Ben Zobrist- TB- Cold- Zobrist is having a tough July in a lot of ways. With a .196 average and no homers for the month so far, he is a drag in those two categories. Zobrist has stolen 6 bases, but none in his past 6 games. There is one bright spot, though. His Batting EYE has improved dramatically. Zobrist has walked 18 times and only struck out 11. What we are seeing with his average is likely some regression to the mean. His BHIPx is down to .293, well below what it was when his average was over .300. The underlying improvement in Batting EYE, though, gives hope that he will bounce back once the luck factor has been reduced.
Brad Bergesen- BAL- Cold- For the 3rd time in 4 starts since rejoining the Orioles rotation, Bergesen failed to register a quality start. He has allowed at least one homer in each of those starts and is just getting hit unmercifully, allowing 34 hits in 25 IP. Bergesen has gotten better in the strikeout department, striking out 20, but it’s not anywhere near enough to offset the hits and the 8 walks he added to them. He still doesn’t seem ready for prime time.
Javier Vazquez- NYY- Cold- Vazquez streak of consecutive quality starts came to an end at 3 last night. He allowed 5 runs on 9 hits in 5 IP, but still managed to notch a win thanks to his teammates. Vazquez didn’t walk anyone but he also only picked up 1 strikeout. He also threw at least 110 pitches in each of those three starts. In the past five years he has done that twice before, plus another time where he had two 110+-pitch games and a 109-pitch effort strung together. Vazquez has not had a quality stat after any of those stretches. It doesn’t seem to have any effect after that, though.
Trevor Crowe- CLE- Hot- Crowe has picked it up in July, hitting .306 so far this month. However, much of that is driven by luck, as evidenced by a .388 BABIP. Crowe has regressed in terms of strike zone control, with a .38 Batting EYE. He has also only stolen 2 bases, which should be an area of value for him. He isn’t ready to be added unconditionally to your roster, but still bears watching.
Marc Rzepczynski- TOR- Cold- Rzepczynski’s second start of the season went worse than his first. He lasted only 4.2 innings and allowed 5 runs on 9 hits and a walk while recording 3 strikeouts. Rzepczynski only has 11.1 major league IP this season, but they have been unlucky ones. In that short span Rzepczynski has a BABIP of .458. With his K/9 at 10.32, he still has a big upside, just not necessarily as a starter. Plus, there is the danger that if he says his name backwards he will immediately get sent to the minors.
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