Bradley to work on honing command, avoiding walks

CINCINNATI — D-backs pitcher Archie Bradley looks like a guy who’s starting to figure it out.

After coming out of his first six starts of the season with a 5.66 ERA, he’s posted a 3.38 ERA over his last seven outings, including four quality starts. But underlying that 3.38 ERA is a problem — in 40 innings, he’s walked 20 batters.

Friday’s start against the Reds exemplified the problem, with Bradley walking a season-high five men and hitting another, allowing three runs over five innings as Arizona fell, 6-2.

“You play with fire, eventually you’re going to get burned. Tonight I did,” Bradley said. “I was able to get out of situations, which is still a sign of good progressing and maturing and making good pitches when I need to, but it’d be nice to go through an outing and just kind of make things a little easier on myself. Just time after time, I just keep putting myself in bad situations. I’ve got to find a way to get out of it.”

All of Bradley’s damage came in the first inning — a leadoff single to Billy Hamilton, a walk to Zack Cozart and then a three-run homer to Joey Votto. Even though he didn’t give up any more runs, he had a baserunner in each of his five innings, including four with at least one man in scoring …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com