The Padres will send Anthony Bass (2-5, 4.21) to the mound today. Bass started off the year extremely well, with a 2.89 ERA through May 20, encompassing 10 appearances (eight starts and two relief appearances. Since then, he has made three more starts and has allowed 6, 5, and 4 earned runs, raising his ERA to the current 4.21. This is just the 24-year-old Bass's second season. As a rookie last year, Bass primarily came out of the bullpen, making just three starts in 27 appearances. He managed a 1.89 ERA despite a K/9 of 4.47 and a BB/9 of 3.91.
This season, his K/9 is up to 8.03 with a BB/9 of 3.42. He's also done a very good job in the majors at keeping the ball in the park. His numbers were inconsistent while in the minors, going from very good to mediocre at different levels in different years.
Bass throws four pitches at least 10% of the time: A 92 MPH four seamer (35%), an 85 MPH slider (33%), an 83 MPH changeup (14%), and a 93 MPH cutter (11%).
Bass has yet to face a current Brewer at least ten times.
Despite his 4.50 ERA, Yovani Gallardo (4-5, 4.50) has been excellent this year. Gallardo has had three bad starts. He gave up six earned runs in 3.2 innings against St. Louis on April 6, eight earned in two innings against the Cardinals again on April 27, and most recently five earned in six innings against the Cubs in his last start.
Over his other nine starts, Gallardo has a 2.42 ERA. On the season, he has a 3.87 FIP. Gallardo has been striking out hitters at a good rate, with a 9.11 K/9. However, his 4.11 BB/9 is the second highest of his career.
Gallardo's start against the Cubs was strange, as he set a season high for himself with 10 strikeouts and walked just one batter. However, he still allowed the five runs, including four runs on two home runs. Gallardo has given up just two homers in his previous ten starts, after allowing four in his first start.
Gallardo has faced just two Padres hitters at least ten times. In 11 PA, Chase Headley has hit .500/.545/.800 while Cameron Maybin has hit .333/.400/.333 in 10 PA against Gallardo.
Lineup:
Hart 9
Aoki 8
Braun 7
Ramirez 5
Green 3
Weeks 4
Maldonado 2
Maysonet 6
Gallardo 1
In the bullpen:
Manny Parra pitched two innings (32 pitches) last night.
Francisco Rodriguez pitched 1 inning (14 pitches) last night.
Tim Dillard pitched two innings (34 pitches) Friday.
Kameron Loe pitched 1.1 innings (6 pitches) Friday.
Jose Veras pitched .1 innings (2 pitches) Thursday.
John Axford pitched two innings (23 pitches) Thursday.
Juan Perez pitched one inning (13 pitches) Thursday.