Athletics SP Rich Harden pitched seven strong innings to pick up the win Saturday at Atlanta. The right-hander allowed four hits, one earned run, walked one and struck out eight. Harden, making only his fourth start of the season and second since spending five weeks on the DL with a strained right shoulder, threw 102 pitches, 72 strikes and was ahead in the count on most hitters with a fastball clocked between 93 and 96 mph. "Great," he said when asked about the shoulder. "I felt pretty good. My first game back (Sunday at Texas, he gave up eight hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings) it felt good. I got ahead of a lot of their hitters but threw too many pitches they could hit. Tonight, I focused on making them chase pitches when I got ahead and it worked better." (Updated 05/18/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/18/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Harden pitched in only seven games last season because of his shoulder problem and was 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA. He's been on the DL six times in the past four years, pitching in only 42 games with a 17-7 record. "It was really kind of a normal game for him. He had a mid-90s fastball and compliments that with a great change. He's tough to hit," A's manager Bob Geren said. "We didn't want him to throw much more than 100 pitches. We're kind of taking it one game at a time." Clearly, Harden is a dominant pitcher and a must-start in Fantasy when healthy. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Red Sox. (Updated 05/18/2008).
The A's activated Harden from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, but the right-hander didn't receive a decision in the 12-6 victory over Texas. (Updated 05/12/2008)
Advice
Making his first start since April 2, Harden was unable to hold a four-run first-inning lead. He gave up five runs and eight hits in 3 2-3 innings. Harden had been on the 15-day disabled list since April 10 with a strained right shoulder. He is 1-0 with a 3.68 ERA in three starts.
Athletics SP Rich Harden pitched seven strong innings to pick up the win Saturday at Atlanta. The right-hander allowed four hits, one earned run, walked one and struck out eight. Harden, making only his fourth start of the season and second since spending five weeks on the DL with a strained right shoulder, threw 102 pitches, 72 strikes and was ahead in the count on most hitters with a fastball clocked between 93 and 96 mph. "Great," he said when asked about the shoulder. "I felt pretty good. My first game back (Sunday at Texas, he gave up eight hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings) it felt good. I got ahead of a lot of their hitters but threw too many pitches they could hit. Tonight, I focused on making them chase pitches when I got ahead and it worked better." (Updated 05/18/2008).
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 5/18/08).
Fantasy Analysis
Harden pitched in only seven games last season because of his shoulder problem and was 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA. He's been on the DL six times in the past four years, pitching in only 42 games with a 17-7 record. "It was really kind of a normal game for him. He had a mid-90s fastball and compliments that with a great change. He's tough to hit," A's manager Bob Geren said. "We didn't want him to throw much more than 100 pitches. We're kind of taking it one game at a time." Clearly, Harden is a dominant pitcher and a must-start in Fantasy when healthy. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Red Sox. (Updated 05/18/2008).
= probable start
