The Nats through 10 games: Part 2 (Pitchers)

Note-this is a few days late. This 10 game stretch runs from April 17 to April 26, where the Nats went 5-5. Part 1 is here in its entirety and Part 2 (Hitters) is here.

THE GOOD

SP Livan Hernandez-Livo went 2-1 with a 1.13 ERA and a .169/.216/.265 triple slash against him in this 10 game stretch. His only loss was in a game where he pitched 8 innings of 2 run ball and the Nats lost 2-0. LAST WEEK: Good.

SP Craig Stammen-It would have been hard for Stammen to get any worse than his first 2 starts (15.63 ERA), but Stammen was great in his second 2 starts, going 1-0 with 5 runs allowed in 15 innings (a 3.00 ERA). Although 8 K in 15 IP isn't impressive by itself, I was very impressed with his 8:1 K:BB ratio. LAST WEEK: Bad.

SP Luis Atilano-Had an awesome ML debut on April 23, giving up 1 run in 6 innings against the Dodgers. He needs to start striking guys out to continue his early success, but you have to give him props for a good start. LAST WEEK: Did not appear.

CP Matt Capps-Can't argue with 0 runs allowed in 5 innings and a 7:1 K:BB ratio. LAST WEEK: Good.

RP Tyler Clippard-Or 0 runs allowed in 6 innings and a 10:1 K:BB ratio (plus only 1 hit allowed in that stretch!!). LAST WEEK: Good.

RP Sean Burnett-Only pitched 1 and 2/3 innings in 2 games, allowing 1 hit and 1 walk but no runs. The IP total is interesting to me; does Riggleman not trust Burnett? LAST WEEK: Bad.

THE MEH

SP Scott Olsen-One awful start (2 innings, 6 runs) and one awesome start (7 innings, 0 runs). I don't want to jump out and say Olsen is back due to his two straight good starts (the latter will be discussed in Part 3, as it occurred after this span of 10 games), but his K and BB rates are looking nice and his average fastball velocity has improved to 89 MPH, his best since averaging 90.1 MPH in 2007. It's only 4 starts, so take this info with a grain of salt, but he has improved. LAST WEEK: Meh.

RP Miguel Batista-4 runs over 9 innings isn't bad, but it's not good either. A 5:5 K:BB ratio is not terribly impressive, either. Watching Batista pitch right now is kinda like being in purgatory but knowing you're going to end up in hell. LAST WEEK: Bad.

RP Brian Bruney-Only gave up 1 run in 5 and 1/3 innings, but it was a bases-loaded walk. Speaking of free passes, Bruney handed out 5 in this span while striking out 6. Bruney pitched in all 5 losses over this 10 game span. LAST WEEK: Bad.

RP Tyler Walker-4 runs allowed in 6 and 1/3 innings is bad. A 9:1 K:BB ratio is encouraging, though. LAST WEEK: Bad.

RP Jesse English-Got sent down after throwing 2 innings where he allowed 1 run. The Nats are 0-7 in games that English pitched in, allowing 7 or more in each game, with April 12's 7-4 loss to Philly being the closest game. Looks like Riggleman never really had faith in him. LAST WEEK: Good.

THE BAD

SP John Lannan-I thought about putting Lannan in the "MEH" column, but 12 innings and 7 runs allowed is simply bad. In his 2 starts in games 11-20, Lannan walked 6 and only struck out 3. I'm starting to get a little worried about John. LAST WEEK: Meh.

SP Jason Marquis-Well, he doesn't have an ERA over this stretch because you can't divide by 0 innings pitched. But 7 earned runs without getting an out puts him in his own category of bad. LAST WEEK: Bad.