Matthew Liberatore: Everything you need to know

Liberatore (2-3) took the loss Monday against the Brewers, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts across five innings. After recording a career-high nine strikeouts in his previous start against the Pirates, Liberatore took no time in setting a new career best with 10 versus Milwaukee. Despite having the strikeout stuff working of late, Liberatore's results have left a lot to be desired, as he again failed to go six innings for the fifth time in his last six starts and has given up three runs or more in three straight starts and six of his last nine outings. The left-hander has a disappointing 4.76 ERA and 53:29 K:BB across 56.2 innings this season. His xERA of 5.67 suggests Liberatore has been lucky to avoid more trouble. Batters are hitting the ball hard off him with a 91.4 average exit velocity.

Liberatore allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out nine batters over 4.2 innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Liberatore began the game well, opening with four scoreless frames. However, he lost steam in the fifth, giving up four runs on four hits and two walks before being pulled. While that soured Liberatore's outing significantly, a positive takeaway is that he racked up 13 whiffs and a season-high nine punchouts after previously not striking out more than six batters in any appearance. Liberatore will carry a mediocre 4.70 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 43:20 K:BB across 51.2 innings into his next start, which is lined up to be a road matchup against Cincinnati.

Liberatore (2-2) allowed four runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings to take the loss Wednesday versus the Athletics. Liberatore got through four innings just fine despite putting some traffic on the bases. Nick Kurtz was able to cash in for the Athletics in the fifth with a grand slam, and that was the decisive hit in the game, sending Liberatore to his first loss since April 13 versus the Guardians. Very few of Liberatore's starts have been in the middle of the road -- he's allowed two runs or fewer five times, but he's given up four or more runs in his other four outings. He's at a 4.40 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 34:18 K:BB through 47 innings this season. The southpaw is projected to make his next start at home versus the Pirates, but his fantasy appeal is fairly low due to his poor strikeout (6.5 K/9) and walk (3.5 BB/9) rates.