Harang gave up four runs on nine hits over six innings against the Cubs in a losing effort on Friday afternoon.
He hasn't won since May 25, although the Reds are 4-7 during the span. Harang has been far too hittable this season, and his home-run rate has been a major issue as well. The good news here is that he's been the victim of an inflated .347 BABIP (.313 career), but the bad news it that his issues with home runs aren't exclusive to pitching in Cincinnati. With two more homers allowed on Friday, Harang has now surrendered 12 long balls in 66 innings on the road this season compared to seven in 61 innings at home.
San Diego rookie Mat Latos will be his second career start, the 21-year-old right-hander allowed two runs - off a pair of homers - and five hits while striking out five in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-2 win at Washington on Friday for his first win.
San Diego hasn't won two in a row since June 27-28 at Texas
He hasn't won since May 25, although the Reds are 4-7 during the span. Harang has been far too hittable this season, and his home-run rate has been a major issue as well. The good news here is that he's been the victim of an inflated .347 BABIP (.313 career), but the bad news it that his issues with home runs aren't exclusive to pitching in Cincinnati. With two more homers allowed on Friday, Harang has now surrendered 12 long balls in 66 innings on the road this season compared to seven in 61 innings at home.
San Diego rookie Mat Latos will be his second career start, the 21-year-old right-hander allowed two runs - off a pair of homers - and five hits while striking out five in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-2 win at Washington on Friday for his first win.
San Diego hasn't won two in a row since June 27-28 at Texas
Jason Hammel hopes that he can win for the first time since a 4-2 victory at Oakland on June 26.
The right-hander, who is getting his first start against the Mets, is 0-2 with a 4.45 ERA in his last five outings. However, he's received two runs or fewer of support in four of those starts, including one in each of the last two.
Johan Santana was hit hard by the Astros on Friday, allowing five earned runs on 12 hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.
Friday's loss marked the end of an incredible run of second-half success for the ace left-hander, as Santana suffered his first post-break defeat since Sept. 26, 2007 when he was still a member of the Twins. Since then, he's gone 9-0 over his last 16 second-half starts, including a win against the Braves his last time out
The right-hander, who is getting his first start against the Mets, is 0-2 with a 4.45 ERA in his last five outings. However, he's received two runs or fewer of support in four of those starts, including one in each of the last two.
Johan Santana was hit hard by the Astros on Friday, allowing five earned runs on 12 hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.
Friday's loss marked the end of an incredible run of second-half success for the ace left-hander, as Santana suffered his first post-break defeat since Sept. 26, 2007 when he was still a member of the Twins. Since then, he's gone 9-0 over his last 16 second-half starts, including a win against the Braves his last time out
Joba Chamberlain cruised past the A's on Friday, tossing seven sharp innings of one-run, two-hit ball to improve to 6-2.
Chamberlain left to a standing ovation at Yankee Stadium for the second start in a row, the first time he's earned back-to-back wins all year. He needed just 51 pitches through the first four innings, helping him pitch into the eighth inning for the first time since June 1. In his two starts since the All-Star break, he's lowered his ERA from 4.25 to 3.86.
Everything seems to be clicking for Chamberlain since he spent the All-Star break relaxing in Nebraska. In two second-half outings, the big righty has given up two earned runs in 13 2/3 innings, good for a 1.08 ERA. On the other hand, command problems dogged him during the first half, and issuing six second-half walks does little to inspire confidence. The stuff is there, and he's communicating more with Yankees coaches and catcher Jorge Posada. Consider Joba a work in progress until the walks come down
Garza was brilliant on Friday night, allowing only two runs over nine innings, striking out nine while walking none.
He picked up the win to improve his record to 7-7, while lowering his ERA to 3.68. It's worth noting that Garza had a 3.39 ERA for the second half of the season in 2008.
Chamberlain left to a standing ovation at Yankee Stadium for the second start in a row, the first time he's earned back-to-back wins all year. He needed just 51 pitches through the first four innings, helping him pitch into the eighth inning for the first time since June 1. In his two starts since the All-Star break, he's lowered his ERA from 4.25 to 3.86.
Everything seems to be clicking for Chamberlain since he spent the All-Star break relaxing in Nebraska. In two second-half outings, the big righty has given up two earned runs in 13 2/3 innings, good for a 1.08 ERA. On the other hand, command problems dogged him during the first half, and issuing six second-half walks does little to inspire confidence. The stuff is there, and he's communicating more with Yankees coaches and catcher Jorge Posada. Consider Joba a work in progress until the walks come down
Garza was brilliant on Friday night, allowing only two runs over nine innings, striking out nine while walking none.
He picked up the win to improve his record to 7-7, while lowering his ERA to 3.68. It's worth noting that Garza had a 3.39 ERA for the second half of the season in 2008.
Kenshin Kawakami allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks with one strikeout over five innings and took a no-decision Thursday against the Giants.
Kawakami pitched well in this game, but threw 97 pitches in five innings and couldn't stick around long enough to pick up a win. Longevity has often been an issue for the right-hander this season, as evidenced by just three decisions in his last eight turns
Johnson improved to 9-2 on Friday, holding the Dodgers to three runs over seven solid innings.
Johnson's ERA rose six points to 2.80, but it was the 16th consecutive start in which Johnson has surrendered three or fewer runs. If the Marlins could ever find some consistency beyond Johnson and Ricky Nolasco, they'd be a real threat to nab a playoff spot.
Kawakami pitched well in this game, but threw 97 pitches in five innings and couldn't stick around long enough to pick up a win. Longevity has often been an issue for the right-hander this season, as evidenced by just three decisions in his last eight turns
Johnson improved to 9-2 on Friday, holding the Dodgers to three runs over seven solid innings.
Johnson's ERA rose six points to 2.80, but it was the 16th consecutive start in which Johnson has surrendered three or fewer runs. If the Marlins could ever find some consistency beyond Johnson and Ricky Nolasco, they'd be a real threat to nab a playoff spot.
Brett Anderson made a splendid return to the mound on Sunday, scattering a pair of hits and fanning six over eight scoreless innings vs. the Angels in a no-decision effort.
If there was any concern about the rookie's lower back stiffness affecting his game, there shouldn't be after an effort in which he took a perfect game into the seventh inning. Anderson has more than lived up to the hype that accompanied his arrival to the bigs this year. The lefty, who has a 21-inning shutout streak going, is 2-0 with a 0.34 ERA over his past four starts. Opponents are hitting .124 during that stretch. Anderson has established himself as a must-start in all formats
Penny scattered five hits across 6.1 innings Friday against Baltimore, limiting the Orioles to just one unearned run. He struck out four without issuing a walk. He improved his record to 7-4 this season.
It was another solid Fenway start for Penny, who is 5-1 with a 4.02 ERA at home compared to 2-3 with a 5.51 mark on the road.
If there was any concern about the rookie's lower back stiffness affecting his game, there shouldn't be after an effort in which he took a perfect game into the seventh inning. Anderson has more than lived up to the hype that accompanied his arrival to the bigs this year. The lefty, who has a 21-inning shutout streak going, is 2-0 with a 0.34 ERA over his past four starts. Opponents are hitting .124 during that stretch. Anderson has established himself as a must-start in all formats
Penny scattered five hits across 6.1 innings Friday against Baltimore, limiting the Orioles to just one unearned run. He struck out four without issuing a walk. He improved his record to 7-4 this season.
It was another solid Fenway start for Penny, who is 5-1 with a 4.02 ERA at home compared to 2-3 with a 5.51 mark on the road.
Justin Verlander cruised to his 11th win of the season Friday, allowing an unearned run on six hits and four walks with four strikeouts in a complete game against the White Sox.
Don’t let the relatively low K total fool you: Verlander was dominant in this outing. The right-hander threw 65% of his 127 pitches for strikes and coaxed 10 ground balls from the weak-hitting Chicago lineup. He now has a 0.78 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP over his last three turns
Scott Feldman had his mojo working Friday, tossing eight scoreless innings of four-hit, three-walk ball with a couple of punchouts against the Royals.
Feldman has been zoned-in lately, going 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA over his last five outings -- all quality starts. The emerging right-hander entered Friday's contest having allowed 10.16 baserunners per nine innings, the fifth lowest among AL starters, and he hasn't allowed more than 10 batters to reach base in any of his 17 starts this season.
Don’t let the relatively low K total fool you: Verlander was dominant in this outing. The right-hander threw 65% of his 127 pitches for strikes and coaxed 10 ground balls from the weak-hitting Chicago lineup. He now has a 0.78 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP over his last three turns
Scott Feldman had his mojo working Friday, tossing eight scoreless innings of four-hit, three-walk ball with a couple of punchouts against the Royals.
Feldman has been zoned-in lately, going 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA over his last five outings -- all quality starts. The emerging right-hander entered Friday's contest having allowed 10.16 baserunners per nine innings, the fifth lowest among AL starters, and he hasn't allowed more than 10 batters to reach base in any of his 17 starts this season.
Making his first starting appearance thi season, Garrett Mock was tagged for four earned runs on eight hits over just 3 1/3 innings.
Mock had spent the majority of his limited time in the Majors as a reliever, but his dominance as a starter at Triple-A Syracuse combined with Ross Detwiler's struggles led to the rotation switch. This was clearly not the outing the Nationals had in mind as Mock did little to prove he deserves a rotation spot. That said, sporting the worst record in the majors, the club appears content letting their young righty figure things out at the big league level.
Manny Parra took a loss against the Braves on Friday after giving up four earned runs on 10 hits and three walks with three strikeouts over five innings.
Parra, who was so good in his first two outings since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville (1-0, 0.69, ERA, 13/4 K/BB ratio) just didn't have it Friday. His latest start could serve as a perfect microcosm for his season. When he's good, Parra can be downright filthy, as his 3.00 ERA and 22 Ks in 24 innings over his four wins would indicate. But in Parra's eight '09 losses, he's been torched for a 10.54 ERA and has nearly as many walks (25) as he does strikeouts (27). He should have an easier time of it on July 29 vs. the Nationals, but with Parra, you just never know.
Mock had spent the majority of his limited time in the Majors as a reliever, but his dominance as a starter at Triple-A Syracuse combined with Ross Detwiler's struggles led to the rotation switch. This was clearly not the outing the Nationals had in mind as Mock did little to prove he deserves a rotation spot. That said, sporting the worst record in the majors, the club appears content letting their young righty figure things out at the big league level.
Manny Parra took a loss against the Braves on Friday after giving up four earned runs on 10 hits and three walks with three strikeouts over five innings.
Parra, who was so good in his first two outings since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville (1-0, 0.69, ERA, 13/4 K/BB ratio) just didn't have it Friday. His latest start could serve as a perfect microcosm for his season. When he's good, Parra can be downright filthy, as his 3.00 ERA and 22 Ks in 24 innings over his four wins would indicate. But in Parra's eight '09 losses, he's been torched for a 10.54 ERA and has nearly as many walks (25) as he does strikeouts (27). He should have an easier time of it on July 29 vs. the Nationals, but with Parra, you just never know.
Contreras will fill in for Bartolo Colon, who was scratched from Wednesday night's road start against the Twins, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Contreras struck out eight and walked one (while giving up four runs in 6.2 innings) in his last outing -- a bit of a mixed bag -- plus, the White Sox are 2-13 in their past 15 games at the Metrodome, so temper your expectations here.
Liriano struggled against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, allowing six runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-3 loss. He gave up three home runs for the second time in his career.
The left-hander has made two forgettable starts against the White Sox this season, going 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA over a combined 8 2-3 innings. He's walked seven, given up two home runs and hit a batter.
Contreras struck out eight and walked one (while giving up four runs in 6.2 innings) in his last outing -- a bit of a mixed bag -- plus, the White Sox are 2-13 in their past 15 games at the Metrodome, so temper your expectations here.
Liriano struggled against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, allowing six runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-3 loss. He gave up three home runs for the second time in his career.
The left-hander has made two forgettable starts against the White Sox this season, going 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA over a combined 8 2-3 innings. He's walked seven, given up two home runs and hit a batter.
Kershaw allowed three runs (two earned) on Friday against the Marlins, but did not factor into the decision.
That's 13 straight starts in which Kershaw has allowed three or fewer runs. The 63 walks in 112.2 innings are a concern, but the 21-year-old chips in 110 strikeouts, so we'll live with the lack of command for now.
Pineiro tossed six scoreless innings Friday night at Philadelphia, limiting the potent Phillies offense to just four hits.
Pineiro has given up three earned runs or fewer in nine consecutive starts, lowering his ERA to 2.95 and his WHIP to a nifty 1.08.
That's 13 straight starts in which Kershaw has allowed three or fewer runs. The 63 walks in 112.2 innings are a concern, but the 21-year-old chips in 110 strikeouts, so we'll live with the lack of command for now.
Pineiro tossed six scoreless innings Friday night at Philadelphia, limiting the potent Phillies offense to just four hits.
Pineiro has given up three earned runs or fewer in nine consecutive starts, lowering his ERA to 2.95 and his WHIP to a nifty 1.08.
