Continuing yesterday's theme of players who were in a groove before the Midsummer Classic interruped the season.
Ryan Dempster
The National League ERA leader has twirled 27 consecutive shutout innings over his past four starts, and received the win in each of them. He's been untouchable, allowing just 16 hits over that timeframe while boasting a remarkable 16/3 K/BB ratio. The Cubs are in full scale rebuilding mode and will look to deal their veteran starter as the July 31st trade deadline approaches.
Mat Latos
Latos got off to a rocky start with his new team, lacking consistency and watching his ERA balloon to 5.20 on June 18th after Cleveland rocked him for seven runs in four innings. Since then the 24 year-old has pitched like the ace Cincinnati thought they were getting when they traded four players for him last winter. Latos fired back-to-back complete game victories before hurling seven shutout innings against his former team in his last start before the All-Star Break. In those 25 innings he allowed just two runs and ten hits while punching out 28 opposing batters (against just four walks). His ERA has calmed back down to 4.13, the lowest it's been all year, and with one more good start he should push it down into the threes. He probably still misses pitching half his games in Petco (who wouldn't?), but then again it's nice when your team actually scores some runs for you every once in awhile, too.
Jered Weaver
Since returning from the DL on June 20th, the Angels' ace has been terrific. The major league leader in ERA (1.96) and WHIP (0.90) has enjoyed a Dempster-like run of success, allowing just one earned run in his past four starts (all wins), covering 27 and two-thirds innings. More of the same for Weaver, who just keeps getting better and figures to give Justin Verlander a run for his money in the Cy Young race.
Casey Janssen (not to be confused with Kenley Jansen)
Following a rough April, Janssen has really settled down and shown enough consistency lately to take over as Toronto's closer. For the past six weeks he's been a force out of the Blue Jays' 'pen, allowing just one earned run in his past 14 and two-thirds innings to bring his ERA down from 3.66 to 2.36. What strikes me is his unreal 17/1 K/BB rate during that time; since May 30th he's faced 52 batters and hasn't walked a single one!
Fernando Rodney
Tampa Bay's replacement for the injured Kyle Farnsworth has been shutting the door at the end of games all season long, but he's been especially unhittable as of late. Going back to May 27th, he's allowed only one earned run in 14 and two-thirds innings, so his ERA now stands at an otherworldly 0.93 for the season. The first time All-Star also piled up ten saves over that six week span and compiled a ridiculous 15/1 K/BB rate. With a price tag of just two million dollars, Rodney has been a massive bargain for the thrifty Rays.
Huston Street
Many believed Street did not deserve his spot on the NL All-Star team given his light workload this season, but you can't deny that he's been one of the better relievers in baseball. The Padres closer has done a fantastic job replacing Heath Bell; the first time All-Star hasn't allowed an earned run over his last ten appearances, during which he's allowed only two hits and sustained a 14/3 K/BB rate. His ERA and WHIP are down to 1.13 and 0.75, respectively. He reminds me of Andrew Bailey; both are underrated because they have been injury prone throughout their careers, but when healthy they are outstanding.
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