Two of the early season disappointments squared off today in San Diego: Mat Latos and Cris Carpenter.  Both pitchers are off to terrible starts.  Mat Latos was 1-6 before the start tonight, having already surrendered half the number of homeruns allowed in 2010 in only 45 innings.  Last year, he was a top of the line starter for San Diego and it’s a wonder if he may have been a bit overworked in his first full season, especially during San Diego’s late season collapse.  He pitched 184 innings last year and posted a 2.92 ERA.  In his final five starts of the season in September and October, he pitched six innings only one time and gave up 20 runs in those starts.

Cris Carpenter, on the other hand, off to a 1-4 start, pitched the most innings last year (235) since 2006.  He currently has surrendered the most hits in both leagues this season.  With the loss of Wainwright, it becomes crucial to the Cardinals’ success that Carpenter turns the season around and returns to his usual dominant form.  It is a concern since offense is down and he’s still struggling despite other pitchers’ strong starts.

Final score: Padres 3, Cardinals 1.  Latos claimed his second win of the season as both starters went 8 innings.  Carpenter dropped to 1-5.

Other surprisingly bad starts: 15-game winner in 2010, Danks (0-7), Madison Baumgarner (1-6) despite 3.71 ERA, and Pat Maholm (1-7) despite 3.65 ERA.

Justin Verlander is certainly a good pitcher, but he hasn’t taken the step in becoming dominant. He can overpower hitters in a single game as evidenced by his no-hitter and rack up strikeouts (over 200 the last two season), but in his career, he has yet to post an ERA under 3.00 (His lowest ERA is 3.37 last year)

Why he is classified in the top pitchers in the American League is because he’s a winner (19 wins, 18 wins twice and 17 wins), a workhorse (amassing 200 innings the last four years) and a strikeout leader.

A comparable pitcher, Jeff Weaver, has shown continual improvement from year to year, whereas Verlander seems stuck at a certain plateau. If he can take the next step and post a under 3.00 ERA, he might have his first Cy Young and 20-win season.

Tim Lincecum is not the same pitcher he used to be.  This is clear.  He used to be the Giants’ dominant ace and a perfect leader ahead of Matt Cain.  Everyone keeps talking about Steven Strasburg and his second visit to the DL and the potential he will fade out like other great pitching prospects, but Lincecum has already proven himself over a couple seasons (2.62 and 2.48 in his first two seasons) and something is not right.  He’s as hittable as ever and even though he is in the league leaders in strikeouts, he  lost his fifth straight game on Friday night.

I know that the Giants are determined to advance to the playoffs, but his struggles are not a simple slump.  Something is wrong.  I’m surprised they don’t disable him.  Pitching aces are known for stopping losing streaks, and sure they can have occasional bad outings, but he hasn’t been dominant for more than half the year, and each bad start raises questions on his future ability to pitch well.

Take a look at his last ten starts and it’s discouraging.  He’s pitching less innings, giving up more hits, walks and runs.  His ERA has skyrocketed to 3.80 and he’s striking out less.  I know the Giants are trying to remain in the wildcard race, but the way Lincecum is pitching, he is likely to really injure himself and not help the Giants catch the Padres anyway.