Carlos Rodón
SP NYY
Thu 5/9/24 3:25 AM

Rodon (3-2) earned the win over Houston on Wednesday, allowing two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out seven batters over 6.1 innings.
EDGE Analysis
Rodon gave up six earned runs over four frames in his worst start of the campaign his last time out, but he bounced back with a strong showing Wednesday. The left-hander racked up 16 swinging strikes against the Astros, leading to his second-highest single-game strikeout total of the season. While Rodon's season ERA sits at a mediocre 3.56, that's largely due to the blowup outing against Baltimore. He has posted a 2.54 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 37:14 K:BB over 39 innings across his other seven starts.

Paul DeJong
SS CWS
Thu 5/9/24 3:20 AM

DeJong went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run in Wednesday's 4-1 victory versus the Rays.
EDGE Analysis
DeJong accounted for half of Chicago's runs with his two-run blast to left field in the fifth inning. It was the second straight contest with a long ball for the veteran shortstop following a 16-game homerless drought. DeJong has multiple hits in three of his past four games and has gone 6-for-15 with four RBI, five runs and four extra-base hits over that stretch.

Aaron Civale
SP TB
Thu 5/9/24 3:16 AM

Civale (2-3) took the loss against the White Sox on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 4.2 innings.
EDGE Analysis
Civale began the game with four scoreless innings before serving up a Paul DeJong two-run homer in the fifth. The right-hander got the next two batters out but then yielded a single and a walk before getting the hook. It was the fourth straight game in which Civale was yanked from a start during the fifth inning, and he's recorded an ugly 9.82 ERA and 1.91 WHIP along with a 17:8 K:BB over 18.2 frames during that stretch.

Michael Kopech
P CWS
Thu 5/9/24 3:10 AM

Kopech registered a save against the Rays on Wednesday, allowing one hit in one scoreless inning.
EDGE Analysis
Kopech had a relatively easy time closing things out with a three-run lead Wednesday -- though he gave up a one-out infield single, the right-hander got the next batter to ground into a game-ending double play. It was the third save of the season for Kopech, though his most recent save prior to Wednesday came all the way back on April 9. Four different pitchers have notched a save for the White Sox this season, but Kopech appears to be the team's primary closer, as he's the only one among the four with multiple save conversions.

Chris Flexen
P CWS
Thu 5/9/24 3:05 AM

Flexen (2-3) earned the victory against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out eight batters over six innings.
EDGE Analysis
Flexen isn't usually much of a strikeout pitcher, but he fanned eight Rays in the win, doubling his previous season-high mark. In addition, the right-hander notched his second quality start of the campaign and extended his streak of outings with two or fewer runs to five. After giving up 13 earned runs over his first 13.1 frames this season, Flexen has turned things around dramatically, posting a 1.61 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB over 22.1 innings across his subsequent five appearances.

Gunnar Henderson
SS/3B/DH BAL
Thu 5/9/24 2:53 AM

Henderson went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Wednesday in a 7-6 extra-innings win over Washington.
EDGE Analysis
Henderson gave Baltimore its first lead with a solo shot in the sixth inning. That snapped a seven-game stretch without a long ball for the shortstop, which was his longest homerless span of the campaign. Henderson is tied for second in the majors with 11 home runs on the season, and he's added 25 RBI, 28 runs, six stolen bases and a .271/.344/.563 slash line through 36 games.

Mitchell Parker
P WSH
Thu 5/9/24 2:48 AM

Parker allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three batters over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Baltimore on Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
Parker served up his first two homers of the season -- both solo shots -- in the contest, but those were the only runs he allowed. He was given the hook after throwing only 77 pitches with two outs in the sixth inning, preventing him from notching his second quality start. Despite that disappointment and the fact that he fanned only three batters, this was another positive outing for the rookie, as he's now given up two or fewer runs in four of his five appearances. Parker has made a strong impression in the majors thus far with a 2.67 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB over 27 innings through five starts.

Craig Kimbrel
RP BAL
Thu 5/9/24 2:41 AM

Kimbrel was pulled in the ninth frame of Wednesday's game against the Nationals and was charged with two runs on two walks and a hit over two-thirds of an inning, though he was credited with a hold.
EDGE Analysis
Kimbrel was called upon to protect a two-run ninth-inning lead and initially appeared set to do so with little trouble, as he retired the first two batters he faced. However, Eddie Rosario then tagged the veteran closer for a solo home run, and Kimbrel followed with two straight walks before he was given the hook. Keegan Akin allowed one of the inherited runners to score, thus sending the game into extra frames. Though Kimbrel was credited with a hold, he was pulled in a save situation in the ninth inning for his second straight outing, so his hold on the closer role for Baltimore could be getting tenuous. Over his past five contests, Kimbrel has blown two saves in addition to being pulled from a save situation on two occasions, and he's allowed six earned runs while posting a 4:7 K:BB across 2.1 innings during that stretch.

Jacob Webb
RP BAL
Thu 5/9/24 2:32 AM

Webb earned an extra-innings save against the Nationals on Wednesday, allowing an unearned run on one hit while striking out one batter over one inning.
EDGE Analysis
Usual Baltimore closer Craig Kimbrel was unsteady again Wednesday, as he was pulled with two outs in the ninth inning after giving up a solo homer and a walk. The game ultimately went into extra frames, and Webb was called upon to shut Washington down after the Orioles took a two-run lead in the top of the 12th. Luis Garcia opened the inning for Washington by doubling home the automatic runner, but Webb was able to bounce back by retiring the next three batters to earn a save. Kimbrel's hold on the closer role could be starting to slip given that he's given up six earned runs over his past five outings covering 2.1 frames, but if he does end up getting demoted at some point, Yennier Cano would likely be the favorite to take over the closer role, so Webb doesn't figure to see more than an occasional unpredictable save chance.

Kyle Bradish
SP BAL
Thu 5/9/24 2:24 AM

Bradish tossed five innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out nine batters in a no-decision against Washington on Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
In his second start of the campaign, Bradish nudged his pitch count up a bit from 84 to 90 while completing five frames. The right-hander gave up just one run -- as he did in his first start of the season -- and racked up nine strikeouts but settled for a no-decision as both team's offenses were quiet until the latter portion of the contest. In terms of health, Bradish is still working his way back from the UCL sprain he was diagnosed with in mid-February, though he already appears to be in good form; through two starts, he's posted a 14:4 K:BB while giving up just two runs and eights hits across 9.2 innings.