Top 5 Latino pitchers this week

Performance throughout the season determines the order in which the pitchers are ranked.

1: Framber Valdez
The Dominican left-hander allowed three runs in five innings and took the loss in his last start, snapping a streak of three consecutive quality starts and 10 trips to the box. In the American League, Valdez (6-5, 2.36) is tied for the AL lead in quality starts (10) and is fifth in ERA and innings pitched (84.0) and seventh in strikeouts (89). He has issued 20 tickets in 13 starts.

2: Luis Castillo
The Dominican righty has allowed four runs and struck out 34 in 25.0 innings over his last four starts to put pressure on Valdez in the battle for first place in the standings. Castillo (4-4, 2.70) is third in strikeouts (92), sixth in WAR (2.2), seventh in WHIP (0.99) and ERA and ninth in batting average allowed (.207), in 13 starts, in the American League. I have given away 17 innings in 76.2 innings.

3: Cristian Javier
The Dominican righty slipped in his most recent appearance, but came away with a no-decision to keep his current winning streak intact. Javier is 5-0 with a 2.85 ERA in his last seven starts. In the young circuit, Javier (7-1, 3.13) is fifth in wins and 11th in quality starts (7), ERA and WHIP (1.06). He has 74 strikeouts and 19 walks in 72.2 innings.

4: Eduardo Rodriguez
The Venezuelan left-hander is on the injured list with a broken “pulley” on the index finger of his pitching hand. He has started pitching lightly, but right now it is uncertain when he will return. In the first two months of the season, Rodriguez (4-4, 2.13, 62K, 67.2 IL) was one of the best pitchers in MLB. The Detroit horse accumulated 1.6 WAR in 11 starts.

5: Felix Bautista
The Baltimore Orioles’ Dominican righty leads all relievers in both majors in WAR (1.4), strikeouts (64) and strikeouts per 9 innings (18.58), and is third in saves (17). Bautista (3-1, 1.16) has limited the opposition to a .147 average with two home runs in 31.0 innings in 30 appearances on the season.