Starting pitcher Johnny Cueto of the San Francisco Giants has been named National League Player of the Week for the period ending May 29th. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.
Cueto was tied for the Major League lead in wins last week, going 2-0 over two starts, while posting a 0.60 ERA (1 ER/15.0 IP). That mark was the fourth-lowest among qualifying NL hurlers. No Major League pitcher with two starts or more than 8.0 innings of work last week had a lower ERA. The veteran right-hander's 15.0 innings of work last week were the second-most in the Majors. He fanned 11 while walking only two in that span.
On Monday, May 23rd, Cueto tossed a complete-game shutout in a 1-0 victory over the San Diego Padres. The 30-year-old allowed just two hits and recorded six strikeouts en route to his second shutout of the season and eighth of his career, stretching his scoreless innings streak to 16.0 (dating back to May 18th). On Sunday, Cueto ran the streak to 17.2 innings before allowing a home run to Colorado shortstop Trevor Story in the second inning of an eventual 8-3 victory over the Rockies. Cueto fanned five in the start, and the solo shot would be the only earned run allowed by Cueto in the contest. With the victory, the Dominican-born hurler improved to 8-1 this season. His eight wins are currently tied for fourth in the Majors, while his 2.31 ERA (11 ER/81.2 IP) is the ninth-lowest among qualifying pitchers. This is his second career weekly award (also: August 4-10, 2014) and first as a member of the Giants, with whom he signed as a free agent in December.
Other noteworthy performances last week included Cincinnati's Adam Duvall (.286, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .762 SLG); Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez (.483, 8 R, 14 H, 3 HR, 5 RBI, .862 SLG, .483 OBP); Miami's Marcell Ozuna (.536, 8 R, 15 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, .857 SLG, .594 OBP); Chase Utley (.350, 6 R, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .700 SLG) and Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 1.08 ERA, 17 SO, 16.2 IP) of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Ben Zobrist (.500, 6 R, 12 H, HR, 6 RBI, .750 SLG) of the Chicago Cubs; and Washington's Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 2.13 ERA, 15 SO, 12.2 IP).
In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Johnny Cueto will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.