PHOENIX – When Braves reliever Arodys Vizcaino blew a three-run lead in Monday’s 9-8 loss to the Diamondbacks, it was another low point in what’s been the roughest stretch of the talented pitcher’s career.
He had a 21.60 ERA and .423 opponents’ batting average in his past eight appearances through Monday, allowing 11 hits, 16 runs (12 earned runs) and 11 walks with four strikeouts in five innings. That period included five appearances before a nearly five-week stint on the disabled list and three appearances since he returned.
“This has been one of the worst struggles of my career that I can think of,” Vizcaino said through a translator before Tuesday night’s game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. “Even going back to the minor leagues, I can’t think of a time when it’s gone like this.
“Right now I’m just trying to fight my way out of it, improve and go back to being the pitcher that I was at the beginning of the season and last year. That’s all I can really do.”
How bad has it been? Consider that Vizcaino has given up 12 earned runs in his past five innings, after allowing just 13 earned runs in 66 1/3 innings over his previous 70 appearances for the Braves, beginning in July 2015 after he returned from an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.
In those 70 appearances he had a 1.76 ERA, .210 opponents’ average and converted 19 of 22 save opportunities while totaling 82 strikeouts and 28 walks. To repeat, he has 11 walks and four strikeouts in five innings over his past eight appearances.
“He’s been down (on the DL) a long time really and then just coming back — I think it’s his third outing since he came off the disabled list,” Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said after Vizcaino gave up four hits, four runs and a walk while recording just two outs Monday. “His velocity is good and the stuff really is not that that bad, it’s just pretty much location, I think, and being consistent with that.”
In three outings since returning from the DL, Vizcaino gave up five hits, eight runs (seven earned) and four walks with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. He threw a hitless, scoreless inning with one walk Saturday against the Nationals, but his appearances on either side of that one were not like anything Braves fans are used to seeing from “Viz.”
In his first game back from the DL on Thursday, he failed to record an out and was charged with one hit, three earned runs, two walks and a hit batter. And then cam Monday’s blown leave and second blown save in as many opportunities over his past eight appearances.
“He did a lot of throwing down there (at minor league camp in Florida) in that rehab process,” Snitker said. “They throw a lot of bullpens and sides and everything. But it’s different when you come out here and try and perform. We’ll just keep working at it.”
Vizcaino, 25, was asked if he thought the most-recent truggles could be attributed to shaking off rust from being on the DL more than a month.
“I feel a little rusty,” he said. “I had a few rehab starts down there, so I had a few opportunities to pitch but it’s not the same as up here. So I’m just trying to adjust and improve and get back to where I was…. Velocity’s there. I feel good. I just want to get back to where I was. I just need to get to where I can finish out (the season) strong.”
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