Jake Peavy: So Far, so Good for White Sox Oft-Injured Hurler

The Chicago White Sox are paying Jake Peavy a lot of money to pitch for them this season. More so than ever before, the oft-injured hurler is earning his keep in South Side pinstripes.

It's still very early in the season, but you have to like the way Peavy has performed in his three starts to begin the 2012 season. He might never regain the zip on his fastball that catapulted him to a Cy Young Award. However, what he has done on the mound shows promise of a solid campaign.

Peavy has taken to the bump three times and has three quality starts. His seven-inning, eight-strikeout performance in Chicago's 8-1 win over the Orioles helped the White Sox break a four-game losing streak. It also moved his record to 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA.

Peavy doesn't have the stuff he had back five or six years ago, but he is compensating in several ways. He is changing speeds with more regularity and offering different looks to his breaking pitches. For the first time in a long while, he seems to trust in his arm to be there for him every night.

As evidenced in his first start of 2012 in Texas, Peavy also has been able to battle without his best stuff. He was able to keep Chicago in the game through six innings before a late Alex Rios homer resulted in a 4-3 win.

Knocking firmly on wood, Peavy's health has been a non-factor in the season's first month. He has taken a regular turn in the rotation and has had the arm strength to post quality outings in each appearance.

Against Baltimore Wednesday, Peavy allowed a pair of doubles in the second to allow an early run. After battery mate A.J. Pierzynski's two-run dinger gave him the lead, however, Peavy gave up just two base hits in the next five innings. He pitched his way out of a Brent Morel error in the sixth, stranding two runners on base while retiring the Orioles' three and four hitters, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones.

It's a little early to start waving Peavy's flag regarding a return to form. Last year Peavy returned in May and posted a 4-1 record before fading badly and eventually being shut down. However, Peavy was healthy enough to start the year on the active roster this season and has performed well so far. Hopefully the good health and quality starts hang around for awhile.