Tuesday's streaking and slumping starting pitchers

STREAKING
Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners (8-5, 2.82 ERA)

King Felix has returned to the Felix of old. The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner threw eight innings of one-run ball, scattering eight hits to pick up his eighth win of the season against the Royals on Thursday. Even more impressive was his complete-game shutout over the high-powered Texas Rangers in his previous start on July 14. The 26-year-old should be up to an even tougher test Tuesday against the visiting Bronx Bombers.

Edinson Volquez, San Diego Padres (6-7, 3.34 ERA)

The Padres are finally starting to reap the benefits of the offseason trade that saw former staff ace Mat Latos back his bags for Cincinnati. Volquez, who was the key piece coming back to San Diego in the deal, has been rock solid in his last five starts. 

Volquez threw a one-hit shutout against the lowly Astros on Thursday to notch his sixth win of the season and lower his ERA to 1.71 in July. There may be some value for his next road start in San Francisco on Tuesday.

SLUMPING

Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals (12-5, 3.32 ERA)

Gonzalez hasn’t looked anything like an All-Star over his last five starts. The southpaw surrendered six earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched Thursday against the Mets, ballooning his ERA to 5.75 in July. 

To make matters worse, the struggling lefty may not get much run support Tuesday in New York. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is a perfect 6-0 at home and is seeking his league-leading 14th win of the campaign. 

Ubaldo Jimenez, Cleveland Indians (8-9, 5.24 ERA)

The Indians believed they hit the jackpot last July when they acquired Jimenez from the Colorado Rockies. The 28-year-old is rarely clocked at over 95 mph on the radar gun these days, a major decline from the fireballer who regularly registered triple digits earlier in his career.

Jimenez not only leads the AL in walks, but boasts an ugly 7.48 ERA in July. The righty has surrendered 18 earned runs in just four starts this month. Batters are taking advantage of his control issues, swatting five homers during that span. Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera will be licking their lips when the Tigers roll into town Tuesday.