The Padres visit the Nationals as Clayton Richard takes on Livan Hernandez. Both come in with 6-4 records and ERAs under 3.00. Richard improves all three legs of the pitching tripod this season with higher strikeout, lower walk and lower home run rates. He’s been especially effective on the road, something unusual for a San Diego pitcher, posting a 2.29 ERA away from friendly PETCO Park. Hernandez is just slightly better than in 2009 in those three categories, but managed to drop his ERA over two runs. The difference comes from his success against right-handed pitchers. Last season, they hit .330/.377/.478 against him, this year .231/.284/.327. He managed to shift some line drives into the ground ball category, but otherwise it’s difficult to see what Livan is doing differently.

The Indians are surging as they send Justin Masterson against the first place Rangers and C.J. Wilson. Masterson. Over his last eight games, Masterson alternated quality and non-quality starts. We’ll see if he holds to form or makes it two quality starts in a row. His good starts in that stretch included the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays. Wilson walked almost as many as he struck out over his last six starts. Despite that, he posted a 3.11 ERA. He continues to limit hits, which allows him to get away with the higher walk rate.

Finally, CC Sabathia takes on Trevor Cahill in Oakland. Sabathia finished May with a 4.16 ERA. Since then he threw six quality starts in a row to lower his ERA to 3.33. He allowed just three earned runs and 13 hits in his last three starts, going eight innings in each. The Yankees won all six starts. Cahill is two innings short of qualifying for the ERA title, but would rank fourth if he qualified. He has yet to allow a home run at home where his ERA is an outstanding 1.35.

Enjoy!