Streaking
Johnny Cueto (5-1, 3.25 ERA), Cincinnati Reds
The Reds righty has been simply magic during the club's recent hot streak. Cueto has won four straight starts and hasn’t tasted defeat since April 24. He’s allowed just three runs in his last four outings, most recently going six innings, allowing just three hits, in an 8-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even more impressive is the fact that Cueto is missing his slider due to a blister on his right hand. He is expected to be back at full strength against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday.
Nick Blackburn (6-1, 4.28 ERA), Minnesota Twins
The Twins right-hander has won five starts in a row heading into Tuesday. Blackburn hasn’t lost since April 11 and is coming off a strong showing against the dangerous New York Yankees lineup, allowing just two runs through seven innings in an 8-2 victory last Thursday. Not only is Blackburn getting the job done but Minnesota’s lineup is backing him up, scoring 57 runs over his nine starts this season – the most for any pitcher in the majors.
Slumping
Brian Matusz (2-5, 5.76 ERA), Baltimore Orioles
Matusz’s last win came way back on April 18 against the Oakland A’s. Since then, the lefty has gone 0-5 in his last seven starts and is coming off a rough couple outings heading into Tuesday’s date with the Yankees. Matusz lasted just over two innings, giving up seven runs on May 20, then served up six runs in five innings against Oakland last Wednesday. He did, however, settle down in that outing and could be turning things around.
Wade LeBlanc (2-3, 3.71 ERA), San Diego Padres
LeBlanc’s command has been off and on since joining the Big League club in 2010. In his last start, the left-hander gave up four runs including two home runs on nine hits in just over five innings of work. The start before that, he was rocked for eight runs in just three innings, serving up two dingers. He hasn’t won since an eight-hit shutout on April 29 and had a 5.81 ERA in May, despite starting the month strong.
"I think more than anything it was the lack of not getting the ball in good spots," Padres manager Bud Black told MLB.com following LeBlanc’s latest outing. "Today I saw the ball elevated more than I have all year. There was not enough quality strikes down in the strike zone."