Outs were tough to come by when Ricky Nolasco was with the Twins.
Minnesota signed the veteran righty prior to the 2014 season hoping he’d be able to build on his 13-11 mark in 2013 while playing for the Marlins and Dodgers.
But it didn’t turn out that way.
Instead, Nolasco went 15-22 in 56 starts over two-and-a-half seasons with the Twins while posting a 5.44 ERA. He was only marginally better this season, going 4-8 with a 5.13 ERA.
So the Twins gave up on him and dealt him to the Los Angeles Angels at the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Since then, Nolasco has made 11 starts for the Angels, going 4-6 while looking like a different man on the mound.
- He’s completed 6 innings 10 times
- Posted a 3.21 ERA over those starts
- Tossed a complete-game shutout
- Hasn’t allowed an earned run in 21 innings
- Posted a 1.47 ERA over his last 6 starts
So what gives?
Nolasco is giving a lot of credit to his new pitching coach, Charles Nagy, who has him throwing his sinker more.
“Nagy has helped me out a ton understanding how good of a pitch that is,” Nolasco told the Orange County Register. “I didn’t use it much before, but they gave me confidence in throwing it and getting those quick outs. Getting those ground balls is huge.”
Meanwhile, the Twins are within two losses of breaking the franchise record for most losses in a single season. According to the Star Tribune, even a team executive is using expletives when describing their play this year.
That said, Nolasco is still playing for a non-playoff team. The Angels are 71-87, way out of playoff contention and near the cellar of the American League West.
