Struggling Cardinals right-hander Justin Masterson believes his recent work on mechanical issues with coaches will translate into more success on the mound, beginning Wednesday night in Miami.
He might need a strong outing to maintain a rotation spot for a team in the midst of a playoff push. He has yielded 10 runs on 14 hits and six walks in eight innings in two starts for St. Louis since the trade that dispatched him from Cleveland. He was knocked out after two innings in his last start and is 5-7 with a 5.94 ERA on the year.
"This is what we've been trying to do all year, and I'm feeling a little more confident about the ability to have success," Masterson told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "It's a tough time in the season for it."
Masterson criticized the release on his sinker after his last start. He claimed it was flattening out because he was trying to force velocity and movement. Coming off a knee injury, he might have altered his approach.