Kyle Hurt: Everything you need to know

Hurt (1-1) took the loss and was charged with a blown save Wednesday against Pittsburgh, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks over one-third of an inning. Hurt was summoned to begin the eighth frame with the Dodgers up 6-4. He quickly gave up the lead by issuing two walks, which were followed by a Tyler Callihan three-run homer. Hurt then surrendered two more hits before being replaced by Jack Dreyer, and the only out Hurt recorded came when Jake Mangum was caught stealing. The poor outing was the continuation of a rough stretch for Hurt, who has given up eight earned runs over his past 3.1 frames spanning four appearances. Prior to that, the right-hander had been extremely effective, pitching to a 1.00 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with a 21:4 K:BB through his first 18 innings of the season.

Hurt struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Rockies. Tanner Scott was deployed in the eighth inning to handle a high-leverage spot, though that left the middle of the Rockies' order to Hurt in the ninth. Hurt did what he's been doing basically all year and delivered a quality outing, retiring the side on 15 pitches (11 strikes). He saw his scoreless streak end Monday when he served up a solo home run, but that was just the second run he's allowed all season. The right-handed reliever has worked his way into the late-inning mix with a 1.06 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB through 17 innings, and he's earned a save and three holds over his last eight outings. Hurt won't be the first choice for saves, but he's showing he can be trusted.

Hurt notched a hold against the Padres on Wednesday, allowing two hits and striking out one batter over one scoreless inning. Hurt was deployed in a high-leverage situation, entering in the eighth frame with the Dodgers up 3-0. He allowed two singles (one of which was an infield hit) but managed to get out of the inning unscathed in the scoring column by inducing a double play. Hurt gave up a run in his first outing of the season (April 15 versus the Mets) but has since tossed 13 straight scoreless frames over 13 appearances, posting a dominant 0.69 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB during that span. Hurt didn't record a hold in any of his first nine outings but has two over six appearances since. Given how effective he's been, he may be looking at more frequent high-leverage work moving forward.