The Nats through 10 games: Part 3 (Pitchers)

As I said in part 3 (Hitters), the Nats went 6-4 in their 3rd stretch of 10 games after going 5-5 in each of their first 2 stretches. In this 10 game span, they scored 39 runs and gave up 40, continuing a trend of outperforming their pythagorean record.

THE GOOD

SP Livan Hernandez-Yet again, Livan outperformed his peripherals, going 2-0 with 3 runs allowed (2 earned) in 12 and 1/3 innings while walking 6 and striking out 2. Moral of the story: don't doubt the Livan. LAST WEEK: Good.

SP Craig Stammen-I considered moving Stammen into the "Meh" section, but his bad game wasn't really THAT bad (4 innings, 7 hits, 4 runs allowed, 2 K : 2 BB) and his good game was really good (6 and 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs allowed, 8 K : 0 BB). LAST WEEK: Good.

SP Scott Olsen-Scotty had an awesome stretch, allowing only 7 hits and 2 runs (1 earned) in 13 and 1/3 innings. Over this stretch, he had 12 K's to 4 BB's, which I'll take any day. LAST WEEK: Meh.

SP Matt Chico-5 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 0 walks and 3 strikeouts in his first ML game since 2008. Works for me. LAST WEEK: Did not appear.

CP Matt Capps-4/4 on saves but took a loss on the night of Atilano's flaming bag of poop in his second inning. 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K is cool with me, though. LAST WEEK: Good.

SP Jason Marquis-The fact that he didn't pitch was good. Hopefully his surgery will be a success.

THE MEH

RP Tyler Clippard-8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 9 K doesn't look too bad. 2 blown saves (even though both ended up in wins) and 6 walks do look bad. Tyler falls into the "meh" category for the first time this season. LAST WEEK: Good.

RP Miguel Batista-Nothing quite bad enough for me to throw him under the bus into "bad" territory, but if I see Miguel Batista on the mound we better be up by at least 5 or down by at least 5 (or if we don't have any relievers available besides Bruney). LAST WEEK: Meh.

RP Sean Burnett-Only gave up 1 of his own runs in 3 and 1/3 innings but also allowed 2 inherited runners to score. LAST WEEK: Good.

RP Tyler Walker-Tanked in a game that the Nats were only down by 2 in but recovered with 2 1-inning shutout performances after that. LAST WEEK: Meh.

THE BAD

SP Luis Atilano-Good enough to win in his first game of this stretch vs. the Cubs, but awful in game 2 vs. the Braves. Yucky line for the week seals him into "bad" territory: 11 and 1/3 innings, 13 hits, 8 runs, 8 walks, 5 strikeouts. LAST WEEK: Good.

SP John Lannan-I'm starting to get worried. After 3 straight respectable starts (averaging 6 and 1/3 innings pitched and 3 runs allowed per game), Lannan imploded again on May 2. He's still walking too many opponents and not striking anyone out. Have opponents finally solved John Lannan? Here's to hoping they haven't. LAST WEEK: Bad.

RP Brian Bruney-somehow amassed a 3.00 WHIP over his 5 appearances. Somehow the Nats won 2 of them. In completely unrelated news, I hear Willy Taveras might need a roommate in Syracuse. LAST WEEK: Meh.