Guardians' Luis L. Ortiz: Strikes out eight in loss
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Ortiz (2-3) took the loss Wednesday against the Yankees, allowing four runs on five hits and five walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out eight.
Ortiz got off to a rocky start Wednesday, allowing two runs in each of the first two innings. The right-hander now has at least eight strikeouts in three consecutive outings, though he's struggled with command, posting 4.91 BB/9 through his first five starts. Ortiz now sports a 5.96 ERA with a 1.56 WHIP and 31:14 K:BB across 25.2 innings this year. He's currently lined up to face the Twins at home in his next start.
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Guardians' Luis L. Ortiz: Fans eight in revenge game
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Ortiz (2-2) picked up the win Friday, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks over five innings in a 10-7 victory over the Pirates. He struck out eight.
Facing the club he debuted with in 2022, Ortiz fired 59 of 92 pitches for strikes, including 28 called or swinging strikes, and got plenty of run support from his new teammates. After a bumpy first outing for the Guardians, Ortiz has posted a 3.24 ERA and 21:5 K:BB over his last three starts and 16.2 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next week against the Yankees.
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Guardians' Luis L. Ortiz: Strikes out 10 in win
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Ortiz (1-2) earned the win against the Royals on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and two walks with 10 strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Ortiz was a solo homer away from a spotless outing, racking up 16 whiffs on 100 pitches to earn his first win of the season. The 26-year-old owns a 6.06 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 15:6 K:BB across 16.1 innings, though much of the damage to his ratios stems from a seven-run outing March 31. He's slated to face his former team, the Pirates, in Pittsburgh next weekend.
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Guardians' Luis L. Ortiz: Takes loss in quality start
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Ortiz (0-2) yielded three runs on seven hits over six innings Sunday, striking out three and taking a loss against the Angels.
Ortiz gave up two runs in the second inning, starting with Logan O'Hoppe's solo shot. Jorge Soler later went deep with another solo home run in the sixth. Ortiz has been tagged with 10 runs over 10.2 frames in his first two starts of the 2025 campaign after posting a 3.32 ERA across 135.2 innings with Pittsburgh last season. He's currently in line for a home matchup against the Royals next weekend.
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Guardians' Luis L. Ortiz: Six walks allowed
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Ortiz allowed four runs on two hits and six walks while striking out two over four innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Rangers.
It was another rocky outing for Ortiz, who made his fifth Cactus League start. The free passes continued a trend that has seen him walk 11 batters over his last 10.1 spring innings and 12 overall in 14.2 innings. Unsurprisingly, the walks have wreaked havoc on his spring ERA (11.66). Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt told Tim Stebbins of MLB.com that the right-hander's stuff plays when he's in the zone, but Ortiz needs to work on being more consistent with his delivery. "Because when we see him in the zone, we see what he can do. And that's to be an elite pitcher," Vogt said. Ortiz is short on experience in the majors, having appeared in 59 games (34 starts) since his debut in 2022. He'll continue to work with pitching coach Carl Willis to bring out the 2024 version of Ortiz, who posted a 3.32 ERA in 37 games (15 starts) for Pittsburgh.
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Guardians' Luis Ortiz: Knocked around in debut
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Ortiz allowed six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Brewers.
Ortiz gave up three runs in the first and second innings before departing after 37 pitches (20 strikes). He had trouble finding the plate and paid for it. One silver lining was Ortiz's fastball velocity, which topped out at 97.6 mph. Another is that spring games don't count. The right-hander's career took a leap in 2024, when he posted a 3.32 ERA as a swingman for the Pirates, and Ortiz is expected to win a job as a full-time starter in Cleveland.
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Guardians' Luis Ortiz: Dealt to Guardians
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The Pirates traded Ortiz, along with Josh Hartle and Michael Kennedy, to the Guardians on Tuesday in exchange for Spencer Horwitz, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Ortiz took a massive leap in 2024, posting a 3.32 ERA and 1.11 WHIP alongside a 107:42 K:BB in 135.2 innings. The Pirates used him as both a starter and reliever last year, though Shane Bieber's (elbow) injury and a general lack of starter depth could prompt Cleveland to keep Ortiz in its rotation full time.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Goes seven strong in win
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Ortiz (7-6) earned the win against the Brewers on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts over seven innings.
Ortiz allowed a solo home run to Jake Bauers in the second inning but rebounded with five scoreless frames to end his 2024 campaign with a victory. Over his final 10 outings, the 25-year-old compiled four quality starts while yielding two earned runs or fewer five times. He'll finish the season with a solid 3.32 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 107:42 K:BB over a career-high 135.2 innings as both a starter and reliever.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Fans seven in quality start
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Ortiz allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over six innings in a no-decision against St. Louis on Thursday.
Ortiz held the Cardinals scoreless over the first three innings before St. Louis put up a run in the fourth and another in the sixth. The right-hander notched his sixth quality start of the campaign, which is more impressive when considering that only 14 of his 36 appearances have come as a starter. Ortiz also tied his season high with seven punchouts Thursday, a mark he's now achieved three times.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Falls to Kansas City
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Ortiz (6-6) took the loss Friday against the Royals, allowing seven runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out five.
Ortiz and the Pirates fell into a deep hole early after Kansas City put up a six spot in the second inning. The 25-year-old Ortiz has now allowed 11 runs (seven earned) across 9.2 innings in his last two starts. His ERA sits at 3.45 on the year with a 1.13 WHIP and 95:39 K:BB across 122.2 innings. He'll look to right the ship in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week on the road in St. Louis.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Nationals-Pirates postponed
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Ortiz will not start Friday against the Nationals as the game has been postponed due to inclement weather.
Friday's contest will be made up Saturday as part of a doubleheader, and Ortiz will start in the matinee, per Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. The right-hander has appeared in 33 games games this season, including 11 starts, and has a 3.19 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 113 innings.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: No run support in loss
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Ortiz (5-3) took the loss Tuesday against the Padres, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks while striking out three over five innings.
Tuesday marked Ortiz's first loss in eight starts this year and it was his first loss since May 8. The Padres tacked on an unearned run against him in the first due to a fielding error by Oneil Cruz. Ortiz went on to face one over the minimum through the next three innings before David Peralta led off the fifth with a solo home run to right center field. Ortiz has now given up one run or zero in four of his last seven starts and owns a 3.32 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 71:30 K:BB in 95 innings this season. Oritz lines up to face the Rangers on the road next week.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Starting Sunday
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Ortiz will start Sunday's game against the Mets, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
After being deployed as a starter or bulk reliever for most of June, Ortiz had made a two-inning relief appearance in most recent outing Tuesday versus the Cardinals. Given that the 25-year-old covered a season-high six innings in his prior appearance June 26, he should be able to handle a typical starter's workload as he steps back into the rotation Sunday. Through 55 innings on the season, Ortiz owns a 3.27 ERA and a 47:18 K:BB.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Ties career high in Ks
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Ortiz (4-2) picked up the win in Wednesday's 6-1 victory over the Reds, allowing one run on four hits over six innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.
The seven Ks tied the right-hander's career high, set back in September 2022 in his third career MLB start. Ortiz was making his first start of 2024 after spending the first part of the season in a long relief role, and he generated an impressive 19 swinging strikes among his season-high 85 pitches. Martin Perez (groin) is expected to come off the IL this weekend, but Ortiz made a solid case to return to the rotation later in the campaign should a spot open up. Through 53 innings this year, he sports a 3.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 43:18 K:BB.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Earns win in bulk role
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Ortiz (3-2) picked up the win Friday against the Rockies, yielding one run on seven hits and no walks over five innings. He struck out three.
After Carmen Mlodzinski tossed a scoreless opening frame, Ortiz entered in the second as the bulk reliever for a scheduled bullpen day. The Pittsburgh righty held his own at Coors Field in his longest outing of the season, firing 69 pitches en route to his first win since May 5, which also came against Colorado. Ortiz has been a dependable option in the Pirates bullpen, throwing 43 innings with a 2.51 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 33:17 K:BB.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Poor outing in loss
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Ortiz (1-1) allowed three earned runs on two hits and a walk while striking out none across 1.2 innings to take the loss Tuesday against the Mets.
Ortiz entered the game in the sixth inning, immediately following Jared Jones while being tasked with protecting a one-run lead. He retired the first four batters he faced but then ran into trouble by allowing three consecutive hitters to reach base. Ortiz was then let down by Jose Hernandez, who allowed two inherited runners to score. Ortiz has been used in multi-inning relief after losing out on a rotation spot in spring training, and he's posted a subpar 5:6 K:BB in his first 9.1 innings of work.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Opening in bullpen
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Ortiz will begin the season as a long reliever in the bullpen, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
The 25-year-old made a solid case for a rotation spot during spring training with a 3.46 ERA, and 15:7 K:BB across 13 innings, but Bailey Falter and Jared Jones will begin the campaign as Pittsburgh's Nos. 4 and 5 starters. Ortiz should remain stretched out and should see some action as a bulk reliever, especially as a right-handed complement to lefties like Martin Perez and Marco Gonzales.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Another turn in rotation
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Ortiz will start Saturday's game against the Yankees, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.
Ortiz is set to take his third turn through the Pittsburgh rotation, and he's allowed three earned runs across 11.1 innings in his last two starts. He's only posted a 4:5 K:BB in that same span, a far less impressive mark. More positively, Ortiz should be able to handle a typical starter's workload.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Limits damage against Atlanta
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Ortiz allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out none across 5.1 innings Sunday against Atlanta. He did not factor into the decision.
Ortiz limited the damage against one of the tougher lineups in the league and held Atlanta without any extra-base hits. While his ability to suppress runs is positive, Ortiz lacked the ability to miss bats and racked up only five swinging strikes across 73 total pitches. That contrast has been present since he was promoted back to the majors Aug. 23, as he's maintained a respectable 4.12 ERA but has only a 14:12 K:BB across 19.2 frames.
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Pirates' Luis Ortiz: Nabs win Monday
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Ortiz (4-4) earned the win over Milwaukee on Monday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters over six innings.
Ortiz worked as the Pirates' primary pitcher in relief in his last outing before returning to a traditional starter role Monday. The right-hander fell behind 2-0 in the second inning but didn't allow any other runs and moved into position for the win when Pittsburgh tallied four runs over the fifth and sixth frames. Ortiz ended up tossing 84 pitches over six innings, marking the third time he's pitched at least that many frames in an outing this season. The 24-year-old has posted a mediocre 4.90 ERA and 1.74 WHIP over 68 innings on the campaign, but he's yielded just three runs over 11 frames during his past two appearances, which should be enough to help him continue to hold down a spot in the rotation.
