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  • Takes no-decision Monday
    Lorenzen allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five batters over five-plus innings in a no-decision against Milwaukee on Monday.

    Advice: Lorenzen fared relatively well in the outing, though he was pulled after allowing a leadoff double in the sixth inning having racked up 91 pitches. It was a relatively rare occurrence for the right-hander to get the hook that early -- coming into Monday, he had completed at least six frames in 10 of his 12 starts. Beyond eating up innings, Lorenzen has pitched quite effectively throughout the campaign, accumulating a 3.04 ERA and 1.16 WHIP despite a mediocre 55:31 K:BB through 77 frames. Rotowire.com Monday, 11:39 pm
     
  • Spencer Howard fans eight in relief victory
    Spencer Howard earned the win for the Giants on Monday after throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings and striking out eight to finish a 10-inning game against the Cubs.

    Advice: It’s simply hilarious that the Giants fired Gabe Kapler for too aggressively using platoons and openers and generally doing non-traditional stuff, and now they have Bob Melvin essentially running the team the exact same way. The Giants used Erik Miller as an opener for the third time in 10 days tonight and then brought in three other relievers before turning to Howard in the fifth and letting him finish the game from there. It goes as Howard’s first win since July 2022. His eight strikeouts topped his previous career high by three, even though he had started 31 big-league games coming into tonight. Rotoworld Monday, 10:50 pm
     
  • Picks up win
    Howard (1-1) allowed four hits and a walk while striking out eight over 4.2 scoreless innings to earn the win over the Cubs on Monday.

    Advice: Howard again worked as a reliever, and he didn't enter the game until the fifth inning. He was able to lock things down for the Giants, enabling their comeback. Howard is now at a 3.80 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB over 21.1 innings across six appearances (two starts). San Francisco's rotation is an injury-riddled mess, and that's unlikely to change until July, so Howard will probably continue serving as a bulk reliever. He should be available to make an appearance in this weekend's series versus the Dodgers. Rotowire.com Monday, 10:44 pm
     
  • Fans 11 in victory
    Ragans (5-5) earned the win over Miami on Monday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out 11 batters over six innings.

    Advice: Ragans racked up 27 swings-and-misses -- the most by any pitcher in baseball this season -- en route to his first win since May 22. Despite the five-game stretch of starts without a victory, the southpaw has been pitching well, as he posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 33:9 K:BB during the drought. Ragans' 11 punchouts Monday were his second-most this season, and he ranks third in MLB with 120 strikeouts on the campaign. He is also tied for third in the majors with 12 quality starts. Rotowire.com Monday, 10:28 pm
     
  • Michael Lorenzen solid for five against Brewers
    Michael Lorenzen yielded two runs in five-plus innings Monday in a no-decision versus the Brewers.

    Advice: Lorenzen and Freddy Peralta pitched to a stalemate in this one. Lorenzen struck out five and walked one while throwing 91 pitches. It’s the seventh straight start in which he’s allowed three runs or fewer, and while he didn’t go deep tonight, he’s completed six innings in five of those outing and 10 of 13 starts for the year. Rotoworld Monday, 9:15 pm
     
  • Earns first career win
    Spiers (1-1) yielded three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings Monday, striking out five and earning a win over the Pirates.

    Advice: Spiers coughed up a run in the third inning and two more in the fifth. He's given up seven runs in 12 innings during his two starts this season, both of which came against Pittsburgh. He's sporting a 3.45 ERA with a 25:6 K:BB through 31.1 frames this season. Spiers is currently in line for a start in St. Louis this weekend. Rotowire.com Monday, 8:31 pm
     
  • Ragans records 11 strikeouts on way to fifth win
    Cole Ragans allowed one run in six innings and got the win in the Royals’ 4-1 victory over the Marlins on Monday.

    Advice: Ragans gave up four hits, walked three and struck out 11. The win was his fifth of the season and first since May 22nd against the Tigers. Ragans is third in all of baseball with 120 strikeouts on the season trailing only Tyler Glasnow and Garrett Crochet. He lowered his ERA to 3.03 on the year. The 26-year-old left-hander is set to face the Guardians at home this weekend.

    Rotoworld Monday, 7:38 pm
     
  • Carson Spiers spins six frames to beat Pirates
    Carson Spiers surrendered three runs over six innings on Monday in a win over the Pirates.

    Advice: Spiers appears to be settling in at the highest level as he turned in his third consecutive strong outing in a rematch against the Pirates after a six-inning effort last week in Pittsburgh. He struck out five and only handed out one free pass. We’re not ready to proclaim that he’s a viable mixed-league option at this point, but the results have been there recently as Spiers holds a serviceable 3.45 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 25/6 K/BB ratio across 31 1/3 innings (seven appearances, two starts). There might be some streaming appeal moving forward, but probably not on Saturday against the Cardinals in a challenging road matchup. Rotoworld Monday, 7:17 pm
     
  • Spencer Howard will be bulk reliever on Monday
    Spencer Howard will be a bulk reliever for the Giants on Monday against the Cubs.

    Advice: Erik Miller will start as the opener, but Howard should provide three or four innings behind him. Howard was great in his first three bulk outings, allowing three runs in 13 1/3 innings; however, his last two outings haven’t been nearly as good. That makes him a risky option even against the Cubs. Rotoworld Monday, 12:06 pm