Louisville Pitching Staff Among League Leaders

BUFFALO, Ny. - Although the Louisville Bats have somewhat stumbled out of the gate to begin the 2010 season, there have been signs that the team could be ready to snap out of its early-season slump. Twenty-four games into the season, one of the most promising aspects of the club remains its pitching staff, which ranks second in the International League with a 3.28 ERA. Louisville's pitching potential could be seen from the outset of the season, as the staff put up a 15-strikeout game in a win against Toledo on the fourth day of the year.

Left-handed prospect Aroldis Chapman leads the team's starting rotation with a 1.29 ERA. In his first four professional starts, the 22-year-old Cuban defector has not disappointed, earning 22 punch outs in 21 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .192 average.

Fellow starters Sam LeCure and Matt Maloney have also thrown very well over the first month of the year, combining for five of the team's seven wins in their nine appearances. LeCure has a 2.67 ERA after five starts, while Maloney has three victories to go with an ERA just a tick above three. Both starters were also among the Bats' best last season, with Maloney making his major-league debut in June.

Travis Wood, who nearly won the Reds' fifth starter spot out of spring training, is currently tied for the league lead with 32 strikeouts. Wood has been the victim of tough luck in the win column, however, as has yet to get a victory in five starts despite posting a respectable 3.77 ERA.

Louisville's bullpen has posted even better numbers than the team's starters, putting up a 2.54 ERA. Right-hander Enerio Del Rosario has been the team's most steady bullpen option, appearing in 11 games with an earned-run average of 2.45.

Before getting recalled to Cincinnati last week, Carlos Fisher had not given up a run in a Bats' uniform to start 2010. Fisher's promotion has landed right-handed reliever Logan Ondrusek back in Louisville, where he finished the 2009 season. Ondrusek had 12 saves with the Bats' last year, and has been solid in six innings of work since he came back to the team from Cincinnati on April 22nd.

After starting the year in double-A, twenty-six year-old Jesus Delgado has come to Louisville and been another steady arm out of the bullpen. In 11 innings, Delgado has a 1.64 ERA, giving Rick Sweet another right-handed option for late inning situations. Delgado played for the Mariners' triple-A team in Tacoma last season.

Closer Jon Adkins has returned to the team after leading the Bats in saves two years ago. In 2009, the right-hander played well in South Korea and was re-signed by the Reds prior to 2010. After nearly breaking the Bats' franchise record with 30 saves in 2008, the 32-year-old righty already has four this season.

The pitching staff's control has been one of its best assets, as the team has allowed the fewest walks in the league with 69. The bullpen quartet of Del Rosario, Adkins, Fisher, and Ondrusek have combined for almost 40 innings on the bump, but between them have only allowed four free passes.

With their pitching staff throwing so well, Louisville should be able to compete if they can solve some of their early season offensive struggles. After finishing their current road trip in Buffalo, the Bats will come home for an eight-game home stand starting Thursday.