Jesse Johnson – USA Today Sports Images
The starting pitching for the Minnesota Twins has been less than stellar over the first half of the 2013 MLB season. Through their first 79 games, the Twins’ starters have combined for a 5.22 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP, both of which are the worst in the majors right now.
However, 30-year-old right-hander Samuel Deduno has been one of the lone bright spots for their rotation since being called up to the big league rotation at the end of May.
Deduno made his first start of the season on May 24 and got shelled by the hard-hitting Detroit Tigers. He lasted 5.1 innings and gave up six earned runs on nine hits and three walks. Not surprisingly, he ended up taking the loss in that 6-0 game.
In his six starts since then, though, Deduno has actually been a reliable starter for the Twins. He’s lasted five innings or longer in every start and has given up more than two earned runs in only one of those starts. He’s also only allowed one home run and has a 4-1 record over that time.
For the season Deduno now has a solid 3.32 ERA, a serviceable 1.27 WHIP and a 4-2 win-loss record. He’s not been a strikeout pitcher, recording only 24 Ks over his seven starts this season, but he’s been getting guys out and becoming a solid groundball pitcher. He’s reduced his home run-to-fly-ball rate to 6.9 percent and has a solid groundball rate of 60.7 percent.
Deduno’s BABIP being at .279 indicates he may be getting a little lucky, but the fact that he’s been a solid groundball pitcher indicates that he might not be getting as lucky as some people might think.
Deduno will take the hill for the Twins against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, and Minnesota will be looking for him to continue his early success. He’s been the most reliable starter for the Twins this season and, if they want to get above .500 and possibly make some noise, they need him to continue pitching that way.
Cody Williams is a Senior Writer with Rant Sports. Follow Cody on Twitter @TheSizzle20, add him on Google+ and like his Facebook page.
