Martin Prado- ARI- Stats- Prado's versatility may become an asset once his luck turns around. His current .241 average is being driven by a .239 BABIP. Prado has been more selective, swinging at 22.1% of pitches out of the strike zone, down from 28.7% last season. His overall contact rate is up to 95.0%, up from 90.4%. Prado has already hit 3 homers, putting him on an early pace to exceed his previous career best of 15. He is a candidate to buy low if someone is selling.
Ricky Nolasco- MIA- FYI- Nolasco's last start, while not of the quality variety, was encouraging. He did allow 4 runs in 6 IP, but only gave up 7 hits, didn't walk anyone and struck out 6. Nolasco was still a little wild, with 42 balls in his 109 pitches, but if he can control the Twins in today's makeup game that will be a good sign that he might finally produce to his peripherals again.
Jonathan Pettibone- PHI- Rookie- Pettibone impressed in his major league debut, coming within 2 outs of a quality start, but picking up the win. There were two aberrations in the outing. First is the 6 Ks he recorded. Pettibone isn't a power pitcher and that kind of K total shouldn't be expected. Second are the two homers he allowed. He hasn't been prone to the long ball in the minors. The question is whether his lack of overpowering stuff will enable major league hitters to crush his pitches with more regularity than has happened in the minors. At his best Pettibone may add to the WHIP category and might give some help in the Ks just because he is durable and will throw a lot of innings.
Bryce Harper- WAS- Cold- We may be seeing a little regression to the mean already for Harper, sort of. He is 4-for-13 in his last 4 games but only has 1 single. Over his last 8 games Harper is 8-for-32 and was hitless in 5 of them. Still, in that span he has 5 walks and 4 strikeouts along with 2 homers and 2 doubles. Harper's BABIP of .347 is probably going to fall and take his .353 average down some with it, but even a slumping Harper provides value.
Matt Holliday- STL- Cold- Holliday went 0-for-3 to drop his average to .233. His .245 BABIP is almost a hundred points below his career mark. Holliday's contact rate is up but a lot of it is contact with pitches outside the strike zone. That is quite possibly leading to less solid balls coming off his bat. As his luck changes his production should come around.
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