What’s Up With Hiroki Kuroda?
Posted by Steve L. on September 28th, 2012 · Comments (5)
Kuroda starts for the Yankees this evening in Toronto. He’s been the Yankees best starting pitcher, overall, this season, to date.
But, in his last six starts prior to today, since August 25th, he has an ERA of 4.91 (in 40.3 IP).
Kuroda has pitched 207.3 innings this year. It’s the first time he’s been over 202 IP in his MLB career. Has he now hit the wall?
Since today is a must win game for the Yankees, it will be interesting to see how Kuroda does in the contest, given his recent struggles.
I sure hope not, but it is possible.
He needs a big game tonight and the Yanks bats need to wake up!
Fatigue. Loss of command. Even last night, the command was poor.
@ Evan3457:
Yeah, last night he was bad and lucky. If he pitches like that in October, he’s toast.
If he has in fact run out of gas, I would hope that the October staff is built to mitigate that. After all they have at least 4 long guys there (Phelps, Lowe, Garcia, Nova/Hughes).
He’s slated to pitch the last game of the season, against the Red Sox, 10/3. The wild card play in would be the 5th (Hughes), and the ALDS starts the 6th (Sabathia) or 7th (Kuroda).
These are just their rotation days. CC would probably go short rest on the WC play in. Or Pettitte with an extra day of rest, but I’d wager CC will get the ball. If the Yanks win the division, CC on regular or extra rest for the ALDS, depending on the dates. Then the rotation can be juggled as however Girardi sees fit.