Detroit Tigers Inside Pitch 7-25-11

Porcello keeps learning on the job

It may seem like Rick Porcello's been around the block a few times but he still is just 22 years old.

As such, there's learning taking place whenever the former No. 1 draft choice pitches. Between appearances, also.

Porcello won his fourth start in a row Sunday, working six innings in Detroit's 5-2 win at Minnesota.

He's given up nine earned runs in those four starts (11 overall) yet each start has been sturdy, despite occasional wobbles.

The big thing making Porcello a 10-game winner for the third time in his three-year career has been mixing up his pitches better and working inside more.

Teams load up their lineups with left-handed hitters because lefties were hitting an aggregate .335 off him entering his Sunday start.

He's aware of that, of course, and a couple of times he has done really well against those lineups, including a 3-for-16 against the Twins' lefties.

Two reasons for that: Porcello is pitching inside more to both left-handers and right, plus he's also fading his changeup away from left-handers, resulting in weak ground balls and strikeouts.

Porcello has also gotten away from extensive use of his sinker. Instead, he's moving his fastball around and working in some four-seamers up in the strike zones just to give a different look.

"Porcello made pretty good pitches when he needed," manager Jim Leyland said. "He still needs to get ahead a little better. (He gave up a) four-pitch walk to (1B Michael) Cuddyer and you can't do that. He got the ground ball double play when he needed it. He threw some pretty good changeups."

He's still got work to do, but Porcello is showing some improvement after some struggles the past two seasons.

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