|
MLB: September Good and Bad Month Pitchers
Marc Lawrence
Be sure to get all Marc's
Baseball Picks
throughout the season right here where you only pay after you
win!
Like our waistlines after a
finger good lickin’ Labor Day barbeque, MLB rosters have
expanded to accommodate the final month of the season. And as
College Football and the NFL barge onto the scene, MLB pitchers
take the final spotlight in hopes of leading their teams on to
the playoff trail. Which ones can we count on and which ones
figure to belly up? Check it out.
Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or
better success ratio in team starts the last three seasons
during the month of September. On the flip side, we’ve also
listed pitchers that struggle in September team starts, winning
33% percent or less of their efforts. To qualify pitchers must
have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each
September over the last three years. Enjoy…
GOOD MONTH PITCHERS:
Blanton, Joe 10-5
It’s not so much Blanton is incredibly effective in the last
month of the season, instead it is more of a function of the
right-hander keeping his team in the game, especially with
Philadelphia finding a way to win in the late innings. To his
credit Blanton has lowered ERA 1.25 in last 10 starts.
Correia, Kevin 8-3
The San Diego hurler has been among the better pitchers in the
National League since the All-Star break. Mostly a journeyman in
his career, when his pitching coach or the catcher see his
slumping shoulders, they get on him to stand taller, which
increases his velocity and movement on his pitches, making
Correia more effective.
Greinke, Zack 10-5
Not as dominate this season, lacking the late movement on
fastball which led to more strikeouts, last year’s AL Cy Young
winner could still create havoc, with Kansas City having 14
games against playoff contenders this month, providing Grienke
and Royals to be in spoiler role.
Johnson, Josh 7-3
The 6’7 righty is closing in on career high in innings pitched
and still could tie or better previous total of season wins (15)
and exceed previous high marks in ERA and WHIP with a typical
strong finish.
Jurrjens, Jair 10-3
This sturdily built right-hander has been pitching better month
by month since coming off the DL in late June. If he throws like
usual this September, Atlanta could hold off Philadelphia and
win the division.
Lester, Jon 12-3
The talented left-hander has been a big game pitcher late in the
season and in the playoffs and is one of the best home field
hurlers in baseball and will look to extend his dominance yet
again.
Lilly, Ted 11-5
This is Lilly’s sixth stop in his career and he is making a case
for hanging around L.A. with how well he’s pitched in Dodgers
uniform. He’s on pace to have career lows in batting average
allowed and WHIP, with the former occurring in 2002, ironically
the last time he was traded in-season.
Padilla, Vicente 9-3
Most baseball fans and sports bettors for that matter wouldn’t
list Padilla as a clutch pitcher, yet late in the season, this
Nicaraguan continues to come up big.
Rodriguez, Wandy 8-4
For a solid portion of last year, Rodriquez was arguably the
best LH chucker in the National League. After a very slow 2010
beginning, Rodriguez has scouts talking again about his command
and averaging over a strikeout per inning in past 10 starts.
Houston might be going nowhere, but Wandy’s stock is rising
again.
Sabathia, C.C. 14-2
Try this, Google “late season clutch MLB pitchers” and
guaranteed Sabathia’s name will be at the top of the first page.
Off being the first pitcher in 41 years to win five or more
games in August three years in a row, the left-hander wants the
ball in the big games and is on track for best year of a very
solid career.
Saunders, Joe 10-5
Not certain if this lefty will be able to match previous numbers
pitching for Arizona club, but has bulldog mentality in the
clutch.
BAD MONTH PITCHERS:
Cain, Matt 5-10
San Francisco is losing ground to San Diego and in the wild card
chase and cannot afford another mediocre month from Cain when it
matters most.
Duke, Zach 3-8
A near fixture on this list month after month. If Duke were
right-handed, he would be in the minor leagues since opposing
teams have hit over .300 against him in his career.
Garza, Matt 5-10
Strictly a matter of maintaining focus and not letting emotions
overcome him, as Garza has the ability to be a big winner.
Fastball command will leave him and tries to steer pitches to
correct accuracy and heater straightens out, making him more
hittable.
Lincecum, Tim 4-9
It’s not like the two-time Cy Young winner is having a season
like Tiger Woods, but with slight build and losing MPH on
fastball this year, Lincecum is not noted finisher late in the
year. Questions abound about his long term future.
Maholm, Paul 3-7
Another Pirates lefty that would lucky to break glass with his
fastball. What makes Maholm better than Duke is plus changeup he
can work in or out on right-hand hitters. Nevertheless, has to
be near perfect most of the time and pitching for Pittsburgh
further narrows margin of error.
Doug Upstone of 3Daily Winners contributed to this article.
Be sure to get all of Marc's
Baseball Picks
throughout the season right here where you only pay after you
win!
100% GUARANTEED TO WIN OR YOU DON'T PAY!
We offer a unique guarantee to purchasers of picks:
If you don't win, you don't pay!
You will only be billed for picks that win; multi-pick packages must
show a profit or there is no charge. Be sure to check-in with your
favorite handicapper for
Guaranteed Pick
in this weeks Basketball action.
|