Adam LaRoche, of the Pittsburgh Pirates, capitalized on the extra at bats he received in a 15-inning win against the Houston Astros on Friday night. LaRoche went three for seven with a run scored and four runs batted in. LaRoche is now batting .356 with five homeruns and 19 runs batted in this month. For the season LaRoche is now batting .266 with 19 homeruns and 75 runs batted in. Although LaRoche has had a disappointing season he is making up for some of it now.
Tim Hudson, of the Atlanta Braves, will take the ball today and face off with the St. Louis Cardinals. Hudson will be fighting for his 10th consecutive winning decision. Hudson has mixed in two no decisions and one non-quality start but he is still 10-0 in his last 12 starts, dating back to June 25th. In addition to this phenomenal run Hudson is 1-0 with seven innings pitched and only one run allowed in one start against the Cardinals this year.
It wasn't Jamie Moyer's day on Friday. Moyer was tagged for six earned runs on ten hits (three homeruns) and two walks in just four and two third innings pitched. Moyer has now made two of his worst starts of the year back-to-back deep in the month of August. Moyer allowed seven earned runs in his last start, bringing his earned run average for August all the way up to 7.27. Increasingly alarming these two starts have come against offensively weak teams (Pittsburgh and San Diego). For the season Moyer is 11-10 with a 5.16 earned run average. Make sure he isn't in your rotation.
Jacque Jones, of the Chicago Cubs, broke out of the mini slump he was in the last five games. Jones busted out by going four for five with a run scored and a run batted in. Jones is a very strong player right now against right handed pitchers, and it would be a solid move to platoon him if you have that ability. Jones is believed to have earned the full-time centerfield position so he will be in the lineup against lefties, but he doesn't seem to do much. Jones is now batting .274 with five homeruns and 47 runs batted in on the season and he is batting .376 with three homeruns and 18 runs batted in this month.
Carlos Marmol, of the Chicago Cubs, earned his 12th hold of the season on Friday in a victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Marmol has been phenomenal out of the bullpen for the Cubs and it appears that he is revving back up for the stretch after a little lull over the last week or so. Marmol has an earned run average of 1.58, he holds opponents to a .185 batting average and he strikes out 12.28 per nine innings. Marmol is a very solid selection for a bullpen arm.
