Kikuchi (2-6) took the loss Sunday against the Orioles, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out 10.
The five runs charged to Kikuchi mark a season high, though he's still held opponents to three earned runs or fewer in each of his last nine outings -- the left-hander came into Sunday with a 1.97 ERA over his previous eight starts (45.2 innings). Overall, Kikuchi's ERA sits at 3.05 with a 1.48 WHIP and 78:43 K:BB across 15 starts (82.2 innings) this season. He's tentatively lined up to face the Astros at home in his next outing.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Dominant in win over Athletics
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Kikuchi (2-5) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out five over 7.1 scoreless innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Monday.
Kikuchi retired the first 13 batters he faced. While he allowed both baserunners in the fifth inning, he was able to keep runs off the board in what was easily his best performance of the year. This is the first time he's completed seven innings all season, and it was his first quality start since May 12 versus the Padres since he had failed to finish six frames in each of his last four outings. Kikuchi had also walked at least four batters in those contests before showing better control Monday. He's at a 2.92 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 68:41 K:BB through 77 innings over 14 starts this season. Kikuchi is lined up for a road start in Baltimore this weekend.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Can't find plate again Tuesday
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Kikuchi came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Red Sox, giving up three runs on eight hits and five walks over five-plus innings. He struck out five.
The left-hander tossed only 56 of 99 pitches for strikes in a shaky outing, but Kikuchi had limited the damage until running out of gas in the sixth inning, when he began the frame with two free passes sandwiched around a two-run homer by Ceddanne Rafaela before getting the hook. Kikuchi has walked at least four batters in four straight starts, but Rafaela's long ball was the first homer he's served up during that stretch, allowing him to escape with a 2.11 ERA in 21.1 innings despite a worrisome 20:18 K:BB. Kikuchi will try to tighten things up in his next trip the mound, which lines up to come at home early next week against the A's.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Takes tough-luck loss Wednesday
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Kikuchi (1-5) took the loss against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and five walks while striking out four batters over five innings.
Kikuchi struggled with his control throughout the outing, throwing just 51 of 93 pitches for strikes and tying a season high with five free passes -- though two of the walks were intentional (both to Aaron Judge). Still, the veteran hurler was able to mostly avoid damage, as he surrendered just a first-inning run. Kikuchi finished his outing on a high note by retiring the final eight batters he faced, but the Angels were unable to provide him with any run support, resulting in his fifth loss of the season. Despite a 1-5 record, Kikuchi has been solid as the ace of the Angels' staff, allowing two or fewer earned runs in each of his past six starts and registering a 3.06 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 58:35 K:BB over 64.2 innings on the campaign.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Earns first win
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Kikuchi (1-4) allowed seven hits and four walks while striking out four over 5.2 scoreless innings to earn the win over the Marlins on Friday.
Kikuchi came up an out short of a quality start for the second time in a row, though this time it was due to his workload rather than an injury scare. He threw 110 pitches (70 strikes) in Friday's outing, and he was strong despite his ongoing issue with walking too many batters. He's allowed one run or fewer in three of his last four outings. Kikuchi's 3.17 ERA is strong, but his 1.49 WHIP and 54:30 K:BB over 59.2 innings (11 starts) raise plenty of concerns about sustainability. His next start is projected to be a tough home matchup versus the Yankees.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Exits early Sunday
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Kikuchi exited Sunday's contest against the Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth inning with right ankle irritation, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Kikuchi tossed 5.2 innings of one-run ball before being forced to leave his start early. The left-hander was at 98 pitches overall, so he was likely set to finish his day after the frame anyway. More information on his status will likely come in the near future, and it's unclear if he's in doubt of missing his next projected start Friday versus the Marlins.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Feeling fine after early exit
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Kikuchi (ankle) is feeling fine following Sunday's 6-4 win over the Dodgers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Kikuchi exited the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning with right ankle irritation after retiring two batters in the frame. The left-hander explained that he would've stayed in the contest and pitched through the issue had it been earlier in the game. Kikuchi appears to be all set to toe the rubber for his next projected start Friday against the Marlins.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Decent in no-decision
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Kikuchi allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Monday.
It was Kikuchi's own throwing error that led to two runs scoring to give the Padres the lead in the third inning. He left the game with the Angels trailing 4-3, but they rallied in the ninth to get him off the hook, instead leaving him with a third straight no-decision. This was his fifth quality start in nine outings, but he has yet to get in the win column. Kikuchi has posted a 3.72 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 43:22 K:BB over 48.1 innings, though he's walked just four batters over his last three starts, spanning 17 innings. The left-hander's next start is projected to be a tough road matchup versus the Dodgers this weekend.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Impressive against former squad
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Kikuchi allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out six batters over six innings in a no-decision against Toronto on Wednesday.
Kikuchi was ultra-efficient in the start, throwing 70 of 91 pitches for strikes -- a promising development given that he entered the game with a poor 4.7 BB/9. The lefty tossed five scoreless frames to begin the contest before giving up his lone run in the sixth. Kikuchi wasn't rewarded for his fine effort with a win, but he did notch his fourth quality start of the campaign and his first since April 9. The veteran hurler still doesn't have a victory this season, though his numbers have been tolerable -- he has a 3.83 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 39:20 K:BB over 42.1 frames spanning eight starts.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Fans five in no-decision
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Kikuchi didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Detroit after allowing two runs on five hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out five.
Both of Kikuchi's runs allowed came via solo homers, with one coming on a third-inning shot by Javier Baez and another on a fourth-inning blast by Gleyber Torres. It was still an encouraging bounce-back effort overall by the left-hander, who yielded a lone walk after lending a whopping 18 free passes over 25.1 frames in April. Kikuchi will look to further improve his 4.21 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 33:19 K:BB across 36.1 frames in a tough matchup next week versus the Blue Jays, who entered Wednesday with a .758 OPS against left-handed pitching this season.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Roughed up in loss
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Kikuchi (0-4) took the loss against the Twins on Saturday, allowing four runs on nine hits and four walks over two innings. He did not strike out a batter.
Kikuchi yielded three runs in the first frame off six singles (including four straight to start the game) and a walk. The veteran southpaw gave up another run in the second inning and was lifted ahead of the third after tossing 66 pitches (37 strikes) and generating just three whiffs. Saturday's outing was a stark contrast to his previous start against the Giants on April 20, when he tossed 5.1 innings without giving up an earned run. Kikuchi is now up to a 4.31 ERA and 1.60 WHIP through 31.1 innings, and his 18 walks is tied with Carlos Rodon for second most in the American League behind Charlie Morton (20).
Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Navigates around poor command
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Kikuchi allowed one run (zero earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out six in 5.1 innings Sunday against the Giants. He did not factor into the decision.
Kikuchi was unable to reach six innings for the first time this season but had another solid outing. He was able to escape a scoring threat in the fourth and struck out the side in the fifth despite allowing an unearned run. Kikuchi has not won a game yet, but he's been solid thus far with a 3.38 ERA through five starts. Kikuchi lines up to face the Twins on the road in his upcoming start over the weekend.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Remains winless despite QS
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Kikuchi (0-3) took the loss Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over six innings as the Angels were downed 4-0 by the Rangers. He struck out six.
The southpaw produced his third quality start in four outings to begin the season, but a lack of run support kept Kikuchi out of the win column once again -- the Halos have scored a total of 10 runs in his four trips to the mound. Kikuchi tossed 51 of 79 pitches for strikes before exiting, and he'll take a 4.13 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 22:10 K:BB through 24 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Giants.
Kikuchi (0-2) took the loss in Wednesday's game against Tampa Bay. He gave up four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five across six innings.
All four of the runs Kikuchi yielded came off a Jose Caballero grand slam in the first inning. Kikuchi was able to retire 11 of the next 13 batters he faced and was able to escape the sixth frame without giving up a run after allowing two baserunners. However, the damage from Caballero's grand slam was enough for the southpaw to come away with his second loss of the season. Kikuchi has tossed 104 pitches in each of his last two outings, and he has begun his Angels tenure with a 5.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB across 18 innings. He's tentatively slated to start next week on the road against the Rangers, when he'll look to earn his first win in a Halos uniform.
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