#HIGHFIVE (Week 5) | Four MLBbro Pitchers Dominated This Week

Hunter Greene’s dominance in Arlington this past weekend earns him the top spot on Week 5 of our #HighFive List.  He registered his first win of the season with a one-hit, seven-inning shutout over the reigning World Series champion Texas Rangers to headline a week that was filled with lights out pitching performances from four MLBbros.

 

1. Hunter Greene “Machine”

The Reds are a sleeper team I think can make a similar run to what the Diamondbacks did last year, the only difference being Cincinnati having more depth in their starting rotation.

 

A healthy and locked in Hunter Greene is what is going to get them on that level and I had a front row seat Saturday afternoon to what he can do when he is in his zone.

 

He threw seven shutout innings allowing just one hit and one walk with six strikeouts.

 

 

“Coming in I just wanted to attack,” Green told MLBbro.com

 

“That is a good lineup with guys who know how to play the game, but it was fun.  My teammates behind me made some really great plays and I felt good on the mound, so I am glad we got it done.

 

His next start will come Friday night against Cedric “The Entertainer” Mullins and the Baltimore Orioles.

 

2. “Black Jack” Flaherty

Jack Flaherty got revenge against his former team in the greatest way possible Tuesday afternoon with a career-high 14 strikeouts in 6.2 innings while only allowing two hits and surrendering one walk.

 

Flaherty began the game by striking out seven consecutive hitters which tied an American League record.

 

He is still looking for his first win of the season, but after bringing his strikeout total up to 50, he now leads the American League in that category and is just a few off of the Major League lead.

 

 

Flaherty’s next chance to add to his total will come next Monday night in Cleveland when the Tigers take on Josh Naylor and the Guardians.

 

3. Mookie Betts

Mookie Betts makes his fourth #HighFive appearance in five weeks and is the only position player to make the cut this time around.

 

 

He has been the undisputed best hitter on the planet; leading the Majors in nearly every offensive category and posting a slashing line of .377/.418/1.104 with 25 RBI, six home runs, 29 runs scored and eight steals.

 

 

Betts was given the honor of being named Rob Parker’s Homeboi Highlights for his eight-game hitting streak that came to an end on Monday.

 

4. Jordan Hicks

Jordan Hicks has been the best free agent pitching addition from this off-season after lowering his ERA to 1.59 thanks to start last Saturday against the Pirates.

 

 

Hicks, who is in his first year as a full-time starter, struck out a season-high nine batters in six innings and only allowed one run on five hits with no walks.

 

His next start will come Friday night on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies.

 

5. Triston McKenzie “Dr. Stixx”

Triston McKenzie rounds out the #HighFive this week after a solid start in Houston against the Astros.

 

McKenzie threw a season-high seven innings and struck out six while giving up just two earned runs in a pitchers duel against future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander

 

 

“I was a lot more competitive,” McKenzie told reporters after the game.

“It was something I was trying to work through in my first four starts, but it was big for me to give the team a chance to win.”

 

McKenzie now has at least six strikeouts in his last three starts.  He will look to extend that streak to four when he takes the mound Monday in a divisional matchup against the Tigers.