With Wednesday's victory over the A's, Francisco Liriano improved to 4-0 with a 1.14 ERA since returning from Triple-A. However, Liriano hasn't been anywhere near as impressive as his four-start winning streak and miniscule ERA suggest, compiling a mediocre 20-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22.2 innings since rejoining the rotation. Ongoing struggles with command limited him to just five innings Wednesday and his velocity remains significantly below where it was in 2006.
That's the bad news, but there's also good news. He's succeeded despite no longer working with overpowering stuff in part due to facing the AL's three worst offenses and the league's sixth-worst lineup, and will continue to get favorable matchups down the stretch thanks to how the Twins' schedule is set up. While it's a mistake to assume that the Liriano of 2006 is back because of his great ERA, there's plenty of reason to think that he can be a fantasy asset for the next six weeks.
While Liriano learns to thrive again as a much different type of pitcher, here are some other notes from around baseball .
* Luke Hochevar left his Tuesday start with ribcage tightness and was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with what the Royals are calling a contusion, potentially ending his rookie season. Hochevar has struggled in his first full year as a major leaguer, going 6-12 with a 5.51 ERA and 72-to-47 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 129 innings spread over 22 starts, and the former No. 1 overall pick has yet to show anything to suggest that he has star potential long term.
Hochevar was ranked by Baseball America as just the eighth-best prospect in the 2006 draft and the rest of the top 10 included Tim Lincecum, Evan Longoria, Joba Chamberlain, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Andrew Miller, and Brandon Morrow, which makes his lack of development all the more frustrating for the Royals. In addition to his poor pre-injury performance in the majors, he went 5-10 with a 4.35 ERA and 166-to-55 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 184 minor-league innings.
* Jason Isringhausen is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a partially torn tendon in his elbow, which might suggest that the Cardinals would bring Adam Wainwright back from the disabled list as a reliever. However, manager Tony La Russa's confidence in rookie reliever Chris Perez and Wainwright's desire to return as a starter has convinced the team to let him rejoin the rotation, which he's scheduled to do Friday against the Braves.
Sidelined since early June with a ruptured tendon in his right middle finger, Wainwright has said that he feels fully healthy despite three uneven minor-league rehab outings. His owners may want to keep him on the bench Friday to avoid the potential ugly return start, but Wainwright thrived before the injury-going 6-3 with a 3.14 ERA and 62-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 92 innings-and has a chance to make a huge impact down the stretch while Perez handles the ninth inning.
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* Clay Buchholz didn't make it out of the third inning Wednesday against the Orioles, striking out none, walking three, and allowing five runs while throwing just half of his pitches for strikes. He's now 0-7 with a 9.21 ERA dating back to early May and manager Terry Francona said afterward that the Red Sox have decided to send him down to Double-A. No rotation replacement has been named yet, but by the time a fifth starter is needed again Tim Wakefield may be ready to return.
* A demotion to the minors appears to have done wonders for Brett Myers. Sent to Triple-A in late June after beginning the season 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA and MLB-leading 24 homers allowed in 17 starts, Myers is now 3-1 with a 1.94 ERA, 30-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and just two homers served up in six starts since returning in mid-July. His latest outing was a complete-game shutout Wednesday against Nationals, which included nine strikeouts and just one walk.
AL Quick Hits: Penciled in to start Tuesday versus the Yankees, Josh Beckett will test his tingling right hand by throwing Friday . Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 609th career homer Wednesday, tying Sammy Sosa for fifth on the all-time list and going deep for the first time since joining the White Sox on July 31 . Derek Jeter went 3-for-5 with a homer Wednesday and is trying to salvage his career-worst season by collecting 16 hits in his last six games . Erik Bedard's (shoulder) bullpen session Saturday has been canceled and manager Jim Riggleman called it "gravy" if he can pitch again this season . Melvin Mora homered, stole a base, and drove in four runs Wednesday, and is now hitting .455 with six homers and 30 RBIs in 18 games this month . Kevin Millwood tossed a complete game Wednesday, holding the Tigers to one run for his first win since July 6 . Kelly Shoppach entered Wednesday's game in a 9-for-49 (.184) slump that included zero homers, but went deep twice in a comeback win over the Royals . Alexi Casilla will resume batting second and starting at second base after coming off the disabled list Wednesday.
NL Quick Hits:Mike Pelfrey held the Braves to three runs in a complete-game win Wednesday, notching his 12th victory and going the distance for the first time in 42 career starts . Dr. James Andrews determined Wednesday that Tom Glavine won't need Tommy John surgery, leaving the door open for him to return next season . Mark Reynolds took infield practice at second base Wednesday, suggesting that he could move there once Justin Upton (oblique) returns . Andruw Jones homered twice in a minor-league rehab game Tuesday at Triple-A, but was scratched from Wednesday's game with discomfort in his knee . An MRI exam on Jonathan Sanchez's shoulder revealed a mild rotator cuff strain Tuesday and he's slated to throw within a few days . Signed to a minor-league contract Wednesday, Al Reyes could quickly emerge with a late-inning role in the Mets' mess of a bullpen . Rickie Weeks returned to the lineup Wednesday after sitting out two games with a sprained thumb . Placed on bereavement leave Wednesday, Casey Kotchman will be away from the Braves for at least three days to be with his ailing mother.
