Mariners Analysis: The summer heat brings out the best in Iwakuma

Kuma hasn’t been at his best this year, in fact he’s been near his worst (on average) in 2016, but as he has done often, he kicks into a new gear once the calendar reads, “July”.

From the beginning of his major league career in 2012, Hisashi Iwakuma seemed to have many shining moments after July. That may be correlated to the fact that he first was inserted into the starting rotation in July of his rookie season. Despite the fact he was still getting his bearings on the biggest stage, Kuma only had two outings where he allowed more than three earned runs. He also went less than five innings only once in his fifteen starts after July 1st as a rookie.

Iwakuma was brilliant in his sophomore campaign, posting four shutout starts (two in August, two in September) and no surprise, he won all four of those decisions. Furthermore, when you look at all the outings in which he gave up one earned run or less, the total balloons to eight. That’s only allowing one run or less in more than 50% of all his starts. He also breezed his way to his first double digit strikeout performance- ending with thirteen- on July 30th. And considering he got less than average run support in eight starts, to come out with a 9-5 record adds to his second-half greatness.

In July 2013 he picked up where he left off, surrendering more than three runs, a trifecta of times by the end of the year. It didn’t take long into July for him to achieve his first shutout start of the second-half, as on July 25th he shut down the Minnesota Twins over six innings. But his super-stardom reach it’s pinnacle on September 1st- September 6th’s start withstanding. Each of his four starts in the final month of the season were shutouts- though his record was 2-2 in that month because the bullpen let him down. After a rough June and early July, his September outings reasserted his name into the Cy Young conversation that year; he would finish third in the voting.

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In 2014 it was more of the same for Iwakuma after June. While he had an equal amount of trips to the mound in which he shut the opposing team down, his two most dazzling outings came in July and then August. His first shining moment on July 7th happened to come against the Twins again. He scattered four hits over seven innings, striking out seven along the way and squirmed his way out of the only bit of trouble in that seventh frame with runners on the corners and one out. The Mariners would win that affair 2-0. His next act of amazement would come just a little over a month later in Philadelphia. This time he one up’d himself by going eight innings and K-ing eleven. He would again spread out his four allowed hits and he never let a base-runner pass second base. The Mariners would also win this game, 5-2.

Before July 1, Iwakuma served up nine home runs in only five starts Iwakuma; in fifteen starts after the All-Star break he surrendered the same amount. Batters hit him forty-five points better before the break and he average almost two more strikeouts per walks after the mid-summer classic.

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Kuma’s shining moment in the Emerald City occurred last summer as well. The Mariners played host to the Baltimore Orioles on August 18, and Hisashi made history. The Japanese born right-hander hurled the fifth no-hitter in M’s history, striking out 7 Orioles along the way. In a season filled with disappointment, Iwakuma’s no-hitter was the highlight for most Seattle fans in 2015.

So far this year he has allowed more than two runs all but twice. That is until right before the break when he spun a beautiful gem, going six and two-thirds while allowing just a single run. He would best himself once more after the break (and some rest) tallying one more shutout start over seven innings. He used his strike out abilities to take down eight batters in his first shutout of the year.

Next: M’s Ride James Paxton to Victory vs. Blue Jays

The trend is set and his form seems primed for another wonderful summer for Hisashi Iwakuma. He has a great chance to keep his run going today against the Toronto Blue Jays. Kuma enters plays with a record of 3-1 and a very respectable 2.40 ERA when facing the Blue Jays.

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Kuma hasn’t been at his best this year, in fact he’s been near his worst (on average) in 2016, but as he has done often, he kicks into a new gear once the calendar reads, “July”.

More from SoDo Mojo

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