Streaking and Slumping Pitchers
Streaking
John Danks (Chicago White Sox)
The southpaw appears intent on finishing strong, even if the White Sox don't.
While his team stumbled in August, Danks found a groove. In his last four starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.95 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP (walks + hits per inning). He has climbed to 14th in the American League in ERA, best among White Sox starters.
Danks has worked at least six innings in his last seven starts.
Dustin Nippert (Texas Rangers)
In five August starts, the right-hander was a bit inconsistent, allowing two runs or less in three starts but at least four runs in the other two. He has 16 walks in 25 2-3 innings during that span.
But one area where Nippert has been solid is keeping the score down. With the total ranging from 8 to 10 during those starts, every one of them has been under.
Bonus: The total has gone over in six of the last seven starts made by Kyle Davies of the Kansas City Royals.
Debuting
Carlos Carrasco (Cleveland Indians)
The 22-year-old righty from Venezuela, a key piece in the Cliff Lee trade, is making his major league debut after lighting up the Triple-A International League.
Carrasco began the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in Philadelphia's system and was a pedestrian 6-9 with a 5.18 ERA, allowing 14 homers in 114 innings. But something clicked at Columbus, where he was 5-1 with a 3.19 ERA, surrendering just three homers in 42 1-3 innings while holding opposing batters to a .196 average.
Considered a top prospect, Carrasco was a midseason All-Star in the Single-A Florida State League in 2007 and the Double-A Eastern League in 2008.
Jeff Manship (Minnesota Twins)
The right-hander is making his first major league start after just five relief appearances totaling seven innings over the last 16 days. He began with two scoreless outings but has allowed a run in each of the last three.
It has been a rapid ascent for the Notre Dame alumnus, who began 2008 in the Single-A Florida State League, made the jump to Double-A and progressed again to Triple-A Rochester earlier this season.
Overall, he is 10-9 with a 3.86 ERA and just three homers allowed in 126 innings this season.
Slumping
Gio Gonzalez (Oakland Athletics)
The left-hander has been on a two-month roller coaster that is plunging downhill at the moment.
After Gonzalez began August with consecutive wins in which he did not give up a run and worked at least six innings, he has been all over the place. He last lost his last three outings, struggling with wildness and the long ball.
During that stretch, Gonzalez has a 6.89 ERA and a 1.91 WHIP. He has 18 strikeouts in 15 2-3 innings but also has surrendered four homers.