Josh Johnson is probably one of the best unknown pitchers this year.
3-0, 0.88 ERA Johnson has allowed four earned runs and struck out 39 batters over 41 innings in his six starts this season. Only allowing 18 hits on the year in 6 starts is the lowest amount of hits allowed since 1900 with a minimum of 40 games. He has gone deep in his last 4 starts pitching at least 7 innings. He has maintained a WHIP under .75 all year. However this will be his first real test taking on the hitting of the SL Cardinals. They boast the best team hitting avg in the league at .292 and the 3rd best slugging team at .445. The fact that St. Louis is hitting so well is a shock to most mainly because they are doing it without much help from Pujols. Holliday and Berkman have more than picked up the slack for the struggling Pujols which makes them even more of a threat, because Pujols will eventually find his swing.
Jake Westbrook (2-2, 6.53 ERA) ). After being pounded in his first four starts, Westbrook found his command in the last two outings, allowing two runs and eight hits over 12 innings. In two career starts against the Marlins, he is 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA, 13 strikeouts and no walks. FL managed to get the win 5-4 when these 2 pitchers last met on Aug 7th last year. The one reason I like FL in this match up is the almost 2.0 WHIP that westbrook has this year and the fact that Westbrook hasn't pitched more than 6 innings all year.
I like FL in this one as I think good pitching will always beat out good hitting.
4-2 FL!
3-0, 0.88 ERA Johnson has allowed four earned runs and struck out 39 batters over 41 innings in his six starts this season. Only allowing 18 hits on the year in 6 starts is the lowest amount of hits allowed since 1900 with a minimum of 40 games. He has gone deep in his last 4 starts pitching at least 7 innings. He has maintained a WHIP under .75 all year. However this will be his first real test taking on the hitting of the SL Cardinals. They boast the best team hitting avg in the league at .292 and the 3rd best slugging team at .445. The fact that St. Louis is hitting so well is a shock to most mainly because they are doing it without much help from Pujols. Holliday and Berkman have more than picked up the slack for the struggling Pujols which makes them even more of a threat, because Pujols will eventually find his swing.
Jake Westbrook (2-2, 6.53 ERA) ). After being pounded in his first four starts, Westbrook found his command in the last two outings, allowing two runs and eight hits over 12 innings. In two career starts against the Marlins, he is 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA, 13 strikeouts and no walks. FL managed to get the win 5-4 when these 2 pitchers last met on Aug 7th last year. The one reason I like FL in this match up is the almost 2.0 WHIP that westbrook has this year and the fact that Westbrook hasn't pitched more than 6 innings all year.
I like FL in this one as I think good pitching will always beat out good hitting.
4-2 FL!
