Troy Melton strikes out six in tough luck loss

It won’t qualify as one of the more aesthetically pleasing pitching lines of the season as Melton gave up seven hits, including a solo homer to Trevor Larnah in the fourth inning. He finished with just three strikeouts while issuing one walk and hitting two batters. Yet, it was still good enough for him to pick up his eighth win of the season. The 25-year-old is in line for a tasty home matchup against the Rockies to close out a two-start week on Sunday.

Melton gave up six hits, walked one and struck out four. He fell to 7-4 with the loss. Melton hadn’t allowed more than four runs in any of his 16 other starts this year. He has a 2.20 ERA. Melton is lined up to face the Guardians on the road on Sunday.

Melton didn’t walk anybody while striking out four and throwing 69 percent of his pitches for strikes. He had an 11 percent swinging strike rate in this one, but was really only missing bats with his slider. His four-seamer was down about one mph and didn’t get a single whiff on the day, which may have also been why Melton used it 19 percent less often than he normally does. Even though this was a solid outing, Melton’s last two starts have been two of his three worst starts of the season. He’s at 109 total innings on the season this year and threw over 120 last year, so he shouldn’t be tiring. With the Twins, Guardians, and Rockies up next, he should finish the season on a high note.

Melton struck out three batters in the ballgame while issuing three walks. The Royals scratched out an unearned run against him in the fourth inning, then Melton served up solo homers to Kyle Isbel in the fifth and Vinnie Pasquantino in the sixth. The 25-year-old righty got nine whiffs on 94 pitches on the night, registering a CSW of only 20 percent. He’ll look to get back in the win column as he carries a spectacular 1.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a 76/28 K/BB ratio (90 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Rays.

Melton opened the game allowing the first two batters to reach and surrendered a run on a base hit before getting out of the first inning. Melton continued to labor through the next two innings, stranding two runners in the second before giving up a pair of runs on three hits in the third. He completed a scoreless fourth inning, then recorded one out in the fifth, departing with a runner on at 87 pitches. He struck out four. The 25-year-old right-hander had gone his previous three starts without allowing a run. He’ll take a 1.71 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and a 73/25 K/BB ratio across 84 1/3 innings into a start against the Royals in Kansas City on Friday.

Melton struck out five and walked one while throwing 65 percent of his pitches for strikes and posting a 15 percent swinging strike rate. Melton missed plenty of bats with his four-seamer and splitter and has allowed more than one run once in a start since June 9. He’s become one of the more reliable starters in fantasy this season and has a 1.46 ERA in his 80 innings.

Melton completely dazzled on Tuesday in Seattle, holding the Mariners scoreless over seven innings. He scattered three hits and two walks while collecting four strikeouts. The 25-year-old right-hander has been incredible for the Tigers this season, posting a 1.59 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and a 64/23 K/BB ratio across 73 2/3 innings. He’ll look to keep it going against the Giants in San Francisco on Sunday.

Melton’s 23.1 percent strikeout rate isn’t overwhelming, but he’s been about as effective as any pitcher in the majors since joining the Detroit rotation two months ago, going 6-1 with a 1.75 ERA in 67 innings over 11 starts. Regression will surely come at some point; he could well remain an above average starter, but the stuff seems shy of ace quality. He’s a really good bet again next week, though, as he’s due to face the Mariners in Seattle.

Melton punched out five opposing hitters in the contest while issuing four free passes. He kept the Royals off the board until the sixth inning when Michael Massey smacked a leadoff single and Isaac Collins followed with a two-run blast. The 25-year-old righty got 10 whiffs on 90 pitches on the evening, posting a CSW of 29 percent. He’ll try to get back in the win column as he carries a stellar 1.95 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a 55/19 K/BB ratio (60 innings) into Tuesday’s showdown against the Orioles.

Melton scattered four hits and four walks on the evening. The lone tally against him came on a ground out off the bat of Josh Lowe in the opening inning, that could have been an inning-ending double play, but Zach McKinstry was late going over to cover second base. Melton got a whopping 18 swings and misses on 94 pitches on the night — six on his fastball — while posting an elite CSW of 38 percent. He now holds a brilliant 1.80 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and a 50/15 K/BB ratio over 55 innings through his first nine starts on the season. He’ll do battle against the Royals his next time out on Thursday.