Dodgers News: Haren Can’t Explain Continuing Struggles

Things just haven’t been going right for Dan Haren as of late and after Wednesday’s start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, his future may be uncertain.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the middle of a division race against the San Francisco Giants and Haren’s four consecutive losses haven’t aided the team’s cause. In his last 10 starts, Haren is 3-5 with a 6.04 ERA.

The right-hander hasn’t resembled the starter he was at the beginning of the season when he went 5-1 with a 2.84 ERA in his first eight starts. The Dodgers appeared to have gotten a bargain with the off-season signing of Haren but that sentiment has quickly faded.

Following Wednesday’s loss, Haren had little to offer as to why he’s struggled as of late, via Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times:

It’s just really gotten away from me the last four times out,” he said. “I don’t know what to say. I was having a great year. I was feeling great about everything, the way I was throwing the ball. It’s just kind of snowballed. I feel like everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong. Early in the year, I was having a lot of success, I wasn’t striking anybody out. Now, I can strike guys out, but anything they touch is a hit or a home run or something.”

Haren’s struggles have come early in games, which is reflected by a 7.29 ERA in the first innings of his starts.

Manager Don Mattingly made mention of potentially taking advantage of the Thursday and Monday being an off-day and as a result, Haren may be skipped over in his next start.

With Haren’s inconsistency has come the belief the Dodgers may pursue a starting pitcher prior to the July trade deadline. Also playing a factor is injury concerns over Josh Beckett’s torn labrum.
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