Locke was outstanding Saturday, limiting the Indians to just two hits over eight shutout innings en route to his fifth win of the season. He struck out six. He's been coming on lately, and Locke now has a 1.55 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 21:8 K:BB ratio over his last five starts and 29 innings. His next start comes Thursday, at home to the Cardinals.

Locke limited Atlanta to one run in five innings Sunday, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out five. The lefty again danced through rain drops, literally and figuratively on another wet afternoon at PNC Park. Only a Nick Markakis RBI single to right field marred his scoreless outing, but the lefty was lucky to avoid further damage after allowing eight baserunners. Sunday's performance might be the best fantasy owners can expect from Locke. He could have easily earned his fifth win with any help from the Pirates' offense.

Locke was not at his best Tuesday, allowing four runstwo earnedin four innings. Tuesday's start marked the second time in his last five starts that Locke failed to advance past the fourth inning. The lefty actually lowered his ERA in the start, leaving it at 4.73 heading into his start this weekend against the Braves.

Locke enters Tuesday's start at PNC Park with an earned-run average more than four runs better at home (3.05) than on the road (7.28). The lefty holds a career 3.14 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 43 career innings against the Reds. His matchup likely became better when Cincinnati decided to rest expected starter Johnny Cueto (elbow) in favor of rookie Joe Smith. Locke has compiled two of his season's best starts his last two times out, striking out 10 in 12 IP while allowing only two earned runs.

Locke limited the White Sox to two earned runs on three hits and two walks in six innings Wednesday. He struck out a season-high eight batters. He's pitched with greater confidence in his last three starts and he's given up just two runs in his last 12 innings. Locke's fastball hit 95 mph Wednesday, but it's not known whether the radar gun was a little hot. Either way, his stuff played well and he's now strung together strong back-to-back starts. Locke's spot in the rotation was in jeopardy at the beginning of June, but it's safe now.

Locke spun six shutout innings, allowing six hits, walking one, and striking out two, but came away with a no-decision in a game the Pirates would win 1-0 over Philadelphia in 13 innings. His last start was better, and this one was arguably his best outing of the year. Locke dropped his ERA to a still shaky 4.90, but this certainly helped solidify his hold on the fifth spot in the Pittsburgh rotation.

Locke allowed four earned runs in 6.1 innings Saturday, giving up seven hits and two walks while striking out four. It appears as though Locke did enough to keep his rotation spot for another turn. "I thought we saw improvements in a number of different places," manager Clint Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "The intent was better. He was aggressive through the zone." Locke's possible replacement, Vance Worley, surrendered a walk-off homer on the first pitch he threw in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Locke will remain in the Pirates' rotation for the time being, Tom Singer of MLB.com reports. Locke has run into trouble of late, and he allowed six earned runs over four innings Sunday against the Padres, leading to speculation that he could be removed from the rotation. Manager Clint Hurdle intimated that he'd consider making a change, but he said Monday that the team will stick with Locke in the short-term. "He still has a big upside," Hurdle said. Locke will make his next scheduled start Saturday in Atlanta, after which his status will likely again be evaluated.

Locke, who gave up six earned runs over four innings to the Padres on Sunday, may be in danger of losing his spot in the rotation, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. "I'm always a guy who sleeps on everything," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said after Sunday's game. "We round up as a staff after every series and discuss things. First, you need to look at the delivery and the outing and then take it from there. We're going to look at Jeff Locke first and what we can do to help him out." While manager Clint Hurdle's comments aren't overly suggestive that a change is coming, Locke will likely only have one or two more chances to turn things around, if he even sticks in the rotation beyond Sunday. The obvious choice for a replacement would be Vance Worley, who has thrown eight scoreless innings -- including four Sunday night -- since moving to the bullpen. Locke has a 5.34 ERA, 4.19 FIP, 1.54 WHIP and 45:23 K:BB ratio through 55.2 innings this season.

Locke tossed 5.2 scoreless innings against the Marlins on Tuesday to earn his third win of the season. He gave up four hits and four walks while striking out six. The four walks were a season high, but the Marlins were unable to capitalize and Locke emerged with his first win since Apr. 18. While he did fall one out short of a quality start, needing 104 pitches to get through the 5.2 frames, Locke's strikeout rate is up more than a strikeout per nine innings from last year and he should have confidence heading into this weekend's matchup in San Diego.