Streaking
Clay Buchholz (7-3, 3.21 ERA), Boston Red Sox
Say hello to Boston’s No. 3 starter. The kid with a no-hitter already under his big league belt was called back up to the bigs in mid-July. He had some mixed results early on but he’s looked real sharp over his last six outings.
Buchholz is 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA in five September starts. The Sox have won each of his last eight trips to the mound and the under is 7-3 in his last 10 games.
Felix Hernandez (17-5, 2.49 ERA), Seattle Mariners
Even when he gives up a few runs, King Felix is really impressive. The Mariners ace hurler struck out a season-high 11 batters in a 5-4 win over the Blue Jays last week.
He’s battling Zack Greinke and CC Sabathia for the American League Cy Young honour and he’s making a strong case for himself.
Hernandez is 4-0 with a 1.15 ERA in September.
“His stuff was unbelievable tonight,” Jays centerfielder Vernon Wells told reporters after the loss. “He left a lot of guys shaking their heads, just trying to figure out what to do to put a ball in play.”
Slumping
Jason Marquis (15-12, 3.98 ERA), Colorado Rockies
Marquis had been enjoying a career season, but over the last month he’s pitched like a marginal No. 5 starter. He has a 6.49 ERA and batters are hitting .313 off him over his last six starts.
The Denver Post hints that Marquis has been so ineffective that he might lose his rotation spot in the postseason. Pretty crazy seeing how he was representing the Rockies in the All-Star game just over two months ago.
Colorado is 1-5 over Marquis’ last six appearances, even though the club had been the favourite in each of those games.
Mike Pelfrey (10-12, 5.08 ERA), New York Mets
It’s hard to believe this righty was 4-1 with a 3.88 ERA after his first nine starts. He’s 1-3 with a 6.39 ERA this month. The Mets have dropped four of his last six trips to the bump and the over is 4-2 over the same stretch.