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  • 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 8 minutes ago
     
  • Colten Brewer can’t finish ninth for Cubs
    Colton Brewer and Drew Smyly combined to blow a two-run lead and give up three runs in the ninth as the Cubs lost to the Giants on Monday.

    Advice: Better umpiring would have helped the Cubs here, but it’s not like either Brewer or Smyly impressed tonight. The Cubs wanted Brewer to close over Héctor Neris, but he gave up hits to two of the three batters he faced. Smyly entered at that point and allowed a single and three walks. One of those was intentional, but the last, which pushed the winning run across, certainly wasn’t. With Neris out of the mix for the moment, Tyson Miller might be the current favorite for saves in the Cubs pen. He got the final two outs of the eighth before exiting tonight. Rotoworld 8 minutes ago
     
  • 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 14 minutes ago
     
  • Notches second save of June
    McArthur earned a save against the Marlins on Monday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.

    Advice: McArthur entered in the ninth frame with Kansas City up by three runs and made quick work of Miami, retiring the side in order on 10 pitches. That netted him his first save since June 6 and his 13th overall this season. McArthur's 18-day span between saves was of no fault of his own -- he didn't see any save opportunities during that stretch, and the only save by any KC pitcher during that period came in a game during which McArthur was used in a high-leverage spot and ended up with the victory. With that in mind, McArthur remains the top option for save chances in the Royals' bullpen. Rotowire.com 22 minutes ago
     
  • 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 30 minutes ago
    Cole RagansKC - SP,RP
    W, 4-1 vs MIA
    New Player Note
     
  • Hunter Harvey gives up four runs to take loss
    Hunter Harvey lost to the Padres after giving up four runs — three earned — in the 10th on Monday.

    Advice: The Nationals gave Harvey a three-run lead to work with after Nick Senzel homered in the top of the 10th, but it wasn’t enough. Harvey retired just two of six batters before Jurickson Profar, following an intentional walk to Luis Arraez, delivered a game-winning single. Harvey could become the Nationals’ closer later this summer if Kyle Finnegan is traded, though it’s quite possible that neither or both will be moved. Rotoworld 38 minutes ago
     
  • Tosses 5.2 scoreless frames Monday
    Crochet took a no-decision against the Dodgers on Monday, allowing five hits and striking out six batters over 5.2 scoreless innings.

    Advice: Crochet was on his game with 16 whiffs and six punchouts against one of MLB's top offenses, but Dodgers starter James Paxton traded scoreless frames with him, and both hurlers had to settle for a no-decision. Crochet continues to impress in what has been a breakout first campaign as a starter -- he lowered his ERA to 3.05 with Monday's outing and ranks second in the league with 130 strikeouts. The southpaw has given up three or fewer earned runs while going at least five frames in 11 consecutive starts. Rotowire.com 49 minutes ago
    Garrett CrochetCWS - SP,RP
    L, 0-3 vs LAD
    New Player Note
     
  • Takes loss in short start
    Medina (1-3) allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out four over three innings to take the loss Monday versus the Angels.

    Advice: Medina labored through his three frames, requiring 79 pitches (45 strikes). This was his shortest outing of the season and the third time in five starts he's given up at least four runs. The right-hander is at a 5.25 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 17:12 K:BB through 24 innings this season. Medina is projected to make his next start at Arizona. Rotowire.com 54 minutes ago
    Luis MedinaOAK - SP,RP
    L, 1-5 @LAA
    New Player Note
     
  • Deployed in eighth inning
    Phillips earned a hold against the White Sox on Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning of work.

    Advice: It was somewhat surprising to see Phillips -- who is the Dodgers' primary closer -- used in the eighth frame, but there was plenty of sense behind the move given that the White Sox were bringing up the heart of their order. Phillips got through the inning unscathed despite allowing a one-out double to Luis Robert, and Alex Vesia earned his fourth save with a clean frame in the ninth. Phillips' usage Monday suggests that manager Dave Roberts isn't opposed to using him before the ninth inning in the highest-leverage situations, but the right-hander should still receive the vast majority of save chances for Los Angeles. He's been one of the most reliable closers in baseball this year with a perfect 12-for-12 mark in save opportunities along with a 1.66 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. Rotowire.com Today, 9:50 pm