Hector Noesi showing improvement in 2nd half of season

Aug 15, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Hector Noesi (48) throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Before Hector Noesi makes his 24th start of the season on Monday when the Chicago White Sox host the Oakland Athletics at 7:05 p.m. CT, it must be said that he’s made strides in the second half of the season.

In his 24 games played (23 starts), Noesi has an ERA of 4.32 in 139.2 innings pitched with 104 strikeouts.

Honestly, for a No. 4 or 5 pitcher in the starting rotation, that isn’t all that bad.

His pre-All-Star numbers weren’t that good as he had a 4.56 ERA in 14 starts (81 innings). In that span, he had 64 of his 104 strikeouts for the season, but a higher ERA.

Since the All-Star break, Noesi has an ERA of under 4.00 at 3.90 in nine starts. In those nine starts, he’s pitched 60 innings and has 40 strikeouts.

That is what is important is the second half of the season, because in the first half, after taking a deep breath and thinking about it … he was learning to pitch at the MLB level, and his performance showed.

Since the All-Star break, thus far, Noesi is 5-2 in the aforementioned nine starts.

Since July 19, Noesi had allowed three or fewer earned runs in a game in six starts but has had a few hiccups with games of six, five and four earned runs allowed against the Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles.

In his past two starts, Noesi has gone seven innings in each game (vs. Cleveland, at Minnesota), allowing two earned runs against the Indians on Aug. 27 and three ER at the Twins, resulting in a win and no-decision.