Mark Buehrle- TOR- FYI- Buehrle will get an extra day of rest before taking the mound tomorrow. Maybe it will help him bounce back from his third non-quality start of the season. Then again, maybe some regression to the mean is kicking in. In his last 5 starts, Buehrle has given up 3 homers, including one in each of his last two starts, after only allowing 1 homer overall in his first 9 starts of the year. Even after his recent stretch his HR/9 is only at 0.38. his xFIP of 4.19 is more likely where he is headed than his ERA of 2.28.
Grant Balfour- TB- Cold- Pitching for the first time in 5 days, Balfour didn't do much to make a case for returning to the closer role. He entered the game in the top of the 8th and allowed singles to the first two batters he faced. Balfour got a fly out and then was lifted. One of the runners he left ended up scoring, giving him as many runs allowed as outs he recorded. Don't count on Balfour's role to improve any time soon.
Wei-Yin Chen- BAL- Stats- Chen made his third straight quality start, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and a walk while striking out 3 in 6.2 IP. He also allowed 2 homers, the third time in his last 5 starts that he has given up at least two long balls in the same outing. This has raised his HR/9 rate to 1.19, very close to his career average. The low homer rate he posted earlier this season seems to have gone through some regression. His ERA, FIP and xFIP are 3.78, 3.86 and 3.61, respectively. Those are decent numbers and attributable mainly to improved control that Chen has been able to maintain. His WHIP is at 1.24 and if he can keep the control going can end up being a positive in that category as well as ERA.
Drew Pomeranz- OAK- Cold- Pomeranz had a cruel visit from regression to the mean last night as he was pummeled for 8 runs (7 earned) in only 3.2 IP against Texas. His ERA jumped over a run from 1.90 to 2.91. His FIP only rose from 4.10 to 4.23. He did strike out 4 of the few batters he managed to get out but did also allow 2 walks. There are likely more ugly outings there for Pomeranz as regression continues.
Mike Trout- LAA- FYI- Trout stole 2 bases last night, giving him 9 on the season. Last year his steals dropped sharply in the second half, with only 12 after swiping 21 bases in the first half. It is going to be very hard for Trout to rejoin the 30/30 club as projected. With a .305 average and 14 homers so far, though, he's certainly still in the ranks of the elites.
Follow me on Twitter all season - @fantisticspaul
There are over 100 player news blurbs posted in the member area each morning. Members can read the rest of today's player news by clicking here. Not a member? Join today.
