Astros starter Bud Norris absolutely dominated the Brewers on Sunday, striking out 11 in 7 2/3rd innings. He gave up just 6 base runners in the game, and threw first pitch strikes to 21 of the 29 batters he faced. He also induced 21 swinging strikes and 7 ground ball outs.
This might be the start of a breakout season for Norris, and I wish I had drafted him in at least one of my 6 leagues this season. Norris is now 2-1 on the season with a 3.03 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and he now owns a 43-12 K/BB rate in 35+ innings.
He has given up just 3 runs in his last 4 starts, covering 25+ innings, where he has struck out 30, walked 9 and given up just 22 hits. He is succeeding partly because he has given up just 4 HRs this season, but also because he has lowered his walk rate from 4.50 per nine in 2010, to just under 3 walks per nine this year.
Are you buying Norris' fast start to 2011?