missionhockey21

Sam LeCure was called up to the Reds for his Major League debut this season when Homer Bailey was placed on the 15 Day DL. He is a prospect, not a big one, the kind of guy who might make it as a 5th starter. Good to have in case of emergency, but not the guy who will pitch game 7 in the World Series. He does probably regularly post on FML as his luck just isn't great. Yes, he got called up, but he is taking bullet after bullet for the injured Bailey.

After tonight's game against the Mariners, he is 1-4 with his ERA jumping from 3.75 to 4.50. But outside of his first start against the Astros and Wandy Rodriguez, his first and only win so far, the odds makers wherever they may be must be laughing. Here are his opponents from games 2, 3, & 4:

Game 2: Chris Carpenter - 8 IP 4 H 1 ER 0 BB 4 K (ERA on the season to this point: 2.76)
Game 3: Matt Cain - 9 IP 7 H 0 ER 2 BB 5 K (ERA on the season to this point: 2.11)
Game 4: Zack Greinke - 9 IP 5 H 3 ER 0 BB 12 K (ERA on the season to this point: 3.97)
Game 5: Felix Hernandez - 9 IP 5 H 1 ER 1 BB 9 K (ERA on the season to this point: 3.39)

So LeCure has faced two Cy Young winners, and all four of these opponents have at least finished one season in the top 10 for lowest ERA. And yes, their performance for these individual games says quite a bit about the lineup they were facing, and not so much about LeCure. But for LeCure to go against guys who have over 10 strikeouts, or complete games, etc... that is like bringing a Pinto to a Porsche party, no matter how much you shine it up, it just is too hard to compete.

Sam, for your sanity I hope you face off against a bottom feeder. Luckily it seems that the next time you are up, the Reds are playing the Indians and Carmona threw a few days ago so I think you are safe from any other ace threats from the Tribe, maybe even #3 starter threats.