FriarBall: Back to being the ace

Friday, April 20, 2007

Back to being the ace

Even though his ERA ballooned from 0.90 to 2.13 after giving up four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched in an 11-6 win over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, Jake Peavy has to feel like things are going back to normal.

After a down 2006 in which Peavy was 11-14 with a 4.09 ERA, it's good to see a return to form and a return to being the true ace of the staff. While the other starters have already had ups and downs this short season, it's nice to see Peavy off to a 3-0 start and already keeping his ERA below his career average 3.45.

This Padres need a successful Peavy if they even want a shot in the playoffs this year and even though Peavy will eventually lose at least one game this season, if he can limit teams to fewer runs than he gave up today, San Diego should be in position to win every game he pitches.

Facing the Colorado Rockies tomorrow, San Diego should be able to win its second straight as it sends Chris Young to the mound, a pitcher who likes to face the Rockies. In five starts versus the Rockies, Young is 3-0 with a 2.97 ERA - just the type of performance the Padres need to get on a roll.

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