Friday's streaking and slumping starting pitchers

STREAKING


Ben Sheets, Atlanta Braves (2-0, 0.00 ERA)

It’s only two starts but if you’re a Braves backer, you have to be ecstatic with the early results from this former Milwaukee ace. Sheets held the Nationals off the board despite giving up five hits and three walks over six innings pitched.

“It’s been a huge pickup for us,” Atlanta catcher Brian McCann told reporters following Sheets’ last outing. “To come out here for his two starts and pitch the way he has. Hasn’t given up a run, he’s pounding the zone and the more you’re around him the more you know why he’s so successful. He’s a competitor, he knows what he’s doing.”

Carlos Villanueva, Toronto Blue Jays (5-0, 2.86 ERA)

Normally a spot starter/long-inning relief guy, Villanueva has been making the best of his chance to stick in the Jays’ starting rotation. The 28-year-old righty is 3-0 in his last three starts and carries a 1.47 ERA over the three-start stretch.

SLUMPING


Scott Diamond, Minnesota Twins (8-4, 3.16 ERA)

Diamond was the only reliable starter in the Twins’ five-man staff but he’s been banged around a bit in each of his last two appearances. The southpaw relies on groundball outs and he hasn’t been getting them, giving up nine combined runs in his last 12 innings on the bump.

Travis Wood, Chicago Cubs (4-5, 4.33 ERA)

Wood gets the call instead of an ailing Matt Garza Friday. His last two starts have been disastrous, giving up a total of 14 earned runs on 17 hits over just 10 2-3 innings of work. Wood has served up four home runs in that span and has allowed five dingers in his last three outings.