George Kirby's recent performance has been a rollercoaster, and the Mariners' eight-game win streak has come to an abrupt halt. The 24-year-old pitcher, once a favorite for an All-Star bid, is now struggling with a 7.29 ERA over his past four starts, a stark contrast to his 2.84 ERA at the start of the season. The issue? High contact rates and a lack of swing-and-miss opportunities.
Kirby's recent starts have been characterized by a high volume of contact, with eight singles out of nine hits. This is a significant shift from his previous performance, and it's causing him to fall behind early in counts, which is a critical issue for any pitcher. As he himself admitted, "I haven't really been getting ahead well, and yeah, I've just got to find ways to get some more swing-and-miss."
The defensive lapses behind Kirby haven't helped matters. The Mariners' struggles with ground balls and a lack of control have led to a series of costly plays, such as the double steal that allowed a run to score. The team's decision to challenge a play that was ultimately upheld by the umpire also highlights the pressure they're under.
Despite these challenges, Kirby remains optimistic. He believes that he's nearing answers for how to get out of this slump. "I’ve just got to get ahead, that’s first off," he said. "I've been really bad with it the last couple weeks. That'll allow me to get some opportunities to really go for that swing-and-miss once I get two strikes."
The Mariners' season is far from over, and Kirby's struggles are a reminder that even the best pitchers can face challenges. As the team looks to turn things around, they'll need to find a way to get Kirby back on track and regain their winning ways.
