Eury Pérez terrific in no-decision vs. Mets

The Royals jumped all over Pérez for a five-run first inning in this rough start. It started poorly when Carter Jensen hit a lead-off home run and then Pérez allowed another home run and two doubles on the way to that crooked number. Things didn’t get much better after that as he struggled to command each of his fastball and sinker while his slider was inconsistent. Also, his velocity was down by about one mile per hour across the board, which is always scary this time of year. He’s scheduled for a two-start week against the Mets and Dodgers coming up.

Pérez was getting whiffs and limiting hard contact — he only had three hard-hit balls allowed all game — but he simply couldn’t command his pitches. He walked three straight Nationals to lead off the third, struck out the next two, then unraveled with a combination wild pitch/throwing error that scored two runs and a 445-foot Brady House homer. Nothing about this screamed avoiding Pérez in his next start against the Royals, he’s just been prone to this kind of game at times this year.

Not quite as sharp today as in his previous two starts, which saw him pitch a total of 13 scoreless innings, Pérez allowed three hits, walked three and struck out four. He’s set to face the Nationals again next weekend in D.C.

Pérez allowed only two hits, and he was able to whiff five in another scoreless outing for the 23-year-old talent. That’s not to say that he didn’t have to deal with traffic; Pérez walked five in the outing, but he was able to keep those free passes from crossing the plate. His ERA is now 3.23 on the season, and that number is more impressive when you consider it was 4.60 at the end of May. He’s back on the bump Saturday in his scheduled start versus the Nationals.

He struck out seven. Pérez had a 4.60 ERA in 12 starts before suffering a leg injury at the end of May. Since his surprisingly quick return four weeks later, he has a 2.00 ERA in nine turns, though this was just his third win during the span. He’ll face the Reds on Sunday.

All of Pérez’s strengths and weaknesses were on display in this tantalizing start. His nine strikeouts matched a season-high and his 18 swings-and-misses were one shy of the same feat. He forced at least three whiffs with four different pitches and his whole repertoire looked nasty. Yet, the command of his secondary stuff wavered here and he didn’t trust them enough in when he needed to. Case and point, three of the four runs he allowed came in the second inning. He allowed three hits and a walk that frame and between all four plate appearances, he threw two combined breaking balls. Part of that is because some of those hitters were left-handed, but he went away from his changeup too quickly during a nine-pitch battle against Ozzie Albies that ended in a walk and started the rally. Nevertheless, Pérez has been on a tear since coming off the injured list in late June with 49 strikeouts, 14 walks, and a 2.30 ERA across 47 innings. He’s lined up for a two-start week coming up against the Pirates and Reds.

Pérez tossed a scoreless first, stranded two runners in the second, then gave up a pair of runs on a walk, a hit batter, and two hits in the third. He settled in for three more scoreless frames before giving up one more run on a double and a sacrifice fly in the seventh. Pérez would complete the seventh, marking three straight starts of at least six innings. The 23-year-old right-hander will take a 3.56 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 106/38 K/BB ratio across 98 2/3 innings into a start against the Mets in New York on Thursday.

Pérez was on his way to getting the win, but Pete Fairbanks got in the way and allowed a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. It was still an excellent effort for the 23-year-old that saw him whiff nine batters and allow just one hit; two starts after he threw seven perfect innings against the A’s. This scoreless affair lowers Pérez’s ERA to 3.53, and there’s a very good chance that figure will be lowered when he squares off against the Padres next weekend.

Pérez loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning, then escaped the jam with a strikeout and ground-ball double play. He settled in for two more scoreless frames before giving up a pair of runs on three hits in the fourth. Pérez gave the Marlins two more scoreless innings, ending his day after six with six strikeouts. The 23-year-old right-hander has pitched incredibly well over his last six starts, giving up five runs over 33 1/3 innings. He’ll enter the All-Star break with a 3.78 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 95/34 K/BB ratio across 85 2/3 innings.

Well, this one won’t be controversial at all. The Marlins made the decision to pull Pérez at 92 pitches despite those seven perfect frames. The decision — from a baseball perspective, at least — almost immediately backfired, as Lake Bacher had the opposite of a perfect game while giving up five runs without getting an out. The controversy aside, Pérez was sensational; striking out eight and allowing just three baseball that registered as hard contact. Assuming all is ok, he’ll be back on the bump against the Guardians over the weekend.