Kip Wells enjoyed his second best start of the season on Wednesday when he allowed only one earned run on five hits and a walk while striking out four in seven innings to run his record to a still disappointing 2-8. Prior to Wednesday's start, Wells had allowed 34 runs in 32 innings (9.56 ERA) and had lost his last seven starts. The reason for Wells' success on Wednesday may be attributed to Gary Bennett's work behind the plate and speculation is that Bennett will catch Wells' next start Monday in Colorado. Wells has only one start in Colorado and he allowed five runs in four innings (11.25 ERA) in a 2004 no-decision. Coors Field is no longer the homer haven it used to be, but it's still the sixth best offensive park through the first quarter of the season, so it might be best to take a wait-and-see approach with Wells. If he turns out another solid performance, Bennett may end up being Wells' personal catcher for the rest of the season and could help him turn his season around. It's worth keeping a peeper on for the time being.
Sergio Mitre was outstanding again last night, allowing only one unearned run on eight hits and a walk, and he fanned eight in 7 2/3 innings (The Mets pushed the game's first run across in the top of the eighth on a Dan Uggla error). Mitre reduced his ERA to 1.89 on the year and he's now allowed only five earned runs in his last 36 2/3 frames, dating back to April 17 (1.23 ERA). Mitre has made eight starts for the Marlins this season, five of which are quality, but has only two wins to show for it (instead of the four he should have based on his QS). Something that might prove to be alarming, however, is that he tossed 123 pitches, which is a season high for him by far; his next highest total was 106 on April 11. His next start on April 17 was abbreviated to only 13 pitches due to a blister that developed on his middle finger. Going back to 2003, Mitre has only five starts of 100 pitches or more; in the starts following those 100-pitch outings, he's posted an ERA of 5.75 with a WHIP of 1.53. In three of those starts he tossed more than 107 pitches and the following outings were even worse; an 11.15 ERA with a WHIP of 2.22. I'd sit Mitre in his next start in order to avoid what portends to be an abysmal outing.
Paul Lo Duca continued to swing a hot bat, going 4-for-5 last night to raise his AVG on the year to .329. It was the fourth time in his last five games and fifth time in his last seven that the Mets backstop recorded at least two hits. He's batting .429/.467/.529 in 70 May at-bats, a bit surprising since May hasn't been one of his better months over the last three seasons. Lo Duca is benefiting from some luck as evidenced by his career high .315 BHIP% (his average since 2003 is .245), but I don't expect his AVG to plummet anytime soon (if at all). Typically the gap between Lo Duca's BHIP% and his AVG is .038, which should put him at .353, but his AVG of .329 is only 14 points higher than his BHIP%. According to his BHIP% and his history he should be hitting much higher. Regardless, he's a .291 career hitter who's finished north of .300 in two of his last three seasons and it looks like he's heading there again.
Derek Lowe didn't get the loss last night, but he pitched under bad luck again as he walked away from a very nice performance only to see his bullpen ruin his chance to win his fifth game of the year. Instead Lowe was stuck with a no-decision after tossing six quality innings, in which he allowed only one run on four hits and three walks, while striking out five. Lowe reduced his ERA almost a quarter of a run, dropping it from 3.84 to 3.64 in the effort and now has seven quality starts on the season in 11 outings. He's been especially good in May, going 2-2 with a 2.60 ERA and a WHIP of 1.12. Lowe hasn't been inducing batters to pound the ball into the ground the way he has in the past-his G/F ratio of 2.73 is below his career mark of 3.36 and well below last year's 3.99-but he was in rare form last night, coaxing 11 ground ball outs while recording only two outs in the air. Lowe has averaged 16 wins a year since becoming a full-time starter in 2002 with the Red Sox and his seven quality starts suggests a pitcher who should have five wins, which Lowe would have had were it not for a shaky bullpen.
Mark Reynolds is making the most of his playing time in Chad Tracy's absence and making it very difficult for Arizona management to send him back to the minors when Tracy returns. Reynolds went 5-for-5 last night with two homers, a triple, four runs and four RBIs and he's now hitting .459/.500/.892 in 10 games since being called up. Reynolds hit .306/.394/.537 in 37 games for Double-A Mobile and as Schuyler mentioned slugged .523 in over 1,000 minor league at-bats before getting the call to the show. His EYE needs work-he posted a .41 mark during his minor league career-and he strikes out too much-.24 K rate and one whiff every 3.73 at-bats-but if he continues to produce like he has, I'm sure you can live with all that.
