Streaking and Slumping Pitchers
Streaking
Zach Greinke (Kansas City Royals)
The ace pitcher should start clearing a spot on his mantle for the AL Cy Young.
Greinke (15-8, 2.08 ERA) has been nothing short of dominant in his past six starts. Over that span, he has allowed just six earned runs over 43 innings. In his most recent start, a 5-1 win over Boston, he gave up only two hits over six innings. Opponents are batting just .228 against Greinke this season, who leads the AL in ERA and has pitched six complete games.
"I am biased," Trey Hillman, the Royals manager told the Associated Press. "Part of that bias is I've seen all his starts. I have a very difficult time believing there is anybody better in the major leagues, that's as good a pitcher as Zack Greinke is in the year 2009."
David Price (Tampa Bay Rays)
The Rays may finally have found their ace of the future.
Bearing with an up-and-down season, Price (9-7, 4.41 ERA) has won his past two decisions and finally is pitching like the star the team believed he was at the beginning of the year. In his past three outings – all quality starts – he has allowed just six earned runs in his past 19 2-3 innings. And Price says his best is yet to come.
"I did what I had to do," Price told the Associated Press. "I didn't have my good stuff and I was able to go out there and compete with what I did have and that's good."
Slumping
Matt Cain (San Francisco Giants)
It’s no surprise that the Giants have fallen off the pace for the NL Wild Card at the same time Cain has begun to struggle.
Cain (13-7, 2.99 ERA) has lost each of his past three starts and has given up at least four runs in three of his past four outings, seeing his ERA balloon by more than half a run. In his most recent outing, Cain was tagged for seven earned runs on eight hits in just 2 1-3 innings against the Rockies.
"It's been bad. All of us have not done what we wanted to do," Cain told the Associated Press. "It's very disappointing. I feel like I let a lot of guys down."
Patrick Misch (New York Mets)
The 28 year old has provided little more than batting practice for opposing lineups this year.
Misch (1-4, 5.59 ERA) was called up on August 25, but has failed to make an impact in the Big Apple. The left-hander has allowed at least four earned runs in each of his past three starts and has struggled to get past the sixth inning. In his most recent start, he gave up eight earned runs on seven hits, including three home runs, in just 1 1-3 innings against the Braves.
"I really threw bad pitches," Misch told the Associated Press. "I Just elevated, too much plate. The last two starts I haven't pitched down low."
Streaking
Zach Greinke (Kansas City Royals)
The ace pitcher should start clearing a spot on his mantle for the AL Cy Young.
Greinke (15-8, 2.08 ERA) has been nothing short of dominant in his past six starts. Over that span, he has allowed just six earned runs over 43 innings. In his most recent start, a 5-1 win over Boston, he gave up only two hits over six innings. Opponents are batting just .228 against Greinke this season, who leads the AL in ERA and has pitched six complete games.
"I am biased," Trey Hillman, the Royals manager told the Associated Press. "Part of that bias is I've seen all his starts. I have a very difficult time believing there is anybody better in the major leagues, that's as good a pitcher as Zack Greinke is in the year 2009."
David Price (Tampa Bay Rays)
The Rays may finally have found their ace of the future.
Bearing with an up-and-down season, Price (9-7, 4.41 ERA) has won his past two decisions and finally is pitching like the star the team believed he was at the beginning of the year. In his past three outings – all quality starts – he has allowed just six earned runs in his past 19 2-3 innings. And Price says his best is yet to come.
"I did what I had to do," Price told the Associated Press. "I didn't have my good stuff and I was able to go out there and compete with what I did have and that's good."
Slumping
Matt Cain (San Francisco Giants)
It’s no surprise that the Giants have fallen off the pace for the NL Wild Card at the same time Cain has begun to struggle.
Cain (13-7, 2.99 ERA) has lost each of his past three starts and has given up at least four runs in three of his past four outings, seeing his ERA balloon by more than half a run. In his most recent outing, Cain was tagged for seven earned runs on eight hits in just 2 1-3 innings against the Rockies.
"It's been bad. All of us have not done what we wanted to do," Cain told the Associated Press. "It's very disappointing. I feel like I let a lot of guys down."
Patrick Misch (New York Mets)
The 28 year old has provided little more than batting practice for opposing lineups this year.
Misch (1-4, 5.59 ERA) was called up on August 25, but has failed to make an impact in the Big Apple. The left-hander has allowed at least four earned runs in each of his past three starts and has struggled to get past the sixth inning. In his most recent start, he gave up eight earned runs on seven hits, including three home runs, in just 1 1-3 innings against the Braves.
"I really threw bad pitches," Misch told the Associated Press. "I Just elevated, too much plate. The last two starts I haven't pitched down low."
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