Saturday's Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking
Scott Kazmir, Los Angeles Angels
Like other Angels pitchers, Kazmir has had his outstanding performances wasted by the Halos' lack of run support. Since coming over from the Rays, the left-hander is jus 1-2 in five starts but owns a 2.01 ERA during those appearances.
His most recent start was a six-inning, six-hit, three-run showing against the Yankees which earned Kazmir a loss after Los Angeles mustered only two runs. He struck out four batters in that start, giving him 23 strikeouts and just nine walks in his time in La-La Land.
Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals
Can someone tell Zack Greinke he’s already a shoe-in for the American League Cy Young.
The Royals star righty has put together a monster year but is still going strong, leaving no doubt to who is the best pitcher in the AL. Greinke is 6-3 in his 14 starts since the break and posts a 1.97 ERA in that span. This month, Greinke has been even better. He owns a 3-0 record and a near invisible ERA of 0.55.
Slumping
David Bush, Milwaukee Brewers
As bad as Dave Bush has been in his last three starts, he still has a win during this span. The Brew Crew’s starter has allowed 14 total runs in his last three trips to the bump including a five-earned run blowout in just over four innings.
Bush hasn’t gone past the sixth inning in this span and lugs an 11.12 ERA in those three starts.
Debuting
Daniel Cabrera, Arizona Diamondbacks
You know the Diamondbacks are packing it in when they hand the ball to Daniel Cabrera.
The former Orioles and Nationals pitcher will make his first start since joining Arizona earlier this summer. He has made five relief appearances with the D-backs, putting in just six innings of work and posting a 7.50 ERA.
In his time with Washington, the once promising right-hander had a 0-5 record with a 5.85 ERA in nine games before being released in June.
Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Saturday, October 3
Kansas City at Minnesota (4:10 p.m. EDT). Royals ace Zack Greinke (16-8, 2.06 ERA) gets one more chance to impress Cy Young Award voters and play spoiler against the Twins, who are trying to win the AL Central.
STARS
Friday
— B.J. Upton, Rays, became the first player in Tampa Bay history to hit for the cycle. He went 5 for 5 with a career-high six RBIs in a 13-4 win over the Yankees.
— Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies, struck out 10 in six innings as Colorado beat the Dodgers 4-3.
— Delmon Young, Twins, hit his first career grand slam and drove in five runs as Minnesota beat Kansas City 10-7.
— Jake Peavy, White Sox, pitched two-hit ball for eight innings in an 8-0 win at Detroit.
— Michael Aubrey, Orioles, hit his first career grand slam and a two-run homer to lead Baltimore over Toronto 13-7.
— Jered Weaver, Angels, pitched five scoreless innings in his final playoff tuneup, beating Oakland 5-2.
— John Maine, Mets, beat Houston 7-1. He became the first Mets pitcher to win six consecutive home starts since Sid Fernandez in 1990.
RACY
Detroit led the AL Central by one game over Minnesota going into Saturday’s matchups—the Tigers vs. the White Sox and the Twins vs. the Royals. … The Dodgers led the NL West by one game over Colorado. The Rockies and Los Angeles play Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.
NOT SEEING 20-20
Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals and CC Sabathia of the Yankees both were denied in bids to post their 20th victories. Wainwright got a no-decision in St. Louis’ 12-6 defeat by Milwaukee, while Sabathia took the loss in a 13-4 romp by the Rays.
UH OH
Boston shortstop Alex Gonzalez was hit on the right hand by a pitch from Cleveland’s Kerry Wood. An X-ray showed “a line” on the outside part of his hand. More X-rays were scheduled for Saturday. The Red Sox got Gonzalez in a trade with Cincinnati in mid-August to fill their void in the infield, and have little depth behind him.
SLUMPS
Detroit’s Edwin Jackson (13-9) gave up a career-high eight runs over five-plus innings in a loss to Chicago. … The Dodgers’ 4-3 loss to Colorado was their season-worst fifth in a row. … Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez matched a career high by striking out four times. … Cleveland set a club record with its 13th consecutive road loss in a 6-2 defeat at Boston, breaking the mark set in 1963 and tied in 1991.
ON THE BOARD
Jeff Manship (1-1) earned his first major league victory, pitching Minnesota past the Royals 10-7. The rookie righty (1-1) gave up three earned runs in 5 1-3 innings.
SWINGS
Chipper Jones, who won the NL batting title last season by hitting .364, was 100 points below that mark with two games left. He went 0 for 5 to fall to .264 in Atlanta’s 6-3 loss to Washington. … The Nationals, who lead the majors with 103 losses, won their fifth in a row. … Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright hit his first career triple, connecting against Braden Looper. The last St. Louis pitcher to hit a triple? It was Looper, in September 2008.
GONE
The Cincinnati Reds fired pitching coach Dick Pole before Friday night’s game. He was in his third season with the team. The rest of the coaches will return in their same roles next.
SPEAKING
“What would I say to them? I think I’ve done everything that’s right here. I think I’ve treated everybody the way I’d like to be treated. I’m not sure what I’d call a meeting about. If they want to call a meeting and talk to me, that’s fine. But I don’t know what to say to them.”—Toronto manager Cito Gaston, told that some of his players don’t like the way he runs the team.