Kenshin

Kawakami

The report was translated by NPB Tracker’s Patrick Newman. Kawakami dealt with shoulder issues with the Braves this past season and wound up posting an 8.86 ERA over 18 games in the minors. Obviously, the three-year, $23 million deal he signed prior to the 2009 campaign didn’t work out so well for Atlanta.

Kawakami was knocked around for seven hits -- including two homers -- while striking out one and walking none. He currently has an ugly 5.47 ERA to match his 0-5 record. He has failed to complete seven innings in any of his five starts this season. Don’t look towards him as a fantasy option right now.

It was his strongest start of the season to date. Kawakami fanned five batters and allowed only one walk while lowering his ERA to 4.98 and his WHIP to 1.41. He’s still winless this season -- 0-6, to be exact -- but hopefully he can ride the momentum and change that next week against the Marlins.

He struck out two and allowed no walks and seven hits. Kawakami has failed to complete seven innings in any start this season and now sports a 4.93 ERA. He has as good a chance as any to get his first win of the season this weekend at home against the Pirates. Don’t look at him as a fantasy option right now.

After a really awful April, Kawakami has pitched much better this month, not allowing more than three runs in any of his four starts. Tonight was his best effort in the bigs, holding the Blue Jays to just three hits -- two singles and a double -- against seven strikeouts and zero walks. Along with a 4.73 ERA that keeps going down, he has an impressive 42 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings.

Kawakami served up a career-high three home runs, including a three-run shot to Josh Johnson, dropping to 5-8 on the year. His 16/15 K/BB ratio through 26 2/3 innings this month has to be a concern. He has the Padres up next.

The 33-year-old had a bit of a rough outing in his final spring appearance, so it will be interesting to see how he fares in his first start.

Kawakami allowed three earned runs, but struck out eight and gave up just four hits. He seemed to settle in after giving up three runs over the first three innings and helped keep the Braves alive. He’ll face another weak lineup next week when the Braves take on the Pirates.

Kawakami dropped to 1-3 on the year. He didn’t look too solid in his only victory this year, against the Nationals, and shouldn’t be anywhere near fantasy rosters. He struck out only one batter while watching his ERA jump to 7.06. The Braves have to be sorely disappointed.

Kawakami was very lucky to get out of this giving up just two runs. He labored through five innings, throwing 113 pitches while allowing eight hits and walking three. On the bright side, he did strike out seven and his ERA actually went down to 6.41. Still, at 1-4, the shoulder has to be a concern. This isn’t what the Braves thought they were getting for $23 million.