearances), posting a 10:1 K:BB over that stretch. He now sports a pristine 0.55 ERA following Wednesday's scoreless appearance. Rotowire.com Today, 4:29 am
     
  • Goes seven innings in no-decision
    Verlander pitched seven innings in a no-decision against the Guardians on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two.

    Advice: Verlander allowed the leadoff man to reach in four of his seven innings of work, but managed to limit the damage to only two runs, both of which came across in the top of the fifth. The veteran right-hander struggled to get ahead in the count for much of the contest and has now issued at least three walks in back-to-back starts, though he's still held opposing teams to two or fewer runs in all three outings to open the campaign. Wednesday also marked Verlander's first start this season in which he's gone at least seven innings. Rotowire.com Today, 4:20 am
     
  • Solid over seven frames
    McKenzie did not factor into the decision in a win over the Astros on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out six.

    Advice: McKenzie was highly effective Wednesday despite getting down in the count early and often, striking out at least six batters for the third-consecutive start, with five of those strikeouts coming on his curveball. The right-hander issued only one free pass in the contest, which marked a season low, while also going seven innings for the first time in the early campaign. McKenzie has not allowed more than two runs in either of last three starts after surrendering a season-high five runs against the Yankees back on April 13. Rotowire.com Today, 4:10 am
     
  • Strikes out side for 10th save
    Finnegan picked up the save over the Rangers on Wednesday, striking out the side in a perfect ninth inning.

    Advice: Finnegan took over in the bottom of the ninth with a 1-0 lead and ran right through the Rangers' lineup, retiring all three batters on swinging strikeouts to secure his 10th save of the season, tying him with Ryan Helsey, Robert Suarez and Clay Holmes for the league lead. The right-hander has successfully converted each of his last nine save attempts and hasn't allowed over his last eight appearances (spanning eight innings), posting a 9:1 K:BB over that stretch. Wednesday also marked his first time this season in which he struck out the side. Rotowire.com Today, 3:55 am
     
  • Strong outing in loss
    Heaney (0-4) took the loss against the Nationals on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits while striking out four over seven innings.

    Advice: Heaney looked sharp over his seven innings of work, with the exception of the second inning when he allowed back-to-back hits with one out, which led to Washington's lone run coming home. The lefty would only allow two singles from that point on before being tagged with his fourth loss of the season. It's been a tough go for Heaney to begin the campaign as the Rangers have now lost all six games that he's started, despite him allowing three or fewer runs in four of those outings. On a positive note, he's posted an 11:0 K:BB over his last two starts, going six or more innings in each of those games. Rotowire.com Today, 3:46 am