The Improbable King

August 26: KC 2, TOR 0
Runelvys Hernandez: 9.0IP, 7H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 4SO, 0HR - W
Roy Halladay: 9.0IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 7SO, 2HR - L

To be honest, when I saw this matchup with Runelvys squaring off against the Blue Jays' ace in Toronto I couldn't help thinking "Elvis is dead" as one would naturally expect the Jays' bats to make short work of Hernandez. I mean, this is the starting pitcher who began this season on the DL because he "lacked stamina." Improbable is the word as he found the stamina for his career first complete game shutout. This performance actually lowers his ERA to a still-ugly 6.67! (It was 7.50 going into this game). His record improves to 4-8. By any measurement this was the worst starting pitcher of the worst team in the league taking one away from a serious Cy Young contender.

Halladay also went the distance leading to a quick 2-hour & 8 minute pitchers' duel. Elvis is dead. Long live the king.

(Win Probability graph by Fangraphs)