After losing their first six games, the Athletics have righted the ship, winning the last four contests to improve their record to 5-7.
Despite the team's recent success, Jesús Luzardo’s start this season is leaving little to be desired for the A’s. But manager Bob Melvin says there’s no level of concern there.
“Concern level? I don’t know that there’s a level,” Melvin said following Tuesday’s 7-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. “We’re early in the season, you have good starts, you have bad starts. He’s going to even out and he’s going to show who he is right now.”
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During his outing in the desert, Luzardo gave up six hits, one of which was a three-run home run and his ERA ballooned to 8.31 after getting charged with five earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings..
“To start, I don’t think much was working, to be honest with you, but my fastball command wasn’t there which was key,” Luzardo said Tuesday after the game. “Just getting ahead of guys, I was getting behind guys and I think that’s what got me in trouble.”
Luzardo was hoping to build off of his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which showed better consistency. In 5 1/3 innings last week aginst the reigning champs, he struck out six, but walked four and gave up two runs and five hits.
“I wanted to build on that,” Luzardo said. “Like I said, I think my fastball command wasn’t there,” Luzardo said after Tuesday’s game. My first inning was good and then I was behind guys, getting into fastball counts, throwing fastballs, so I wasn’t helping myself in any way and I think that’s something I need to fix going forward.”
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Luzardo’s starts have been highly anticipated this season, as he was one of the more highly touted prospects in all of MLB. And rightfully so. His stuff is electric when he’s on.
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Melvin continues to support Luzardo, chalking it up to simply a slow start.
“I believe in Jesús,” Melvin said Tuesday.