masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgMost realize that Jake Arrieta can, sometimes, walk too many hitters.

Over 72 1/3 innings in his first 13 Major League starts this year, he has walked 40 hitters, that’s a high number.

But on nights when he has kept the walk number low, he’s been pretty good. In five of Arrieta’s 13 O’s starts, he has walked two or fewer hitters. His ERA in those five starts is 2.70 and he has three of his four wins in those games.

It’s a small sample size, of course, but the message is pretty clear. …Most realize that Jake Arrieta can, sometimes, walk too many hitters.

Over 72 1/3 innings in his first 13 Major League starts this year, he has walked 40 hitters, that’s a high number.

But on nights when he has kept the walk number low, he’s been pretty good. In five of Arrieta’s 13 O’s starts, he has walked two or fewer hitters. His ERA in those five starts is 2.70 and he has three of his four wins in those games.

It’s a small sample size, of course, but the message is pretty clear. Fewer walks means more success right now for Arrieta. It also probably tells us that his command may be better overall in those games and he is spotting his pitches better on those nights.

Through three innings tonight vs. Texas, he has not walked a batter, but trails 1-0 on a Mitch Moreland second-inning solo homer that just got over the left field wall. He has thrown 49 pitches.

Arrieta, who was bested by Tampa’s Jeremy Hellickson in his last start on Sunday, has thrown 7 seven quality starts in his 13 outings on the year and the Birds are 7-6 in those starts.