Friday's streaking and slumping pitchers
By JASON LOGAN
Streaking
Rich Harden, Chicago Cubs (10-2, 2.03 ERA)
Harden was scheduled to pitch Tuesday, but had his start pushed to Thursday. The right-handed hurler is 5-1 in his previous 10 appearances and has allowed just five earned runs over the past six games.
The Cubs have locked up the NL Central, however, they can play spoiler to the Mets’ playoff hopes. Harden has never faced New York.
Roy Oswalt, Houston Astros (16-10, 3.51 ERA)
Oswalt is back on track after suffering just his second loss in 10 games last week. Houston’s ace rebounded with a six-inning, one-run effort in a 6-2 win over the Pirates Sunday.
Oswalt has an ERA of 1.67 over his last 10 with a 56/12 strikeout-to-walk count.
The righty has dominated Cincinnati with a 22-1 record and 2.51 ERA over 27 games. Oswalt added to that total with three wins over the Reds this year. He did, however, leave his last start with a sore neck and is throwing on short rest.
Slumping
Jake Peavy, San Diego Padres (9-11, 2.77 ERA)
Peavy has watched his record go south after losing five of his last eight starts. His most recent showing was a 5-2 loss to the Giants in which Peavy allowed five runs on 11 hits in eight innings.
In Peavy’s defense, he hasn’t had the bats to back him up during this skid. He has a solid ERA, just under three in his last 10, but an average of just 2.6 runs of support.
Pedro Martinez, New York Mets (5-6, 5.50 ERA)
Pedro’s place on the team has been in question ever since the Mets brought in Johan Santana during the offseason. Martinez’s sub-par performances have sparked talk about where the veteran right-hander will end up next season.
He has dropped his last three starts and has allowed just as many earned runs as innings pitched (16) during that span. His breaking balls just aren’t breaking and his fastball doesn’t have the command it once did.