Heat is on Pelfrey

Mike Pelfrey will start in Arizona tonight. He is 10-4 with a 3.58 earned run average, but those statistics do not reflect the Pelfrey of the last month.

Pelfrey's last acceptable outing came against the Twins on June 25 when he allowed two runs in six innings. It has been all downhill since that time. He blew his chance of making the All-Star team with three poor outings. He gave up four earned runs on 12 hits in 4 and 2/3 innings against the Marlins. That was followed by a seven-run, nine hit bashing by the Reds in four and 2/3 innings. His last start resulted in four runs on 12 hits in four innings against the Braves. 

Pelfrey had a stiff neck, attributed to the long plane ride to the West Coast,  and was held out of his last scheduled start.  Former Yankee Ian Kennedy (4-7, 4.12) starts for Arizona.