Joe Saunders

Joe Saunders was ripped for six runs over five innings in Sunday’s loss to the Giants.

Saunders struck out one, walked one and yielded 10 hits. After an impressive start to the season, the wheels have come off. He’s given up 12 earned runs in his last 8 1/3 innings and now has a meager 27 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings on the season. Mixed leaguers can do better.

Joe Saunders was pounded for seven runs — six earned — in 3 1/3 innings by the Cardinals on Monday.

Saunders gave up three homers and nine hits overall, so it could have been even worse. Things balanced out tonight after a fluky first month that had seen him surrender just one homer in 36 1/3 innings. He gave up 29 homers in 212 innings last year.

Joe Saunders turned in another fine performance Wednesday, holding the Nationals to three runs (two earned) on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Saunders racked up six strikeouts in the game and walked just two. He left with a 4-3 lead and seemed poised to improve to 3-1 on the season before J.J. Putz blew a save in the ninth. While Saunders is unlikely to continue pitching at this great clip (1.24 ERA), he’s well worth owning and starting in all formats right now. He’ll look to keep rolling when he takes on the hot-hitting Cardinals on Monday.

Joe Saunders pitched brilliantly on Friday, shutting out the Marlins on just three base hits.

Saunders struck out four and walked two in the impressive performance. He needed 116 pitches to get through the game, but was in control from the very beginning. Saunders was so dominant in this effort that no Marlin even reached second base. With the win, he improves to 2-1 on the season and sports a microscopic 0.90 ERA. While he’s not likely to continue this level of dominance, you’d be wise to have him in your lineups next week when he take on the Nationals in Washington.

Joe Saunders pitched seven innings of one-run ball Monday in a victory over the Pirates.

Saunders has something to prove after getting non-tendered and failing to land a multiyear deal over the winter. His peripherals are never very good, but he’s starting this season with a 0.64 ERA. Of course, he’s faced the game’s two coldest offenses in San Diego and Pittsburgh.

Joe Saunders suffered a hard-luck no-decision Wednesday, as he tossed seven shutout innings on just four hits and two walks in a loss to the Padres.

Saunders exited the game with a 1-0 lead, but setup man David Hernandez promptly served up a go-ahead homer to Chris Denorfia. The nice season debut for the left-hander is yet another example for why we don’t need to put too much weight in spring stats, as Saunders was awful in Cactus League action. That said, regression from last year should certainly be expected. He’ll face the Pirates next.

Joe Saunders was so-so in his final tuneup Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk over five innings against the Brewers.

He was able to record a surprising five punchouts. Saunders was thoroughly underwhelming this spring, posting a 7.98 ERA, and we’re not expecting much from him during the regular season, either. He’s not a recommended fantasy option in what should be a regression from his 2011 performance.

Joe Saunders lost again Friday after giving up four runs in four innings against the White Sox.

Saunders’ spring ERA dipped to 9.31 with the performance, which shows just how poorly he’s pitched to date. Of course, Saunders ended last spring with a 12.46 ERA in six starts and still went on to have a solid season, so it’s probably not something to be overly concerned about.

Joe Saunders yielded eight hits Saturday in a three-inning spring outing against the Rangers.

The good news is Saunders’ leg held up fine. The 30-year-old southpaw was struck on the left shin by a comebacker during his previous Cactus League appearance.