Canadian James Paxton named AL Pitcher of Month
Photo Credit: Seattle Mariners Baseball Information Department
August 2, 2017
From Seattle Mariners Baseball Information Department
Seattle Mariners left-handed pitcher James Paxton (Ladner, B.C.) has been named American League Pitcher of the Month for July. He is the first Mariners pitcher to win the monthly award since Felix Hernandez in June of 2014.
Major League Baseball made the announcement on Thursday.
Paxton was 6–0 with a 1.37 ERA (six ER, 39 1/3 IP) with 46 strikeouts and six walks in six starts in the month of July, becoming the first pitcher in club history to earn six wins in any single calendar month. He became the seventh left-handed pitcher to earn six wins and record at least 40 strikeouts in any single calendar month since 1980, joining Randy Johnson (April 2000 w/ARI and April, 2002 w/ARI), Steve Carlton (May 1980 w/PHI), Clayton Kershaw (June 2014 w/LAD), Chuck Finley (July 1997 w/LAA), Floyd Bannister (August 1983 w/CWS) and Johan Santana (August 2004 w/MIN).
Among American League leaders during the month, he ranked first in wins (first in MLB), second in ERA (third in MLB), tied for second in innings (tied for third in MLB) and tied for third in strikeouts (tied for fourth in MLB).
His 1.37 ERA for the month of July is the lowest in a calendar month by a Mariners pitcher since Felix Hernandez posted a 1.22 ERA in June of 2014. The 1.37 ERA in July is seventh-lowest in club history by a Mariners left-hander in a calendar month and the lowest since Jamie Moyer posted a 1.01 ERA in June of 2002. The left-hander has pitched at least six innings and allowed two-or-fewer runs in six consecutive starts, the longest streak by a Mariners pitcher since Felix Hernandez’s Major League record of 16 consecutive starts of seven-plus innings and two-or-fewer runs allowed from May 18 to Aug. 11, 2014.
Earlier this week, Paxton was named the American League Co-Player of the Week, sharing the honours with Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, who tallied his 3,000th career hit on July 30. Last week, the Canadian southpaw went 2–0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER, 13 IP) with 18 strikeouts and 0 walks in two starts vs. Boston (July 24) and the Mets (July 30).
Overall this season, Paxton is 11–3 with a 2.68 ERA (32 ER, 107 1/3 IP) with 125 strikeouts and 31 walks in 18 starts (11 quality starts). He has limited opponents to a .220 average against while posting 1.10 WHIP (31 BB, 87 H, 107 1/3 IP). Among AL leaders this season, he ranks first in ERA (2.68), is tied for third in wins (11), fourth in K/9 IP (10.48), third in WHIP (1.10), fourth in average against (.220), seventh in K/BB ratio (4.03) and 11th in strikeouts (125).
North Bay's Neil Munro reports besides Paxton (6-0 in July, 2017) there were three other Canadians who won at least six games in a month:
_ Emslie (7-3 in May, 1884 and 9-1 in June, 1884 Baltimore Orioles – the top monthly performance).
_ Fergie Jenkins (6-1 in July, 1968 Chicago Cubs; 6-1 in July, 1971 Cubs and 6-2 in August, 1974, Texas Rangers).
_ Russ Ford (6-1 in August, 1910 New York Highlanders; 6-1 in May, 1911 Highlanders and 6-0 in June, 1914 Buffalo Buffeds)
Munro provided the following charts that list the Canadians who have won Major League Player of the Week, Player of the Month and Pitcher of the Month Honours.
Canadians Named Major League Player of the Week
Initiated in 1974, awards are given from the Monday prior to the Sunday date in each of the two major leagues.
Canadians Named Major League Player of the Month (Non-Pitchers)
In 1975, the National League began giving this award to non-pitchers only, and the American League followed suit in 1979.
Canadians Named Major League Pitcher of the Month
In 1975, the National League began giving this award, and the American League followed suit in 1979.