Nolan McClean to start during Wednesday’s doubleheader

McLean struck out seven and generated 16 whiffs on 40 swings. The unearned runs came in the third after a Brett Baty error, with a Francsico Alvarez passed ball also hurting the cause. However, McLean could have spared himself the unearned runs had he gotten to first just a little quicker on a potential 3-6-1 double play. He did make a good effort, but he was a tad slow to get off the mound at the start of the play. McLean dropped to 7-7 with a 3.32 ERA. He’ll face the Marlins on Thursday.

This was a great start by Manaea against a tough Dodgers lineup. He did get some help from right fielder Carson Benge who threw one runner out at home and started another relay to get one at third, but don’t let that take too much away from Manaea’s outing. His fastball led the charge with a 61% usage rate – nearly double his season average – and he had no problem crowding hitters from both sides of the plate with it. It also sat right at 91 mph, a big deal for Manaea after struggling to both build up and maintain his velocity earlier in the season. With it and his confidence to challenge hitters in the zone back, he has turned in a 3.75 ERA over his last 13 outings dating back to May 17th. Next up is a meeting with the Braves at home.

Peralta gave up eight hits, walked two and struck out six. He fell to 5-9 with the loss. Peralta’s start never got off the ground as he allowed five runs in the first three innings. His return to Milwaukee couldn’t have gone much worse as he allowed seven runs in the disastrous start. He has a 5.01 ERA on the year. Peralta is lined up to face the Dodgers at home this weekend.

McLean gave up two hits, walked two and struck out 10. He improved to 7-6 with the win. McLean had been pitching well in his last three starts entering Sunday with only two runs allowed in 18 innings with 19 strikeouts. This time, he allowed only four baserunners. McLean has a 3.34 ERA. He’s lined up to face the Dodgers at home next weekend.

Manaea gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out seven. He fell to 2-5 with the loss. Manaea ran into trouble immediately, allowing a single to Trea Turner and a two-run home run to Kyle Schwarber before recording his first out. It didn’t get much better from there as Manaea allowed another home run, this one to Turner in the fifth inning. In seven starts since moving into the rotation, he has a 4.48 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings. Manaea is lined up to face the Dodgers at home next weekend.

It’s the third straight outing and sixth overall this year in which Peralta has failed to complete five innings, and he goes into the All-Star break 5-8 with a 4.66 ERA and a 22 percent strikeout rate that is down from 28 percent each of the last two years. Maybe there are suitors out there that think they can turn him around, but he isn’t currently throwing like someone worth a big haul at the trade deadline. He’ll pitch in Philadelphia next weekend.

McLean was thrown into the fire right away when Juan Soto dropped a fly ball against the first batter of the game. Then, with two outs, Masataka Yoshida slapped a weak double just inside the third base line that got caught on the tarp and two unearned runs came around to score. From there, McLean slammed the door. Carson Benge helped him out by throwing out a runner at home plate, but McLean did well despite again not having great feel for either his curveball or sweeper. Without those to lean on, he found success buzzing his four seamer at the top of the zone and it forced six of his eight total swings-and-misses. While it’s felt uneasy at times, McLean will close the first half with a 3.52 ERA, 125 strikeouts, and 39 walks through 107 1/3 innings pitched.

Manaea struck out six and walked one while throwing 70 percent of his pitches for strikes. He recorded just eight whiffs and an eight percent swinging strike rate on the day, so it wasn’t a dominant outing, but he filled the zone with strikes on his fastballs and was able to get strikeouts on the few times he did get into two-strike counts. Things get tougher for him with the Brewers and Dodgers up after the All-Star break.

He struck out six. Peralta’s fastball velocity was again up some tonight, as he averaged 95.1 mph. It’s his third straight start at 95 mph or better after averaging 93.9 mph previously this season. Interestingly, he’s throwing his secondary pitches a little slower than usual during the same timeframe. If it’s a conscious change, it’s not really paying off yet. He’ll take a 4.68 ERA into his first-half finale against Boston.

The runs all came in the first, and that one was unearned was the product of McLean’s own errant pickoff throw. Rather surprisingly, McLean was sent back out for the seventh at 92 pitches. He gave up a single to Austin Riley and was pulled, but Brooks Raley got through the rest of the inning without issue. McLean has won four of his last five decisions and is now 6-5 with a 3.73 ERA. He struck out five and walked one today, and he has a nice 30/6 K/BB in his last four starts. He’ll next face the Red Sox on Friday.