Gabriel Hughes takes loss against Nationals

Hughes apparently will finish up in the minors after going 0-8 with a 6.33 ERA and a 56/24 K/BB in 64 innings over 13 starts and one relief appearance for the Rockies. His performance was quite a bit more promising than the record suggests — he had a 4.04 FIP, a 3.92 xERA and a 4.43 SIERA — and he should enter camp next year with a legitimate chance of making the rotation.

Hughes allowed a leadoff homer to J.P. Crawford to open the game, which was followed by back-to-back doubles from Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone. He would strike out Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez to get the first two outs of the inning, but allowed a two-RBI single to Josh Naylor to put his team down 3-0 before finally getting out of the inning. Those would be the only three runs Hughes would allow on the night, as he would settle in to pitch 3 2/3 scoreless innings the rest of the way while striking out four hitters over that span and allowing just one hit. Despite the rough start, Hughes would turn out a solid performance overall and has now allowed three earned runs or fewer in three of his last four starts. Hughes will make his final start of the on Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

The right-hander also issued two free passes on the afternoon while striking out a pair. The Tigers got to him for two runs in the opening frame on a two-run blast by Riley Greene. They then piled on with three more in the second to take a commanding early lead. Hughes got six swings and misses on 70 pitches on the day, posting a CSW of 23 percent. Now 0-8 on the season, he’ll carry a miserable 6.37 ERA and 1.45 WHIP into Friday’s start against the Mariners.

Hughes gave up four hits, walked none and struck out six. He fell to 0-7 with the loss. Hughes had a solid start, but the Rockies couldn’t score more than one run off Cam Schlittler, resulting in him taking the loss. He still has a 5.81 ERA, which doesn’t imply that his record should be much better. Hughes is lined up to face the Tigers on the road this weekend in one of the few matchups where he could be worth the risk in fantasy leagues.

Hughes allowed a run on two hits in the third inning. It was the only run he allowed into the fifth. After recording the first two outs in the inning, he loaded the bases on two walks and a base hit before leaving at 78 pitches. All three inherited runners would be left stranded. Hughes struck out four. The 25-year-old right-hander will take a 6.19 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and a 42/21 K/BB ratio across 52 1/3 innings into a start against the Yankees in New York next Tuesday.

Hughes kept the Guardians off the board for the first three frames, but he then gave up one of the longest homers we’ve seen this year with a couple of runners on to turn what was a solid -- and surprising -- outing into a middling one. He walked two and struck out a pair while generating only three swings and misses before leaving. Hughes will be back on the bump against the Nationals on Thursday, if there’s no change to the Rockies’ rotation order.

That makes back-to-back starts that Hughes has given up seven runs. The right-hander allowed six hits, a walk and struck out a pair in another ineffective outing for the former first-round selection. It doesn’t help that Hughes has to pitch in Coors Field, but his 7.80 ERA away from Colorado tells the story. He faces the Guardians at home Saturday.

Hughes gave up five hits, walked three and struck out three. He fell to 0-4 with the loss. Hughes has now allowed 15 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings over his last three starts. The big blow came almost immediately as he allowed a grand slam to Nolan Arenado in the first inning. Hughes has a 5.61 ERA in his first seven major league appearances (six starts). He’s lined up to face the Giants on the road on Sunday.

Hughes kept the Rays scoreless through two innings, then gave up a run on a bases-loaded walk in the third before Liam Hick cleared them all with a grand slam. He settled back in to pitch into the sixth, leaving with one out in the inning at 77 pitches. Hughes generated 11 whiffs to strike out seven. The 24-year-old right-hander will take a 4.25 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 28/9 K/BB ratio across 29 2/3 innings into a start against the Diamondbacks in Arizona on Monday.

Hughes’s fastball and sinker were down 1.5-2 mph today, with his hardest pitch of the game checking in at 93.1 mph. He still managed to hold his own against the Padres, but he wound up with just two strikeouts and a poor 18 percent CSW. Let’s hope that isn’t a sign of things to come, because he’d been quite impressive since arriving at the beginning of the month. He’s due to face the Rays at Coors next week.