Just For Starters: Breaking Down Corey Kluber's Start Friday Against Twins

Corey Kluber was dealing on Friday night against the Minnesota Twins. He retired his first nine hitters and pitched x efficient innings. Here's our breakdown of Kluber's start in our ""Just For Starters'' feature, plus cumulative numbers for the Rays' starters this season.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A well-rested Corey Kluber cruised through six innings on Friday allowing just one run and one hit and leaving with the Tampa Bay Rays ahead 6-1 over the Minnesota Twins.

He only threw 71 pitches, but manager Kevin Cash went to the bullpen in the seventh anyway

It was a big start for Kluber, who had given up 11 hits in his last start last Friday in a loss to Boston. Plus, the Twins came in red hot, winning seven in a row.

Here is a breakdown of Kluber's night on Friday, and the cumulative numbers of the Rays starting staff this season:

Rays' Starters By The Numbers

Starter: Corey Kluber
Game: Friday vs. Minnesota Twins
Decision: Won, now 1-1 on the season
Team result: Won 6-1, now 12-8 on the season
Innings pitched: 6.0
Total pitches: 71
Strikes: 48
Runs allowed: 1
Earned runs: 1
Hits allowed: 1
Walks allowed: 0
Total strikeouts: 6
Status upon departure: Corey Kluber pitched through the sixth inning. He left with a 6-1 lead and was replaced by Javy Guerra in the top of the seventh.
The skinny: Kluber had his best outing of the season and it was a bit surprising that it ended as early as it did. With just 71 pitches, I would have guessed that he would have at least gone back out for the seventh.

Season Totals for Rays Starters

Starters: Shane McClanahan (4), Drew Rasmussen (4), Corey Kluber
(4), Luis Patino, Tommy Romero, Josh Fleming
Games: 15 (5 openers, not included in numbers)
Decisions: 2-5 thru Thursday
Team result: 11-8 thru Thursday
Innings pitched (avg.): 66.1/4.4
- Season high innings: 7.0, Shane McClanahan (April 24)
- Season low innings: 2/3, Luis Patino (April 11)
Total pitches (avg.): 1,067/70.2
- Season high pitches: 89, Corey Kluber (April 22)
- Season low pitches: 13, Luis Patino (April 11)
Total strikeouts (avg.): 74/4.9
- Season high strikeouts: 9, Shane McClanahan (April 18), Drew Rasmussen (April 27)
Runs allowed (avg.): 30/2.0
Earned runs (avg.): 27/1.9
Hits allowed (avg.): 59/3.9
- Season most hits allowed: 11, Corey Kluber (April 22)
Walks allowed (avg.): 20/1.3
Starter ERA: 3.66