Locke allowed one run on four hits, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out five over 5.1 innings, but received no decision Sunday against the Braves.

Locke pitched well, but a 42-minute rain delay ended his day early. He had his best outing in awhile, as this was the first time since July 9 that he gave up fewer than three runs. In addition, he's failed to complete six innings in any of his last five starts. He'll make his next start Friday against the Giants.

Locke fell to 6-7 after allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings Tuesday against St. Louis. He struck out three.

Locke drew just six swinging strikes and managed just 12 first pitch strikes against 26 hitters. He has now failed to get into the sixth inning in each of his past four starts and hasn't had a quality start since July 19 against Milwaukee. His ERA is up to 4.43.

Locke allowed four runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four batters in 5.2 innings of work during Wednesday's 7-5 win over Cubs.

Locke's up-and-down season continued on Wednesday. After allowing just two hits through 5.1 innings, the lefty imploded, giving up homers to Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo in a span of three batters to tie the ball game at 4-4. From June 12-July 24 Locke threw 46.1 innings without allowing a homer --- he's now given up five in his last 16.1 innings. He will challenge the Cardinals on the road next week.

Locke allowed three runs on five hits, walking three and striking out five over five innings of a 5-4 win against the Reds on Friday night.

It wasn't the most efficient outing for Locke (6-6, 4.21 ERA) but he kept it together long enough to qualify for a win and turn it over to the strengthened Pirates' bullpen. Jared Hughes allowed a run to let the Reds within a run, but Joakim Soria, Tony Watson, and closer Mark Melancon combined for three shutout innings to preserve the win for Locke.

Locke (5-6) went 7.1 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three batters in a 6-1 loss to the Brewers.

The 27-year-old was in line for the victory before the wheels fell off in the seventh inning. After walking Carlos Gomez to start the frame, Locke got one more out before giving up a single to Aramis Ramirez and a two-run double to Khris Davis, promptly ending his afternoon on the mound. The left-hander had previously allowed just two runs in his last 18 innings on the mound, knocking his ERA down 70 points and recording a 16:6 K:BB ratio during that time.

Locke (5-5) allowed four runs -- one earned -- on five hits and three walks while striking out five in Thursday's loss to the Cardinals.

Despite losing Thursday, Locke has now given up two earned runs or fewer in each of his past six starts. During that stretch, Locke has a 1.59 ERA and has seen his season ERA drop from 5.37 to 4.03.

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.

Tuesday starter Jeff Locke will be looking to post back-to-back quality starts for the first time since his first two games of the season.

He beat the Marlins last August 6, limiting Florida to three earned runs in seven frames. He struck out seven and didn't allow a walk -- a huge key for the lefty. It might be wise for Locke to work around Giancarlo Stanton, who has two career dingers and is 6-for-12 against him.

Locke gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings Wednesday in an eventual 13-inning loss to the Twins. He struck out six and walked two.

It's not an impressive outing, but hey, it's a quality start for Locke -- something he'd failed to achieve in four of his prior five turns. For fantasy purposes, at best he's a streaming option against bad offenses. His next time out, Locke draws a Marlins offense that's been struggling of late, but fantasy owners will want to see if those struggles persist for Miami before they commit to starting Locke.

Locke surrendered five earned runs in 3.2 innings Friday, allowing six hits and three walks while striking out four batters.

He struggled tremendously with his command, throwing 102 pitches (56 for strikes) in less than four innings. Locke has given up 21 earned runs in 26 innings over his last five starts. The Pirates are likely to remove Vance Worley from the rotation when Charlie Morton returns -- which could happen in the next week, but Locke is making the decision tough for management.

Locke pitched 6.2 innings in Sunday's victory over the Cardinals but did not factor into the decision. He allowed three earned runs, five hits, and posted a 1:2 K:BB ratio in the game.

Locke did not come away with a win Sunday, but he did enough to help his team accomplish that goal. Sunday's start was Locke's best since Apr. 18, but he has struggled a bit of late, allowing 16 earned runs in 22.1 innings (6.45 ERA) over his last four starts.