Monday's streaking and slumping starting pitchers

STREAKING


Clay Buchholz, Boston Red Sox (8-3, 4.93 ERA)

The Red Sox haven’t been able to count much on their rotation but at least Buchholz is keeping them in games. The talented right-hander began the campaign in a major rut but has dug himself out nicely over the last nine weeks.

Buchholz owns a 2.47 ERA since May 27 and the Red Sox are 6-1 in the 27-year-old’s last seven starts. Total bettors will be happy to know that the under is also 6-2 in his last eight trips to the bump.

A.J. Griffin, Oakland Athletics (3-0, 2.25 ERA)

This 24-year-old rookie hurler has got to be wondering what the big deal is about the big show. Griffin has made six starts and all of them have been quality ones. He’s pitched six innings in each appearance and he’s allowed two or fewer runs in five of those six outings.

He’s facing one of the best pitchers in the game on Monday in David Price, so the price should be nice for underdog bettors.

SLUMPING


Ricky Romero, Toronto Blue Jays (8-7, 5.75 ERA)

The one of the few Blue Jay hurlers who’s actually healthy sure is pitching like something’s bothering him. Romero gave up eight earned runs in just 1 and 1/3 innings work last week against the A’s. It was the fourth time in his last six starts he’d allowed six or more earned runs.

The Jays are 0-6 in Romero’s last six turns in the rotation and the young lefty sports an ugly 29 to 30 strikeout to walk ratio over the last two months.

Trevor Cahill, Arizona Diamondbacks (8-9, 3.86 ERA)

The results haven’t been absolutely dreadful for Trevor Cahill but it would certainly be fair to say the 2012 campaign has been a disappointment for this former 18-game winner.

Cahill, who came to Arizona in an offseason trade with Oakland, 2-4 in his last six decisions and the Diamondbacks were favored in five of those six starts. The righty has just one quality start among his last seven outings.