Dice-K is looking like...Jon Garland

So is this how it is gonna be for Dice-K this season? A couple of quality starts, a couple of bad starts, rinse and repeat? Dice-K is on the spin cycle of that trend right now, having his second straight poor outing, giving up 12 hits and 6 runs to the Indians in an 8-4 Red Sox loss. Matsuzaka fell prey yet again to the big inning, giving up 4 runs in the 6th. The Japanese import has had a very up and down season for Boston, coming out of the gate strong with three straight quality starts, followed by three poor starts, followed by three quality starts, followed by his past two bad outings. Three up, three down, three up...so will next start make it three more consecutive down outings for Dice-K? Well, his next start is scheduled to be on the road at Oakland, against perhaps the hottest pitcher in the majors, Dan Haren....so you be the judge.

Dice-K's current measurables actually set him up for a very close comparison in this installment of "Dice-K is looking like...". This week's comparable pitcher had a very high win percentage last season, even though he had an ERA over 4.50, a WHIP over 1.30, and a QS% under .60. He also had 4 cheap wins last year, a cheap win being defined as a win in a game where the pitcher did not have a quality start. For comparison, Dice-K already has three cheap wins on the season. So who is this lucky guy? He is this week's guest, and Dice-K is looking like...Jon Garland!

Dice-K 2007:
W%: .70
QS%: .55
WHIP: 1.31
ERA: 4.83
Salary:$6,333,333

Garland 2006:
W%: .72
QS%: .53
WHIP: 1.36
ERA: 4.51
Salary:$7,000,000