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Player Notes

  • 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, allowed 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 4 minutes ago
  • Justin Lawrence picks up save against Rockies
    Justin Lawrence picked up a save Thursday with a scoreless ninth inning against the Padres.

    Advice: Lawrence picked up a strikeout and didn’t allow a hit while throwing 8-of-14 pitches for strikes. That’s the second save of the season for the 29-year-old, and he lowered his ERA to 5.59 with the scoreless frame. Lawrence should see the majority of the save chances for the Rockies, but those chances might be few and far between. Rotoworld 15 minutes ago
  • 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 18 minutes ago
  • 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 18 minutes ago
  • 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
  • Gavin Williams shut down with elbow discomfort
    Gavin Williams (elbow) has been shut down from throwing for at least one week after experiencing renewed discomfort.

    Advice: Not good. Williams has been on the shelf since spring training due to right elbow inflammation and appeared to be getting close to making his season debut prior to this latest setback. The 24-year-old top pitching prospect should be ready to resume throwing next week after receiving a PRP injection. However, there is no official timetable for his return at this juncture. Rotoworld Today, 2:13 pm
  • Martinez hit hard in loss to Phillies
    Nick Martinez allowed five runs on 11 hits in six innings in a loss to the Phillies on Thursday.

    Advice: Martinez allowed four extra-base hits on the day, but 12 hard-hit baseballs as the Phillies squared the ball up regularly. Martinez did strike out three and post a 24 percent whiff rate on the day while walking nobody but that was about the only good news. He now has a 5.48 ERA on the year and will take on the Padres next time out. He’s not a recommended play. Rotoworld Today, 2:10 pm
  • Héctor Neris collects third SV of season Thursday
    Héctor Neris fired a scoreless ninth to pick up a save Thursday against the Astros.

    Advice: Neris did make things interesting, as he walked a pair of hitters to put the go-ahead run at the plate. Ultimately the 34-year-old was able to get the job done, and he now has three saves on the season after not opening the year in the closing role. Rotoworld Today, 2:09 pm
  • Javier Assad holds Astros to one run over 5 2/3
    Javier Assad struck out five over 5 2/3 innings while allowing just a run in a no-decision against the Astros on Thursday.

    Advice: Assad scattered four hits and issued one free pass. The right-hander got off to a rough start while allowing a run in the first, but he was excellent for the next five-plus frames. Unfortunately for him, the Cubs and fantasy managers who started Assad, he didn’t get the run support necessary to qualify for a victory. He’ll be back on the bump in New York next week against the Mets. Rotoworld Today, 2:09 pm