Sunday's Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking
Daniel Hudson (7-2, 2.58 ERA), Arizona Diamondbacks
Did anyone know Daniel Hudson was going to make an immediate impact when the D-Backs got him from the White Sox? All of a sudden, things don’t seem so bleak in the desert state.
Hudson has been beyond good since joining Arizona’s starting rotation. He’s stopped four-game losing streaks in each of his last two starts and he owns a 1.67 ERA since switching over to the National League.
"You're seeing a kid who knows how to pitch, too," interim manager Kirk Gibson told the Arizona Daily Star. "Especially when he got to the third time around, he changed it up a little bit. He's got a good understanding of what's going on out there."
The Diamondbacks are 4-0 in Hudson’s last four starts and 5-1 in his last six outings.
Slumping
Adam Wainwright (18-11, 2.50 ERA), St. Louis Cardinals
Hey, remember when the Cards were fighting for first place in NL Central and Adam Wainwright was a shoe-in for the NL Cy Young award? Hard to believe that was only six weeks ago.
The Red Birds are 1-5 in Wainwright’s last six starts and they were big faves in each of those games. Wainwright has given St. Louis backers just two quality starts since Aug. 18.
Returning
Andy Pettitte (11-2, 2.88 ERA), New York Yankees
This is a big deal for the Yankees. Their rotation heading into the playoffs is really iffy after C.C. Sabathia. Pettitte was enjoying one of his best seasons until he tweaked his groin in a start against the Rays back in mid July.
His return got delayed a few times so bettors should be careful backing him in his first start. This could be just an experiment to see if he’s a go or no-go for the postseason.
Sunday Night Baseball: Tigers at White Sox
By Aaron Schuldiner
A matter of pride
It’s been almost two months since the Tigers were relevant in the postseason discussion, but the White Sox were in the thick of it until they lost three straight to Minnesota earlier this week. The sweep extended the Twins’ lead over the White Sox in the AL Central to nine games.
How Ozzie Guillen’s team will react to being virtually eliminated from playoff contention is anyone’s guess, but he believes they have some fight left in them.
“To me, it’s not done…” Guillen told the Chicago Sun-Times Friday. “If I’m going to say we are done, then I don’t have respect for my players and don’t believe what they can do.”
We meet again
John Danks will take the ball for the White Sox Sunday night, while Detroit will counter with Jeremy Bonderman.
The two last met in Detroit for a 5-1 Tigers victory on September 8.
Bonderman earned the win, allowing just one run over eight innings while striking out eight. The outing was probably Bonderman’s best in what has been an otherwise disappointing 2010 campaign.
Danks pitched well but was victimized by poor defense when Mark Teahen’s throwing error helped the Tigers put up four runs in the fourth inning. Danks took the loss, allowing two earned runs in six innings of work.
Action Jackson
In his first full season at the major-league level, Tigers’ leadoff hitter Austin Jackson has impressed at the plate, in the field and on the base paths.
He has emerged as a legitimate contender for the AL Rookie of the Year award, but he has yet to find his comfort zone against left-handed pitching.
Jackson is batting .230 against lefties on the year and has struggled against the left-handed Danks, managing just one hit, a single, in seven plate appearances.
Pains in the pens
Guillen has named 21-year-old Chris Sale as his closer while Bobby Jenks battles ulnar neuritis in his pitching arm. The 6-foot-6 Sale has impressed in his first stint in the big leagues, allowing just two runs in 17 2-3 innings while piling up 23 strikeouts.
Sale has been perfect against the Tigers – literally. In 5 1-3 innings of work against Detroit, he hasn’t allowed a single baserunner.
Chicago’s bullpen allowed 10 earned runs in 9 2-3 innings while being swept by Minnesota earlier this week.
The Tigers will go with Phil Coke in save situations until regular closer Jose Valverde recovers from soreness in his pitching elbow. Following Detroit’s 9-2 victory in Friday’s series opener, Tigers manager Jim Leyland indicated that he had no idea when Valverde would be ready to pitch again.
Trends
- Detroit is 3-1 in Bonderman’s last four starts, while the White Sox are 1-5 in Danks’ last six.
- The Over is 4-1 in Danks’ last five home starts.
- The Over is 6-1 in Bonderman’s last seven starts overall.
- Chicago is 2-7 in its last nine home games.
- Detroit is -16.41 units on the road, third-worst in baseball.