11 Jarrod Parker, SP

Athletics starting pitcher Jarrod Parker turned in a dominant performance but did not factor into the decision Friday night against the Royals.

Parker, who made his ninth start of the season, surrendered a run-scoring double to David Lough in the third for his only damage of the night. He yielded one run and four hits over seven innings of work. He struck out five and walked two in a 2-1 victory.

Parker has allowed just four runs over his last 13 1/3 innings of work during his last two starts. He has watched his ERA drop from 7.34 to 6.04 over that span. He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday at Texas. He is 1-2 with a 4.29 ERA in four starts on the road.

Athletics starting pitcher Jarrod Parker heads into Friday's start against the Royals coming off his second win of the season, and manager Bob Melvin stresses the importance of making sure the right-hander keeps the momentum going.

"We want to get him on a roll," Melvin said to MLB.com. "One good start is one thing, but we'd like to see him get on a roll. [After] losing a few in a row, that was the type of performance we needed from him."

Athletics pitcher Jarrod Parker seems to have lost his control this season.

Parker has one of the worst walk rates in the league among starting pitchers. He's given up 22 walks in 40 2/3 innings. Parker struggles with strikeouts in his first three games, but has been far more consistent lately. The walks, however, remain an issue. Parker never really had an issue with his walk rate in the minors, so his lack of control is puzzling. 

Parker's pitches have registered the same velocity this year, so it doesn't appear there's an underlying injury. He'll be a questionable Fantasy starter until he starts limiting his walks.

Athletics starter Jarrod Parker picked up his second win Saturday night against the Mariners. Parker, who made his eighth start, allowed three runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings in the 4-3 win.

The right-hander did not allow a hit until serving up a two-run home run to Kelly Shoppach in the fifth. He was pulled after surrendering a pair of one-out singles in the seventh but was charged with another run after Sean Doolittle gave up a run-scoring single to Dustin Ackley.

Parker finished with five strikeouts and four walks, while improving to 2-5 on the year. He has now won two of his last three starts and is slated to face the Royals next Friday at home.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin said Thursday starting pitcher Jarrod Parker will pitch Saturday against the Mariners. There was some doubt as to whether Parker would start because of a neck injury.

Parker is 1-2 with a 7.16 ERA in his last three starts.