Sunday's Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking
Homer Bailey (Cincinnati Reds)
The 23 year old can’t wait to get back on the mound. And the way he is pitching, how can you blame him?
Bailey (5-4, 5.60 ERA) has gone 3-0 in his past four starts, yielding just four earned runs over the past 27 innings. He also has struck out 27 over that span, and allowed just two home runs. The last time he took the mound, the right-hander allowed only one run over 5 2-3 innings against the Rockies.
"The fastball was there," Bailey said to the Associated Press. "That's what has been working the last couple of games."
Jeremy Guthrie (Baltimore Orioles)
The AL leader in loses is finally pitching like the Orioles No. 1 starter.
Guthrie (10-13, 4.96 ERA) has been fantastic in his past four starts. Over that span, he has gone 3-1, pitching 27 innings in which he has allowed only four earned runs. In his most recent start, a 7-0 win over Texas, he allowed just six hits in seven innings and struck out six against only one walk.
"The one consistent thing that I've had is that I've never stopped working, and I've never really lost the hope or the confidence that things would turn around at some point," Guthrie told the Associated Press.
Slumping
Chad Billingsley (Los Angeles Dodgers)
The Dodgers love to see their ace take the mound. But the recent results have been far from what they are accustom to.
Billingsley is 0-3 in his past four starts, allowing 14 earned runs over the past 23 innings. During that span, he has allowed a whopping nine walks and is fifth in the NL with 75 free passes.
"It's been a struggle right now for myself. I just have to keep going out there and battling, figure something out and try to get this thing rolling," he said to the Associated Press. "I always know what I want to do out there or I have a good idea. It's just a matter of executing."
Carlos Carrasco (Cleveland Indians)
The 22 year old isn’t doing much to ensure a spot in the rotation next year.
Carrasco has made only two starts this season, but both have been forgettable. Over eight innings, he has allowed 11 earned runs on 17 hits. Even more disturbing, he has struck out just seven while walking six and giving up five home runs.
"My biggest problem was my fastball. It was all over the place," Carrasco told the Associated Press. “My other pitches were working, the slider and the change, just not the fastball."