Two Major One Minor 082012

Here is the 15th installment of Two Major One Minor for 2012. The players this week are Chad Billingsley, Adam Wainwright and John Ely.

RHP Chad Billingsley of the Los Angeles Dodgers in one player that has totally turned his season around after a slow start. Before the All-Star break he was 4-9 with a 4.30, 100 K, 1.40 WHIP in 104.2 IP over 18 games. Then at the break something clicked and he has been 6-0 with a 1.30 ERA, 27 K, 0.91 WHIP in 41.2 IP over 6 games. His turn around will be especially helpful to the Dodgers down the stretch as they try to hold of the Giants for the division crown.

RHP Adam Wainwright of the St Louis Cardinals is a former ace who is trying to return to form after Tommy John surgery. While he had trouble out of the gate by the All Star break he was 7-8 with a 4.56 ERA, 98 K, 1.35 WHIP in 102.2 IP over 17 games. While not perfect he has shown improvement after the break going 4-2 with a 2.40 ERA, 44 K, 0.92 WHIP in 48.2 IP over 7 games. His performance is encouraging and should give Wainwright and the Cardinals confidence in his abilities down the stretch as they build for next season.

John Ely is a pitcher with the Dodgers Triple A team in Albuquerque who is trying to reboot his MLB career by having a strong showing this season. Ely showed a lot of promise in 2009 going 14-2 with a 2.82 ERA at Double A Birmingham. While less that stellar at Triple A Albuquerque in 2010 going 5-4 with a 6.22 ERA through 13 games he was given a shot with the Dodgers and struggled mightily going 4-10 with a 5.49 ERA over 18 games. He toiled at Albuquerque in 2011 going 7-8 with a 5.99 ERA over 25 games. But now he appears to be gaining traction again this season as he is 14-7 with a 3.13 ERA, 159 K, 1.14 WHIP in 155.1 IP over 25 games. At only 26 he is just approaching his prime and could still have a promising future ahead of him.