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After such a promising rookie season in 2011, Josh Collmenter (0-2, 4.80) has really fallen off this year.
in his first year, Collmenter surprised a lot of people. In 31 appearances (24 starts) he had a 3.38 ERA and a 3.80 FIP. His biggest asset last year was his ability to keep walks to the minimum, as he allowed just 1.63 BB/9. His 5.63 K/9 was somewhat low considering he always had good strikeout numbers in the minors.
He started the year in the Diamondbacks' rotation but, after posting a 9.82 ERA and .965 opponent OPS in his first four starts, was demoted to the bullpen. He has been much better since then, with a 1.35 ERA and .641 opponent OPS in his last 11 appearances, including one spot start. He had a lot of trouble with the long ball early on, giving up six of them in his first four starts, but allowing just two since. Now, he's back in the Diamondbacks rotation, taking the spot of the injured Daniel Hudson.
Collmenter has ramped up his strikeouts this year. After a lower K/9 last season, he has brought that number up to 8.20 this year. There has been a corresponding rise in his BB/9, though that still stands at a very good 2.40. He was a significant fly ball pitcher last season, with a 0.71 GB/FB ratio. This year, that has flip flopped as he has a 1.21 GB/FB ratio.
Collmenter throws three pitches at least 10% of the time: An 88 MPH cutter (38%), and 88 MPH four seamer (35%), and a 78 MPH changeup (21%).
Collmenter has faced three Brewers exactly ten times: Rickie Weeks has a .000/.000/.000 line, Corey Hart has a .200/.200/.800 line, and Nyjer Morgan has a .333/.400/.333 line.
For the Brewers, Yovani Gallardo (6-6, 4.14) takes the mound today. A first glance at his ERA and 4.02 FIP might lead you to believe he has not been having a very good season. However, those numbers are inflated by two awful starts against the Cardinals. He gave up six runs in 3.2 innings on April 6 and eight runs in 2.0 innings on April 27. Outside of those two starts, he has had a quality start in thirteen of his fourteen other starts. Outside of those two Cardinals starts, Gallardo has a 3.20 ERA.
Gallardo has a 9.34 K/9 this year, a 3.95 BB/9, and a 1.13 HR/9. The strikeout and home run numbers are extremely close to his numbers last season, but he had just a 2.56 BB/9 in 2011. His walk numbers this season are more in line with his career rate of 3.51 as Gallardo has, of course, historically had trouble giving up free passes.
Gallardo has face a lot of Diamondbacks hitters at least ten times. Here is how they have fared:
| Player | PA | Line |
| Chris Young | 22 | .136/.136/.136 |
| Justin Upton | 18 | .353/.389/.529 |
| Stephen Drew | 14 | .154/.214/.154 |
| Miguel Montero | 14 | .077/.071/.154 |
| Gerardo Parra | 12 | .091/.167/.091 |
| Ryan Roberts | 12 | .167/.167/.417 |
| WIllie Bloomquist | 10 | .200/.200/.200 |
| Jason Jubel | 10 | .375/.500/.750 |
Lineups:
|
1. Willie Bloomquist (R) 3B
2. Stephen Drew (L) SS
3. Justin Upton (R) RF
4. Jason Kubel (L) LF
5. Miguel Montero (L) C
6. Aaron Hill (R) 2B
7. Lyle Overbay (L) 1B
8. Gerardo Parra (L) CF
9. Josh Collmenter (R) P
|
1. Norichika Aoki (L) RF
2. Nyjer Morgan (L) CF
3. Ryan Braun (R) LF
4. Aramis Ramirez (R) 3B
5. Corey Hart (R) 1B
6. Rickie Weeks (R) 2B
7. Cody Ransom (R) SS
8. Martin Maldonado (R) C
9. Yovani Gallardo (R) P
|
In the Bullpen:
Francisco Rodriguez pitched one inning (20 pitches) Wednesday.
John Axford last pitched on Tuesday.
Livan Hernandez pitched one inning (17 pitches) Friday.
Jose Veras pitched one inning (21 pitches) Friday.
Kameron Loe pitched one inning (10 pitches) Friday.
Manny Parra pitched one inning (15 pitches) Friday and one inning (19 pitches) last night.
Tim Dillard pitched one inning (13 pitches) Friday and two innings (35 pitches) last night.