Stars Rotation is … Good, Now?
09/01/2055
Brianna Robles, Starscreams contributor
Valencia starters posted a 3.38 ERA in August, and the team went from 14 games out of the wildcard race to a semi-plausible 5 ½. These two things are not a coincidence (though Hawaii's 9-19 August record had a lot to do with the latter).
Mid-season free agent acquisition Estaban Cruz also performed well (3.81 ERA, 81 FIP-), with the exception of a stinker against Seattle (6 earned runs in 4 innings pitched). He posted a 2-1 record, and the team went 4-1 in his five starts.
Ken Arroyo had both good and bad luck in his six starts (3.51 ERA, 94 FIP-). He enjoyed a pitcher BABIP of .234 during this time, as the defense gave him a boost. He had three very good games, in which he went 2-0, and the team went 2-1, though he had to endure watching his brilliant performance against Sacramento (2 hits and 0 runs in 7 IP) go for naught.
Like Arroyo, Mike Alexander had his best performance (possibly of the season) in a 1-0 loss to the Popes (Valencia losing to Sacramento seemingly ordained from above). He was buoyed by much better run support in his three wins in five starts in August (2.81 ERA, 97 FIP-), help he could use with a K/BB ratio of 1.8 in that span.
Old friend Jacob Smiley threw in a beaut as well. More on that later.
The rotation got results in August, and the Stars run prevention machine hummed along like it used to in happier times. If this continues, late-September relevance won't be all that far-fetched.
