There have been 131 pitchers that have thrown 50 innings or more this season, and tonight's starting pitchers are at opposite ends of the spectrum in walks per nine innings. John Ely has the 10th fewest walks per nine innings, at 1.76, while Kazmir ranks 121st, at 4.38. So far this season, Ely has also struck out batters more often than Kazmir:
Pitcher | IP | BB/9 | K/9 |
Ely | 51.0 | 1.76 | 6.88 |
Kazmir | 61.2 | 4.38 | 5.98 |
Ely is coming off his shortest start, allowing four runs in five innings against the Braves last Sunday. He is pitching today on five days rest, the third time this season he has had extra rest. In the previous two starts with extra rest, Ely pitched very well, allowing one run in 6 2/3 innings to Milwaukee and allowing two runs in seven innings to Houston. Ely did not walk a batter in either of those starts, two of three times he has done that so far.
Kazmir is coming off perhaps his best start of the season, allowing one run in 6 1/3 innings at Oakland. He has won both starts this month, allowing one run in each game.
Bullpen Dominance
Here are the numbers for Jonathan Broxton and Hong-Chih Kuo since Kuo was activated from the disabled list last July 27:
Reliever | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | K | ERA | WHIP | BA/OBP/SLG | OPS |
Broxton | 58.2 | 45 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 13 | 83 | 1.69 | 0.989 | .208/.255/.278 | .533 |
Kuo | 41.2 | 23 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 49 | 1.73 | 0.864 | .160/.228/.236 | .464 |
Totals | 100.1 | 68 | 22 | 19 | 4 | 26 | 132 | 1.70 | 0.937 | .189/.244/.261 | .505 |
Game Time: 7:10 p.m
TV: Prime Ticket