Thursday’s streaking and slumping starting pitchers

STREAKING

Tommy Milone, Oakland Athletics (9-6, 3.34 ERA)

Two months ago, the Gio Gonzalez trade looked like a slam dunk win for the Washington Nationals. But the rapid progress of Tommy Milone, one of the pieces Oakland got back in the Gonzalez trade, makes the deal seem a bit better by the Bay.

The A’s are 6-1 in Milone’s last seven starts and the young lefty carries a 1.35 ERA and a 23-2 strikeout to walk ratio over his last three appearances.

Jason Vargas, Seattle Mariners (10-7, 3.91 ERA)

Vargas should be given a medal for winning 10 decisions with an offense this crappy behind him. The Mariners are 3-0 in his last three starts and he’s allowed two or fewer runs in four of his last five outings.

Best thing about that three-game win streak with Vargas on the road: they all came on the road with the M’s priced at plus-money each time.

Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers (11-5, 2.42 ERA)

OK, nothing groundbreaking here. Justin Verlander is still really effing good. How good? Well, the Tigers are 7-1 in his last eight appearances.

Of course the fat price oddsmakers make bettors pay takes out a lot of the fun of backing Verlander. Who wants to bet $300 to win $100? A better way of doing would be looking at the total. The under is 5-0 in the flame-throwing righty’s last five starts.