[BBL] 26-Jul-10

Monday's streaking and slumping starting pitchers

By SportsDirect Inc. staff

Streaking

Max Scherzer (7-7, 4.43 ERA), Detroit Tigers

Scouts never doubted this Missouri native’s big league potential, but there were some concerns if he could keep his walk rate down. Scherzer is a strikeout pitcher who battles his instincts, which are to keep the ball off the plate.

The former Diamondback prospect is still walking his share of batters and he isn’t exactly breezing through innings, but he’s getting the job done.

He’s collected quality starts in six of his last eight appearances and the Tigers are 5-2 in his last seven outings. The under is 5-1 the last six times the righty has toed the rubber.

Ricky Nolasco (10-7, 4.50 ERA), Florida Marlins

Josh Johnson’s assertion as the Marlins’ No. 1 starting pitcher might have been the best thing for Nolasco’s progression. The youngster began 2009 as Florida’s Opening Day starter but struggled through an up and down campaign.

And while there have been some shaky moments, 2010 has been much kinder to the 27-year-old hurler. He remains one of the league’s top strikeout artists (50 K’s compared to just eight walks in his last 40 1/3 innings) and Florida is racking up the wins with him on the bump.

The Marlins are 5-1 in his last six appearances and the under is 4-0 the last four times he’s taken the hill.

Slumping

Carlos Silva (9-4, 3.86 ERA), Chicago Cubs

The Cubs most consistent hurler has hit a recent snag. He’s been knocked out before the end of the second inning in each of his last two starts, surrendering 11 earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings.

"I'm still human," Silva, who started the year 8-0 with a 2.93 ERA, told reporters after getting shelled in a second straight outing. "I think that's the way we have to look at it. These games are going to happen. Everything I was throwing it was hit."

The Cubbies are now 1-6 in Silva’s last seven trips to the bump.

Bradley Bergesen (3-8, 6.51 ERA), Baltimore Orioles

The 2010 Orioles are full of underachievers and Bergesen hasn’t done much to disprove the theory. The 24-year-old righty has just one quality start in his last five trips to the bump and the Orioles are 1-8 in his last nine starts.

He’s allowed five home runs in his last four outings but the under is surprisingly a perfect 4-0 in those games.