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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
     
  • Deployed in eighth inning
    Munoz walked one and struck out three in a scoreless and hitless eighth inning to earn a hold in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rangers.

    Advice: Munoz has been dealing with a back issue for most of June, but he's still seen high-leverage work when available. In fact, Munoz was deployed in the eighth inning Friday to face the top of the Rangers' lineup, while Ryne Stanek got the call in the ninth and earned the save. Munoz has picked up three holds and a loss over his last four outings, but it seems this is less about easing the right-hander back from injury and more about a matchups-based approach to the late innings for now. Should Seattle switch to a closer committee, it appears Stanek is set to pick up a larger share of the saves. Munoz remains a strong option as well -- he has a 1.55 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 41:10 K:BB with 12 saves and six holds through 29 innings this season. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:32 pm
     
  • Fans seven in win
    Sale (9-2) allowed two runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings Friday, striking out seven and earning a win over the Rays.

    Advice: Sale coughed up a run before recording an out in the first inning but settled in for a strong quality start in the win. He forced 17 swinging strikes, including 12 on the slider. It was Sale's second consecutive quality start and sixth in his last seven appearances. The veteran lefty has posted a 2.60 ERA over 45 innings during that span. For the season, he owns a 2.98 ERA with a 99:13 K:BB through 13 outings. Sale's next start is lined up to be on the road against the Yankees. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 7:51 pm
     
  • Chris Sale strikes out seven in win
    Chris Sale allowed two earned runs across seven innings in a 7-3 win over the Rays on Friday. He struck out seven and walked two.

    Advice: Sale was his usual emotional and demonstrative self on the mound even after being handed a huge lead early and that intensity carried him to another great start. This was the fifth time in six starts Sale completed seven innings and the eighth time he’s done so already this season. He’s been one of the most valuable pitchers in baseball this season, stepping into the ace role for Atlanta without Spencer Strider. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:06 pm
     
  • Records quality start in victory
    Ryan (5-5) earned the win over Oakland on Thursday, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out five batters over seven innings.

    Advice: Ryan surrendered a two-run homer to Tyler Soderstrom in the second inning, but those were the only runs the A's managed against the righty hurler. Ryan finished with a stat line very similar to his previous outing, when he gave up two runs on three hits over seven frames versus Pittsburgh, though that performance came in a losing effort. The 28-year-old pitcher has four quality starts over his past five appearances and has posted a 2.73 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 32:7 K:BB across 33 frames during that span. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 12:42 am
    Joe RyanMIN - SP
    PPD vs OAK
    Player Note
     
  • Returns with loss Thursday
    Munoz (back) picked up the loss Thursday as the Mariners fell to the White Sox, allowing an unearned run in the 10th inning.

    Advice: Munoz allowed a walk and a hit before a fielder's choice brought home the automatic runner. The good news was that Munoz didn't allow much in the way of hard contact and generated three swings and misses among his 17 pitches, 11 of which were strikes. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 12:42 am
     
  • Ryan picks up fifth win against A’s Thursday
    Joe Ryan allowed two runs in seven innings and got the win in the Twins’ 6-2 victory over the Athletics on Thursday.

    Advice: Ryan gave up three hits, walked one and struck out five. The win was his fifth of the year. Both of the runs for Oakland came on a Tyler Soderstrom two-run home run in the second inning. Ryan hung a splitter to Soderstrom, but it was basically the only mistake he made on the night. It was Ryan’s 10th quality start of the season. His ERA is now 3.24 on the year. The 28-year-old right-hander is set to face the Rays at home next week.

    Rotoworld Thursday, 7:32 pm
    Joe RyanMIN - SP
    PPD vs OAK
    Player Note
     
  • Struggles early in no-decision
    Pivetta did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's 8-6 win over the Phillies, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks with four strikeouts over four innings.

    Advice: It was a rough night from the start, as Pivetta allowed the first three batters he faced to reach base and surrendered two runs in each of the first and third innings. The four walks were a season high, and he allowed at least one baserunner in every inning. Pivetta has been inconsistent this season, with six starts of two or fewer earned runs and three starts yielding five. On the season, Pivetta owns a 3.88 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 55:13 K:BB in nine starts and lines up against the Blue Jays next Monday. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 8:59 pm
    Nick PivettaBOS - SP,RP
    4:15 pm vs NYY
    Player Note
     
  • Nick Pivetta yanked after four versus former team
    Nick Pivetta surrendered four runs in four innings Wednesday in a no-decision versus the Phillies.

    Advice: Pivetta walked four tonight. He’s issued 11 free passes in his last four starts after totaling two in his first five. Pivetta also struck out four tonight. Oddly enough, his nine starts this season have seen him strike out at least eight on five occasions and no more than four the rest of the time. He’s 3-4 with a 3.88 ERA. Rotoworld Wednesday, 8:37 pm
    Nick PivettaBOS - SP,RP
    4:15 pm vs NYY
    Player Note