Paxton (5-1) took the loss Wednesday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits and two walks across 1.2 innings against Pittsburgh. He struck out two.
Paxton retired the side in the first inning but endured a nightmare second frame. He gave up a walk, three singles and a double to the first five batters he faced as part of a seven-run inning by the Pirates that Paxton didn't finish. The veteran lefty has been shaky over his last four starts, surrendering 15 runs over 15.1 innings while allowing multiple homers in two of those outings and Wednesday's start ballooned Paxton's ERA from 3.29 to 4.19. He'll look to get back on track with a scheduled start against the Rangers on Tuesday.
Paxton came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 10-3 win over the Mets, giving up two hits over three scoreless innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.
The veteran lefty was pitching on just four days' rest, and per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, was told prior to the outing that his workload would be limited. Paxton wound up tossing exactly 50 pitches (29 strikes), as the Dodgers effectively went with a bullpen day and used six relievers after he left the mound. Paxton will take a 3.29 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 31:28 K:BB through 52 innings into his next outing -- when he should see a more usual workload in a road start against the Pirates.
Paxton allowed five runs on five hits and four walks over 4.2 innings in a no-decision Friday. He struck out four during the Dodgers' loss to the Reds.
Paxton got off to a rough start by yielding a three-run shot to Spencer Steer in the first inning. The Reds's bats then went quiet until a six-run fifth inning. Paxton was charged with two of those as he gave up a season-high five runs during his shortest outing of the year. The veteran southpaw saw his ERA jump from 2.84 to 3.49 through 49 frames. Paxton is still 5-0 despite some recent struggles (4.13 ERA over his last five starts). His next outing is projected to come on the road against the Mets next week.
Dodgers' James Paxton: Quality start in no-decision
Rotowire
Paxton allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out two without walking a batter over six innings in a no-decision versus the Reds on Friday.
Paxton did fine, though he gave up solo home runs to Stuart Fairchild and Tyler Stephenson to account for two of the three runs on his line. After posting just one quality start over five outings in April, Paxton has settled in with three in a row to begin May. The southpaw has done well at run prevention this year with a 2.84 ERA despite a 1.38 WHIP and 24:24 K:BB through 44.1 innings over eight starts. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Diamondbacks.
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Dodgers' James Paxton: Hurls six shutout innings in win
Rotowire
Paxton (5-0) earned the win over the Padres on Saturday, pitching six shutout innings while allowing four hits and striking out four.
Paxton never found himself in any serious trouble throughout the contest, allowing only one extra-base hit as the Dodgers cruised to a shutout win. The veteran lefty threw 15 of 22 first pitches for strikes and produced 10 whiffs on the night en route to earning his fifth win of the campaign. Paxton has allowed one run or fewer in back-to-back starts and in four of his seven outings this season. Saturday also marked his first start this season in which he didn't issue a walk.
Dodgers' James Paxton: Bests Atlanta for fourth win
Rotowire
Paxton (4-0) earned the win over Atlanta on Sunday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out three over 6.2 innings.
The only real damage against Paxton came from a solo home run to Marcell Ozuna in the seventh. Paxton put together his most efficient outing of the year, needing only 84 pitches to get 20 outs, as his two walks were his fewest in a start since April 8. Paxton's strikeout numbers remain significantly lower compared to his career numbers, but he's still finding ways to grind out results. He now owns a 3.06 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 18:24 K:BB in 32.1 innings and lines up to face the Padres on the road next weekend.
Paxton (3-0) earned the win over Arizona on Monday, allowing four runs on six hits and five walks while striking out four batters over five innings.
Paxton gave up constant traffic on the basepaths and needed 96 pitches to get through just five frames, but a potent Dodgers offense gave him enough support to keep his record spotless at 3-0 for the season. Despite the veteran southpaw's clean record, he's been a volatile rotation option for Los Angeles due largely to his control issues -- Paxton has walked five or more batters on three occasions this season after doing so only five times total across his first 10 big-league campaigns. Though Paxton has thus far done what it takes to pick up wins in spite of the issue with free passes, fantasy managers may be hesitant to deploy him given his ugly 15:22 K:BB and 1.68 WHIP through 25.2 innings on the season.
