San Francisco Giants' Madison Bumgarner Loses Again

Another start by San Francisco Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner and another loss.

After the Giants fell 11-4 to the Chicago Cubs on Friday, Bumgarner’s record dropped to 0-6 on the season.

Technically, he is the worst pitcher in baseball. The reality is, he is anything but.

Bumgarner has a 4.25 ERA on the season, a respectable 52 percent ground-ball percentage and is striking out 7.2  batters per nine, which is more than what he was striking out last season.

His HR/9 of 0.43 is under half of what it was last season.

If you take a look at his 3.10 FIP (fielder independent pitching), it’s lower then Justin Verlander (3.22), Clayton Kershaw (3.12) and his teammate Matt Cain (3.43).

Bumgarner’s issue isn’t his ability to pitch, it’s the marginal Giant offense's inability to support him that is the issue.

In Bumgarner’s eight starts this season, the Giants have been shutout twice, scored one run three times and three, four and five runs in one game apiece. That’s an average of 1.8 runs of support per game for Bumgarner, for those of you scoring at home.

Bumgarner could be in line for a Mark Langston season circa 1990. Langston finished 10-17 for the Angels that season, but had a 4.40 ERA, 3.28 FIP and struck out 7.8 batters per nine.

Bumgarner will continue to pitch and continue to pitch well for the Giants. Now, it’s up to his offense to their part.