Under-Takers

Under-Takers
By Kevin Rogers

It may seem easy when looking at a daily baseball card to find the best starting pitchers and say, “Let me take the under when Johan Santana is pitching and I’ll win.” That seems to be the case, but there also other pitchers who maybe you don’t think of that are strong ‘under’ pitchers early on in the season. However, how much is about name-recognition, or other factors such as lack of run support or strong bullpens? We’ll investigate seven of the top nine pitchers in ERA who have made four starts so far this season, and see what has made them effective hitting ‘under’ tickets.

Zach Greinke – Royals – 0.00 ERA

The Kansas City fireballer is finally came into his own this season after some off-the-field issues in years past. Greinke, along with veteran Gil Meche, have turned the Royals into a serious ‘under’ play when either is on the mound, combined with their ineffective offense. Greinke has tossed consecutive complete games, while striking out 36 and walking just six on the season. Greinke has faced four top-11 offenses so far (Tigers, Rangers, Indians, White Sox), but has received 3.5 runs per game from his offense, which is ranked 24th in the majors. Greinke’s next start is Wednesday at home against the hot-hitting Blue Jays.

Johan Santana – Mets – 0.70 ERA

The Mets spent plenty of money on Santana prior to the 2008 season, and unloaded the briefcases for bullpen help in this off-season. Santana has received very little run support this season, with the Mets powerful lineup scoring a total of eight runs in his four outings. Twice, the Mets have scored one run, but in each of those games, Santana hasn’t allowed an earned run. Santana has faced two good offenses (Marlins, Brewers) and two average offenses (Nationals, Reds), but one of the major benefits for the southpaw has been his bullpen. J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez have taken the hill in three of four Mets’ victories, with K-Rod picking up a save in all three appearances. Santana heads to the mound this Wednesday afternoon against the struggling Marlins.

Dan Haren – Diamondbacks – 1.38 ERA

Haren has turned into this season’s Matt Cain in the first month. The Arizona righty has received three runs of support in four starts despite an ERA well below two. Haren has struck out 26 and walked five, while pitching seven innings twice. It’s easy to identify why Haren has not gotten proper run support from his D-Backs lineup. Arizona is batting .197 against left-handed pitching, which is last in baseball. The D-Backs have faced three southpaw starters opposite Haren, scoring a total of three runs, while Haren has put up a quality appearance each time. Totals remain high at Chase Field, sitting at 9 in each of Haren’s three home starts, all ‘unders.’ Haren hits the hill Tuesday at home versus the Cubs.

Jair Jurrjens – Braves – 1.42 ERA

The top contact pitcher on this list is similar to Haren in the run support department as of late. Jurrjens received 12 runs his first two starts, but the last two outings, his Braves teammates have put up one measly run. Jurrjens hasn’t faced the greatest offenses in baseball (Washington twice, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, until this past weekend), but the right-hander has gone ‘under’ eight of his last ten April starts. Jurrjens’ next start is Monday at home against the second-best offense in baseball, the Cardinals.

Wandy Rodriguez – Astros – 1.80 ERA

The Houston left-hander has pitched three games at pitcher-friendly Minute Maid Park. Or maybe it’s pitcher-friendly to Houston’s opponents. The Astros’ home park ranks 23rd in baseball in runs per game at 8.15. Houston is third-to-last in baseball in runs scored, while getting shut out twice in Rodriguez’s starts. The lefty has eaten up innings, pitching at least six innings in four outings. Rodriguez has been impressive considering his opposition, facing two of the top three teams in runs scored, the Cardinals and Dodgers, allowing four runs in 12 innings. Rodriguez, who shut out the Reds at home on Apr. 18, looks to slow down Cincinnati again Tuesday at the Great American Ballpark.

Armando Galarraga – Tigers – 1.85 ERA

The most reliable starter on Detroit’s staff was a minor-league call-up last April in place of the injured Dontrelle Willis. Galarraga’s numbers were solid last season, at 13-7, with an ERA of 3.73. His sophomore season has not seen a slump yet, putting up three victories in four starts, including Sunday’s six-inning performance in a win against the Royals. Galarraga’s run support has taken a dip the last two starts. The Tigers plated 24 runs his first two outings, but have scored just six runs his last two trips to the hill, both road contests. Galarraga goes for his fourth victory Saturday at home against the Indians.

Aaron Harang – Reds – 2.00 ERA

The 6-foot-7 right-hander is reverting back to 2007, in which Harang won 16 games while striking out a career-high 218. Harang is coming off his sharpest start of the season by shutting down the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 7-1, allowing one unearned run in seven innings of work. Prior to that outing, the Reds offense was silent for Harang, scoring three runs in his first three starts. Harang’s next start is against Rodriguez and the Astros on Tuesday, as Harang was on the wrong side of the 7-0 shutout by Rodriguez on April 18th.

Other Notables:

White Sox lefty John Danks ranks third in ERA at 0.95, but makes his fourth start of the season against the Mariners on Monday. Blue Jays lefty Ricky Romero is on the disabled list despite ranking sixth in ERA at 1.71.

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