The Wire Troll: Jordan Lyles Locks Down Rotation Spot
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About three weeks ago, Lyles was inserted into the Padre rotation, and the results have been mixed. He was solid in his first start and spectacular in his second before a couple of rough outings. But Lyles rebounded from that on Thursday with a very strong seven innings of work against the Fish to earn another win. When the Padres signed him last year and brought him up late in the season to start, things didn't go well at all. Undeterred, they've given Lyles another chance to start this year and it's now paying off. His hit rates are much better and he's never produced an ERA even close to this low. Note that Lyles's FIP (4.09) suggests there will be some regression, but not dramatically so. Still, after he began the season in the bullpen, the veteran has really brought some stability to the Padre rotation and San Diego has won each of his last four starts. After flaming out in Houston, Lyles was being counted on to be a key cog in the Rockies' rotation, but injuries and ineffectiveness derailed that, and he was shifted to the pen. It's great to see him get another crack at starting now, and he seems to be running with it.