Fantasy News

• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Fans 11 in win over Oakland

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2024

  Gore (2-0) collected a win Saturday in Oakland, tossing five shutout innings on four hits and one walk while striking out 11. The feeble Athletics lineup had no chance against Gore in this one. All four hits they tallied were singles, and they never advanced past second base while the left-hander was in the game. Gore's 11 strikeouts tied a career high, and he picked up an impressive 20 swinging strikes on 90 pitches. With a 2.81 ERA and 23:5 K:BB over 16 innings, we could be looking at the beginning of a post-hype breakout season from the 25-year-old southpaw.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Another solid start

  Rotowire Apr 7, 2024

  Gore (1-0) picked up the win Sunday against the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out six. Gore has given up three or fewer runs in each of his first two starts of the new season and has carried over his strong strikeout production from 2023. However, he's been unable to make it through six innings in either appearance, being pulled midway through the sixth with his pitch count pushing toward 100. Gore also struggled with inefficiency last season, reaching the six-innings pitched mark in merely 10 of his 27 starts. Gore is set up to face the A's in Oakland for his next projected start.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Yields three runs

  Rotowire Apr 1, 2024

  Gore did not factor into the decision Monday against the Pirates, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six. Gore struggled to find a groove and work deep into his outing against the Pirates as he required 101 pitches to complete his 5.1 innings. However, the 25-year-old lefty's arsenal showed increased velocity over last season as he averaged 97-mph on his fastball (up from 95-mph in 2023) and 91.7-mph on his slider (up from 88.6-mph in 2023). Gore also mixed in his changeup more than last season, throwing it 16.8 percent of the time Monday versus 3.0 percent in 2023. He looks for better results from his new arsenal in his next scheduled start, tentatively slated to be at home against the Phillies.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Control wavers Tuesday

  Rotowire Mar 13, 2024

  Gore allowed one run on two hits and three walks over 5.2 innings during Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets. He struck out two. Fatigue may have played a factor in the walk total, as Gore didn't issue his first free pass until the fourth inning, at which point he walked Pete Alonso, Ji-Man Choi and Starling Marte to load the bases before escaping the jam with a double play. Control remains the biggest obstacle between the 25-year-old lefty and a breakout campaign after he posted a 25.9 percent strikeout rate against a 9.8 percent walk rate in 2023, and Gore's 9:4 K:BB through 10.2 spring innings suggests he may still have some work to do in that area.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Blanks Houston over three innings

  Rotowire Mar 2, 2024

  Gore gave up one hit and one walk over three scoreless innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out three. The 25-year-old southpaw has had an impressive start to the spring, posting a 7:1 K:BB over five scoreless frames. Gore had an uneven first full season in the majors last year; his 151:57 K:BB through 136.1 innings highlighted both his ability to miss bats and his issues finding the plate. A first-round pick of the Padres in 2017, Gore has the upside to develop into an ace if he can sharpen his control and command.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Fans four in first spring start

  Rotowire Feb 26, 2024

  Gore gave up one run on two hits over two innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. He struck out four without walking a batter. He did uncork a wild pitch, but Gore's control was impressive this early in the spring, as he fired 21 of 26 pitches for strikes against an experienced Miami lineup that included Luis Arraez and Jazz Chisholm. The 25-year-old lefty flashed upside last year with 151 strikeouts over 136.1 innings but also posted a 9.8 percent walk rate, so if he can improve his control, 2024 could end up being a breakout campaign for Gore.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Season is done

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2023

  Gore is being shut down for the season Wednesday due to a blister, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. Gore was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a blister on a left finger. He had strong stretches of run prevention and strikeouts in his first full MLB season, particularly in the first half of the season. However, Gore's WHIP was too high all season long, with that mark settling at 1.40 -- the 18th worst mark among 79 pitchers who logged 130-plus innings.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Lands on IL

  Rotowire Sep 9, 2023

  The Nationals placed Gore on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left finger blisters, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. Gore's blisters could help explain why he was tagged with four runs in four innings during Friday's loss to the Dodgers. He'll be shut down for the next two weeks which still leaves some room for him to potentially make another start before the end of the year, though it's possible the Nats keep him out for the rest of the season. Joe La Sorsa was recalled from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Can't keep ball in park

  Rotowire Sep 9, 2023

  Gore came away with a no-decision Friday in the Nationals' 8-5 loss to the Dodgers, giving up four runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over four innings. He struck out four. The southpaw didn't have his best stuff and got hit hard as a result, serving up a two-run homer to J.D. Martinez in the first inning before Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez tagged him for solo shots in the fourth. It's the third time in his last five starts Gore has given up multiple home runs, and since the All-Star break the 24-year-old has a 4.44 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 43:18 K:BB through 46.2 innings as he shows signs of fatigue -- he's already thrown 49.1 more innings this year than he did in 2022. If he stays on turn, Gore's next outing will likely come next week in Pittsburgh.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Placed on bereavement list

  Rotowire Aug 31, 2023

  The Nationals placed Gore on the bereavement list Thursday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports. Gore will be required to miss at least three games and no more than seven as he tends to more important matters. Joe La Sorsa was recalled from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Sharp in seventh win

  Rotowire Aug 30, 2023

  Gore (7-10) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over five innings in a 5-4 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out two. The young southpaw got tagged for a solo homer by Davis Schneider but otherwise held Toronto's offense in check, tossing 69 of his 106 pitches for strikes. Homers continue to be an issue for Gore, who's served up 10 of them in eight starts and 42.2 innings since the All-Star break, but he still sports a respectable 4.01 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 39:16 K:BB over that stretch. He's next set to take the mound at home early next week against the Mets.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Blasted by Judge in defeat

  Rotowire Aug 24, 2023

  Gore (6-10) took the loss against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing six runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out four batters over four innings. Gore left his previous start early due to a cut fingernail and blister, but that didn't appear to be a problem for him Wednesday. Instead, Aaron Judge was the root of the hurler's struggles, as the slugger tagged him for a solo homer in the first inning and a grand slam in the second. The four runs that scored on the latter long ball were all unearned due to a two-out Washington error, keeping Gore's ERA from taking too big of a hit. Still, Gore hasn't picked up a victory in any of his past five starts and has posted a mediocre 4.38 ERA and 1.37 WHIP over 127.1 innings on the campaign.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Good to go Wednesday

  Rotowire Aug 21, 2023

  Gore (finger) is listed as the Nationals' probable starter for Wednesday's road game against the Yankees, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports. Gore's inclusion on Washington's pitching schedule for the three-game set at Yankee Stadium is an indication that the cut nail and blister on his left index finger presented no issues for him during his throwing session over the weekend. He'll be returning to the mound Wednesday on six days' rest after the finger issue cropped up during his most recent outing against the Red Sox on Aug. 16, when he struck out seven and allowed just one hit and two walks over 6.1 scoreless innings prior to departing.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Dealing with cut on fingernail

  Rotowire Aug 16, 2023

  Gore left Wednesday's start against the Red Sox due to a cut nail on his left index finger that developed into a blister, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. Gore was taken out of the game after throwing a pitch way out of the zone, but he downplayed the injury after the game. The 24-year-old southpaw surrendered just one hit through 6.1 scoreless frames Wednesday and said that he should be able to make his next start -- tentatively lined up for next Wednesday against the Yankees.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Exits with trainer

  Rotowire Aug 16, 2023

  Gore was removed from his start Wednesday against Boston after suffering an apparent injury, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. After Gore badly missed the zone on a pitch during the seventh inning, a trainer came out to look at him and ended up taking him out of the game. It's not immediately clear what Gore is dealing with, but the Nationals should provide more information soon. For now, he should be considered day-to-day.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Pitches well in no-decision

  Rotowire Aug 3, 2023

  Gore did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over six innings against the Brewers. He struck out five. Gore left a four-seamer over the middle of the plate in the top of the second, which Tyrone Taylor launched into the stands to give the Brewers their first run of the game. However, the lefty settled in after that mistake, going 1-2-3 over the next two frames before allowing just one more run on a Christian Yelich double in the sixth. It marked Gore's first quality start since June 3, and he's now allowed three or fewer runs in three consecutive outings. On the downside, he's also issued at least two walks in four straight and in eight of his last nine.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Strikes out eight in win

  Rotowire Jul 23, 2023

  Gore (6-7) earned the win Sunday, allowing four hits and two walks over five scoreless innings against the Giants. He struck out eight. Gore was sharp Sunday, scattering four hits en route to his third win in his last five starts. The 24-year-old southpaw has tallied eight or more strikeouts six times this season. Gore lowered his ERA to 4.37 with a 1.44 WHIP and 122:43 K:BB through 20 starts (101 innings) this year. He's currently lined up to face the Mets on the road in his next outing.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Gives up five runs but nabs victory

  Rotowire Jul 18, 2023

  Gore (5-7) earned the win over the Cubs on Monday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six batters over 6.1 innings. Gore was staked to an early lead and gave up just one run through five innings, but he yielded a two-run home run in each of the sixth and seventh frames to lose his quality start. Still, the left-hander pitched well enough to earn the win, just his second over his past 14 outings. Gore had has his share of ups-and-downs this season, giving up five or more runs on four occasions and one or fewer seven different times (though one of those was a rain-shortened appearance his last time out that lasted only 1.1 innings). All of that has added up to a 4.59 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 10.7 K/9, which lines up pretty closely with his marks as a rookie last year.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: On track for next start

  Rotowire Jul 3, 2023

  Gore (finger) is slated to start Thursday's game against the Reds at Nationals Park. Gore failed to escape the third inning and was lit up for seven earned runs on six hits and three walks in his most recent start against the Phillies on Saturday, revealing afterward that he dealt with a blister on his left middle finger. The southpaw didn't express any concern about the abrasion forcing him to miss his next start, and the Nationals seemingly aren't worried either. Gore will look to bounce back Thursday from his disastrous outing last week, which caused his ERA to jump from 3.89 to 4.48.

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• Nationals' MacKenzie Gore: Punches out nine in win

  Rotowire Jun 25, 2023

  Gore (4-6) yielded one run on five hits and two walks over five innings Sunday, striking out nine and earning a win over San Diego. Gore tossed four scoreless innings before the Padres put a run on the board in the fifth frame, setting a new franchise record along the way by striking out the first six batters he faced. He finally got back in the win column for the first time since April 26. In 10 starts between those two wins, Gore posted a 4.53 ERA through 53.2 frames. He lowered his season ERA to 3.89 with a 104:36 K:BB across 16 starts. His next start is lined up to be in Philadelphia.

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