Former Mississippi State standout pitcher Brandon Woodruff keeps on dealing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
After six starts this season, the fireballing right-hander has yet to allow more than three earned runs in a single game and has pitched to a dazzling 1.55 ERA. In 29 innings of work, Woodruff has struck out 34 batters and only allowed eight walks. In his most recent start against the defending World Series champion L.A. Dodgers on Saturday, Woodruff notched a quality start with six innings of two-run ball and six strikeouts.
“It’s the team you have to go through to get to the World Series,” Woodruff told MLB.com after the game. “Any time you play the Dodgers it feels like a playoff-type game, and we’re only in May. That was a big-time win, a big-time series win. I was just happy to be a part of it.”
Woodruff is projected to make his next start Thursday against the Phillies.
While Woodruff’s season has been impressive, it’s hard to imagine any pitcher having a better start to the season than Seattle Mariners reliever Kendall Graveman. Graveman went all of April without allowing an earned run and that streak continued through Sunday’s pair of games. On the year, Graveman has a perfect 0.00 ERA in 11.2 innings of work with 12 strikeouts, three walks and three saves.
“Last month, we put up some good numbers, but it’s a new month and we kind of take it that way,” Graveman told MLB.com. “We’re one-sixth of the way through as far as months, and [we’ll] see if we can continue this trend going into this month and just break it down monthly.
Slugging first baseman Nate Lowe continues to be a stalwart in the Texas Rangers’ lineup, boasting a .271/.361/.467 slash line. Lowe has cranked out six home runs and 24 RBIs in 107 at-bats. Not normally known as a burner, Lowe has tricked opposing catchers with his baserunning as well, swiping three bags thus far.
After a frustrating start to the season that involved struggling at the plate and a brief injured list visit, Minnesota Twins outfielder Brent Rooker finally contributed his first home run of the season on April 26 against Cleveland. In 29 at-bats, Rooker has three hits, a home run, three RBIs and a walk this year.
Mitch Moreland closed out April strong for the Oakland Athletics, recording a hit in his final four games of the month. This season, Moreland is slashing .221/.295/.382 for the A’s with three home runs and 11 RBIs.
The batting average of Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier continues to climb, as the former Diamond Dawg is slashing .292/.361/.406 for the Pirates. While he’s yet to hit his first home run of the year, the Pittsburgh infielder has driven in 10 runs and stolen two bases. Frazier has 10 extra-base hits, which includes eight doubles and two triples.
Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.
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