Wednesday MLB Pitching Notes
 

Aaron Harang – Cincinnati Reds – The Reds have struggled mightily over the last decade finding competent starting pitching.  However, they’ve really found their man with Harang.  The guy eats innings, but he gets the opposition out as well as just about any starting pitcher in the bigs.  He’s just an underrated hurler, who’ll always outpitch his numbers, as he’s just not suited for his home ballpark.  Over the last three-plus years Harang’s allowed 49 homeruns in Great American Ballpark, while just 34 on the road.  That number should be crucial today as the ‘New’ Busch Stadium proving a tough venue to go yard in, allowing few homeruns.  Harang deals a wide assortment of pitches with five offerings to choose from, which makes pitching repeatedly to these division teams at least a bit easier.  On the season, the strapping right-hander owns a 37/8 SO/BB ratio with a 2.76 ERA.  The guy flat-out knows how to pitch!!!  Look for Harang to get the job done on the five-inning line today, or looking UNDER the total in this contest makes sense as well.  It depends on how you feel about Braden Looper.
 

Jonathan Sanchez – San Francisco Giants – First Matt Cain, then Tim Lincecum, now Sanchez.  Who needs Barry Zito?  Well, the Giants might want some of that money back to help pay this trio eventually.  Sanchez has always had the ‘potential’ but in his brief big league career he’s failed to live up to his minor league standard.  How about these minor league numbers from the now 25-year-old.  The southpaw logged 252 innings, with 333 strikeouts, 98 walks and just 12 homeruns allowed.  The ‘knack’ for missing bats and not allowing the gopherball is one sweet trait to have.  Few young hurlers in the big leagues today can ‘miss bats’ like Sanchez.  He deals a low 90-MPH fastball, sinker, change-up and slider, however it’s the movement on his stuff that creates swings and misses.  The dilemma with Sanchez is a comparison to Daniel Cabrera, in that you never quite know what you’ll get.  His mechanics are finicky in dealing with his release point, further meaning he’s simply as streaky as you can get.  Nevertheless, his form looks solid with his 10-strikeout performance of the Reds last out in eight innings of work.  Importantly, Sanchez was extremely efficient, while he needed just 53 pitches to coast through five innings.  Sanchez looks rock-solid on the five-inning line today against the Colorado Rockies Ubaldo Jimenez going in the opposite direction.

Get on board with the 100-unit man as he heats up for a HUGE month of May by calling 1-800-575-3069 or by clicking here.