May 23
Dickey struck out a career-high 11 as the New York Mets hung on for a 3-2 victory over Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Advice: Dickey (6-1) tied a host of others for the most wins in the majors to continue the best start of his career.
May 22
RHP R.A. Dickey is the first to admit that cold weather hurts his knuckleball, which is why his numbers last year were significantly better beginning in mid-May. When the weather grows warmer, Dickey tends to thrive.
Tuesday was a perfect example of that trend. Dickey delivered his most dominant performance of the season, striking out 11 batters over seven innings of the Mets' 3-2 victory over the Pirates. With temperatures at PNC Park never dipping below the mid-70s, Dickey held the Pirates to five hits and one run, and likely could have pitched quite a bit longer.
Mets manager Terry Collins ended Dickey's night in somewhat controversial fashion, replacing his starter with slumping pinch-hitter Andres Torres in the top of the eighth inning, after Dickey had thrown only 88 pitches. Torres struck out to lead off the inning, ending Dickey's day.
May 22
Dickey (6-1) struck out a career-high 11 over seven innings of one-run ball Tuesday in a win over Pittsburgh. He allowed five hits and didn't walk a batter.
Recommendation: Dickey had been getting hit hard his third and fourth times through the order previously, but he locked it down and pitched seven innings to save the Mets' bullpen. The knuckleball artist is sitting on a career-best strikeout rate at this moment in time, with 51 (and just 16 walks) in 57.1 innings of work.
