27 Lucas Giolito SP

Giolito (10-11) allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out one through six innings, taking the loss Sunday against the Orioles.

Giolito got hit hard early in his outing, surrendering five first-inning runs and then another in the fourth. He'd exit the game with a two-run lead after tossing 61 of 98 pitches for strikes. Through 30 starts in 2018, the 24-year-old has struggled to a 5.77 ERA with a 118:83 K:BB over 165.1 innings. Giolito will search for a better outcome in his next appearance Saturday against the Cubs.

Giolito allowed an earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out eight across 6.1 innings Thursday against the Red Sox. He did not factor into the decision.

Giolito held the powerful Red Sox lineup without an extra-base hit and allowed only two runners to reach scoring position. He generated an impressive 14 swinging strikes on his way to matching his highest strikeout total of the season. While Giolito has still been hit hard in a few starts, he has flashed the skills that made him a hyped pitching prospect only two seasons ago by posting a 4.58 ERA with 47 strikeouts across 47.2 innings in eight post All-Star break starts.

Giolito (10-9) picked up the win Saturday against the Tigers, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out six across seven innings.

Giolito was locked in Saturday, firing 76 of his 106 pitches for strikes in what was one of his best outings this season. The right-hander has now compiled four quality starts in five appearances this month, lowering his ERA to 5.85. The right-hander was blown up for seven runs in his other August start -- which came against the Yankees -- but he's proven serviceable when the matchup is favorable. Giolito is probably best left on the bench with his next start coming against the Red Sox on Thursday.

Giolito (9-9) gave up three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six in six innings Monday against the Twins. He picked up the win.

He now has quality starts in six of his last eight outings, with a couple blowup starts mixed in. Giolito has lowered his ERA from 6.93 to 6.08 over that stretch, and while he is still a pretty risky play, he can be used in strategic spot starts against weaker lineups down the stretch. Such a matchup is on tap when he faces the Tigers in Detroit on Sunday.

Giolito (7-9) got the loss Wednesday, allowing seven runs on six hits and three walks while striking out two over five innings against the Yankees.

Much of the damage came in a six-run second inning, and the big blow came via a Giancarlo Stanton grand slam -- one of two home runs Giolito yielded. The 24-year-old seemed to be turning a corner of late with quality starts in four of his last five starts prior to Wednesday, but he's now been knocked around for at least five in two of his last three. Wednesday's outing pushes his ERA and WHIP back up to 6.23 and 1.50, respectively, to go along with just 84:71 K:BB over 125.2 innings. Next up is a road start in Detroit on Tuesday.