Martin Perez silenced the Astros over nine shutout innings in an incredible performance on Friday, leading the Rangers to a 3-0 win. He scattered eight hits and one walk, getting out of trouble when he needed to with three ground ball double-plays. It appeared Houston would finally get to Perez in the seventh inning with back-to-back singles by Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker to start the frame. He then got Yuli Gurriel to strike out swinging before Jeremy Pena grounded into a double play.
Perez entered the ninth inning at just 85 pitches with the opportunity to complete a Maddux -- complete game shutout in under 100 pitches. Jose Altuve lined out before Michael Brantley chased a changeup for strike three. Eight of his 13 whiffs would come on that changeup as Perez struck out five batters on the day. With two outs, Bregman and Tucker would once again knock base hits to put two runners on. There went the chance at the Maddux. Still, Rangers manager Chris Woodward took a visit to the mound and had the confidence in Perez to let him finish the game with the tying run at the plate. The gamble paid off as Gurriel flew out to left field to end the game.
The 31-year-old left-hander lowered his ERA to 1.64 with a 1.01 WHIP and 38 strikeouts across 49 1/3 innings. He’s been on an extraordinary run over the last month. Since giving up three runs in four innings in both of his first two starts, Perez has pitched at least six innings and has given up no more than one run in each of his last six starts. While he may not have the most flashy stuff on the mound, Perez has been one of the best in baseball this season in hard-contact suppression. He’ll look to contininue his strong run with a start against the Athletics in Oakland next week.
Pitchers with an EDGE
Julio Urias vs. Phillies
5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
9 Swinging-strikes, 28% CSW
Urias took care of business against the Phillies, tossing five scoreless innings with just two hits allowed. He threw 52-of-80 pitches for strikes with no walks allowed while inducing nine whiffs to collect five strikeouts. The biggest threat against Urias came in the fifth inning after Kyle Schwarber led off with a double. With Schwarber on third and two outs, Urias got Odúbel Herrera to strike out swinging to end the inning. The 25-year-old left-hander has a 2.63 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts over 41 innings.
Adam Wainwright vs. Pirates
7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K
4 Swinging-strikes, 23% CSW
Wainwright held the Pirates to one run over seven strong innings on Friday to earn his fifth win of the season. The one run came in the seventh inning on a solo homer by Michael Chavis. Wainwright scattered three other hits and walked three batters on the day while striking out three. The 40-year-old right-hander has successfully pitched above his peripherals over the last several seasons, and this year is no different. His ERA is down to 2.87 with a 1.19 WHIP and 36 strikeouts across 47 innings.
Cristian Javier vs. Rangers
6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K
17 Swinging-strikes, 34% CSW
Javier took the loss in this one despite pitching brilliantly against the Rangers. The one mistake was a solo homer by Kole Calhoun. The 25-year-old right-hander tossed 56-of-91 pitches for strikes and induced 17 whiffs to strikeout nine batters. He lowers his ERA to 2.87 withh a 1.02 WHIP and 39 strikeouts over 31 1/3 innings. Next up for Javier is a matchup against the Guardians in Houston next week.
Hitters with an EDGE
Josh Rojas vs. Cubs
3-for-4, 3 HR, 4 RBI
Have a day, Josh Rojas! The 27-year-old left the yard three times on Friday to power the Diamondbacks to victory over the Cubs. He blasted a solo shot off Kyle Hendricks in the third inning, then launched a two-run homer off Hendricks in the fifth. Leading off the seventh against Mychal Givens, Rojas hit his third homer of the day. The three homers were his first of the season to go with a .289/.389/.489 slash line and three steals over 54 plate appearances after missing the first month of the season with an oblique strain.
David Peralta vs. Cubs
2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
The ball was flying out of Wrigley Field Friday afternoon. Peralta got in on the fun with a pair of homers. The first came in the third inning off of Kyle Hendricks. He followed that up with another solo shot off Hendricks in the fifth. The two homers give Peralta seven on the season to go with a .222/.311/.453 slash line across 135 plate appearances.
Jose Ramirez vs. Tigers
2-for-4, HR, 3B, R, 3 RBI
Ramirez tripled off Tarik Skubal in the first inning before extending the Guardians’ lead with a three-run homer off Jacob Barnes in the sixth. The 29-year-old star third baseman is producing at an elite level across the board with a .287/.380/.588 triple slash, nine homers, 37 RBI, and three steals across 158 plate appearances.
Priority Pickup
Kyle Lewis, OF, Mariners -- Available in 76 percent of Yahoo leagues
Lewis is set to make his season debut for the Mariners in the coming days. The 26-year-old outfielder has been on a Triple-A rehab assignment after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee last June. He’s performed well during his rehab, hitting .324/.410/.647 with three homers and just six strikeouts to four walks across 39 plate appearances. It’s an encouraging sign for the Mariners, given the lack of production coming from right field. Jarred Kelenic was optioned after producing an abysmal .509 OPS. The rotation of Dylan Moore and Steve Souza Jr. has done no better, with both hitting under .200.
Closing Time
Jordan Romano returned after a few days off with an illness and made quick work of the Reds on Friday. He needed just ten pitches to record three outs and secure the win for the Blue Jays. Romano is up to 13 saves with a 2.87 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts across 15 2/3 innings.
Kenley Jansen had the day off Friday after pitching in four-of-five games. Will Smith was summoned in the ninth with a two-run lead against the Marlins. He struck out two batters in the scoreless frame to lock down his second save.
The Pirates scored two runs in the eighth inning against the Cardinals to make it a two-run game. With runners on the corners and one out, Giovanny Gallegos entered and struck out two batters to end the threat. He remained in the game for the ninth and struck out the side for an impressive five-out save. Gallegos is up to eight saves with a 3.68 ERA and 17 strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings.
The Phillies knocked a pair of doubles to score a run with two outs in the ninth against Phil Bickford. Craig Kimbrel entered to end the threat and record the final out, getting Odúbel Herrera to strike out swinging. The save was number eight for Kimbrel to go with a 3.27 ERA across 11 innings of work.
Emilio Pagan took the mound for the Twins in the ninth with a three-run lead against the Royals. He gave up a solo homer to Emmanuel Rivera before a pair of singles put two runners on with two outs. He got Andrew Benintendi to strike out looking to end the game and record his sixth save.
Taylor Rogers was unavailable for the Padres on Friday. After the Giants tied the game to send it into extra innings, San Diego took the lead back in the tenth. Robert Suarez gave up a run on a base hit, but recorded the final outs to secure the win for the Padres and record his first save.
Dany Jiménez shut the door on the Angels in the ninth inning Friday. He struck out one batter in a clean ninth inning to record his eighth save of the season.
Matchup of the Day
Joe Musgrove (Padres) vs. Carlos Rodon (Giants)
We have an exciting pitching matchup in store for us Saturday night at Oracle Park. Joe Musgrove and the Padres visit Carlos Rodon and the Giants. Musgrove is coming off a quality start against the Braves, striking out six batters over six innings with two earned runs allowed. He’s yet to give up more than two earned runs in any start this season, producing a 2.20 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts over 45 innings. On the other side, Rodon saw his ERA jump from 1.80 to 3.49 after giving up eight runs to the Cardinals. The outing aside, Rodon is off to a fantastic start with 56 strikeouts across 38 2/3 innings. And his 1.63 FIP supports everything he has done outside of the recent blowup. Don’t expect too many runs in this contest.
American League Quick Hits: Manuel Margot (hamstring) expects to return from the injured list Wednesday... An MRI on the side of Eduardo Rodriguez did not reveal any damage to his oblique... Royals transferred Adalberto Mondesi to the 60-day injured list and optioned Carlos Hernandez to Triple-A Omaha... Tom Murphy (shoulder) suffered a setback and will not return this week... Matt Manning will make another rehab start before returning to the Tigers rotation... Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Luis Gil is dealing with a “significant” arm injury... The Red Sox activated Michael Wacha from the 15-day injured list... Ryan Brasier was optioned to Triple-A Worcester... Mariners optioned Wyatt Mills to Triple-A Tacoma and activated Matt Festa from the 15-day injured list... Tigers placed Will Vest on the COVID-19 injured list...
National League Quick Hits: Bryce Harper (elbow) sat for the fifth consecutive game on Friday... Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Clayton Kershaw (pelvis) is likely a couple weeks away from throwing a bullpen session... The Brewers activated Andrew McCutchen from the COVID-19 injured list on Friday... Jorge Soler returned to the Marlins lineup Friday... Dodgers signed Pedro Baez to a minor league contract... Jose Barrero (hand) began a minor league rehab assignment on Friday... Reds placed Albert Almora, Brandon Drury, Tyler Mahle, and Joel Kuhnel on the restricted list... Joey Votto was activated from the COVID-19 injured list...
