San Diego pitching staff:
A team that has stumbled since the injury to hot corner stalwart, Mario Vasquez, continues to plug along thanks to a pitching staff who in its entirety is under 30. A quick look at how they have managed this season:
Mike Joyce, 29, is the senior member and number one starter. With a 10-9 record, he is holding his own, though his ERA is up over 4, though his WHIP is down from last season. Hopes are that the durable innings eater continues to work his offspeed strikeout (third in the division) magic down the stretch.
Southpaw, Elvis Sharp, only 24, is just behind Joyce in K's, while doubling his production from his rookie season. At 8-7 with a 3.77 ERA he is exceeding expectations, and showing a profound ability to get dangerous left-handed batsmen out.
Ted Mills, 20, has replaced the injured "Random" Tanaka in the starting rotation and has responded with a 3-1 record in 7 starts with a sub 3 ERA. Mills could be a future ace and is certainly being proven in the crucible of big league play after a 2012 season in Single A.
Lefty veteran, Dave Lee, 28, has an even record, 12-12, but has shown big strides from his sub .500 2012 campaign. He has shown endurance while fashioning a sub 5 ERA.
26 year-old, Jason Bolyard, is the fifth starter, and at 7-9 has contributed some excellent starts amongst some less than stellar outings.
Steve Johnson, 25, has lowered his ERA to 2.21 in 50+ games, always able to get a key batter out.
Lefty, Phil Bernard, 24, has a blighted 5.22 ERA, but that is down a point and a half from last season, and he is filling the long role out of the pen.
Aurelio Mata, only 24, is getting outs on a regular basis, becoming the most reliable long man out of the Hops pen.
New Mexico native, Nate Downs, 27, has shown consistent late inning relief including 10 saves when closer, Chase, is tired. His 13+ K per 9 innings is one of the best ratios in the game.
Closer, Mike Chase, 28, already has 25 saves in 40 games, proving that inning 9 is tough for Hops opponents.
In 2014, with more bats available to the San Diego squad, this could be a very, very tough draw for any ABL foe.
