Jeff Samardzija starts ‘Shark Week’ early
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija had another top outing, providing fireworks for the “Good Guys” on Independence Day, as his ball club won 3-2, though he was given a no-decision.
This start for Samardzija, he went 7.2 innings, where he allowed one earned run, which didn’t come until the eighth inning. Also on Saturday, he gave up just three hits and two walks.
Shark also brought “Shark Week” a little early with nine strikeouts and lowered his season ERA to 4.33.
Of his 111 pitches, he threw 70 for strikes.
More from White Sox News
- The Chicago White Sox might have had a season ending loss
- The Chicago White Sox are expecting Tim Anderson back soon
- Miguel Cairo’s words spark life into the Chicago White Sox
- Dylan Cease should be the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award
- Ozzie Guillen speaks the whole truth about Tony La Russa
In his past three starts, Samardzija is 1-0 with two no decisions. Along the way, he’s compiled 20 strikeouts, allowed just six earned runs, allowed 16 hits and walked just six batters in games against the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.
Since June 13 (past five starts), Samardzija has given up four runs just once, and in that game, he pitched shutout baseball for seven innings, until the eighth inning got away on June 28 against the Tigers.
The past four games for Samardzija has also seen him throw no less than 105 pitches in a start.
Those aforementioned numbers are proof Samardzija is still a top quality pitcher, including Saturday’s start where Samardzija retired 14 consecutive batters after walking the first batter of the game.
From the remainder of the first inning through two outs in the fifth, Samardzija pitched maybe his best baseball of the season. In that span of 14 batters, he struck out five, one by a called third strike in the third inning, an inning where he struck out the side.
The span of 14 consecutive outs also included a double play in the first inning. Ryan Flaherty was the Orioles batter who stopped the no-hitter with a single to centerfield.
In all, this was a great day for Samardzija and the White Sox. Though the White Sox are still six games under the .500 mark, they won the game and possibly saw the stock of Samardzija rise depending on if and when they decide to become sellers.
The feeling is in all likelihood, the White Sox will become sellers. If Samardzija keeps up this level of pitching he’ll bring the White Sox a very good return … hopefully, for the White Sox sake, a return like the Cubs received for “Shark” when they traded him to the Oakland Athletics before the end of the trade deadline last season.
Last year the Cubs received Billy McKinney (minors), Addison Russell, Dan Straily and cash for Samardzija and Jason Hammel according to baseball-reference.com.
So, White Sox fans, when do you believe the White Sox will become sellers, or is this current streak of winning enough for the White Sox to give one last try at a winning season?
Next: Who is the future White Sox second baseman?