Streaking and Slumping Pitchers
Streaking
Dallas Braden (Oakland Athletics)
Braden (7-7, 3.12 ERA) has delivered a quality start in nine of 10 games since May 16. During that span, he has allowed no more than three earned runs in a game and lasted at least six innings in all but one start. He also yielded two or fewer runs in eight straight starts.
In two starts this month, Braden has given up just three runs in 13 innings. Braden’s most recent start was a 7-2 win over the Rays in which he allowed only two runs on five hits in six innings. He missed time earlier this month to be with his ailing grandmother.
"These guys are absolutely throwing the snot out of the ball and you just want to go out there and do your job," Braden said of the team’s pitching staff to the Associated Press. "As a whole we want to put together a nice body of work and I think we're kind of on the right track to doing so."
Homer Bailey (Cincinnati Reds)
A month ago, Bailey would have thought his chances of solidifying a spot in the Reds rotation to be a long shot. But after turning in three straight strong starts, the 23-year-old has muscled himself back into the team’s plans.
Bailey (1-0, 5.16 ERA) has allowed just seven runs in his past 18 1-3 innings, including no more than three in each of his previous three starts since being recalled from Triple-A Louisville on June 27. In Bailey’s most recent start, a 3-2 loss at Philadelphia, the right-hander allowed two runs in six innings. He struke out six and didn't hand out any free passes in the outing as well.
The improved control has been the key for Bailey. He has 11 strikeouts against just two walks in his past two starts after issuing seven base on balls in a game earlier this year.
Slumping
Ervin Santana (Los Angeles Angels)
Santana probably should have stayed on the DL.
The right-hander has been hammered in his past two outings, allowing 11 runs in just nine innings. In his most recent start, an 8-1 loss to Texas, Santana (1-5, 7.81 ERA) allowed five runs on seven hits in four innings. The Rangers took advantage of Santana's location problems by tagging him with three long balls.
"It's simple pitching,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters. “It's getting ahead and putting guys away and tonight he struggled with that. Pitchers are going to go through stages like that, but they still find ways to win. That's what Ervin is searching for."
Rich Harden (Chicago Cubs)
The right-hander has been consistent for Chicago this season. However, that was before July.
Harden (5-6, 5.47 ERA) was roughed up in each of his previous two games – an 11-2 loss to Milwaukee and an 8-3 loss to St. Louis. The Brewers lit him up for seven runs on eight hits in only two innings, the shortest outing of his career. Against the Cardinals, Harden gave up four runs on seven hits and walked four in just five innings.
When asked to describe his recent performance, Harden had only two words: “Batting practice.”
