Editor's Note: ESPN analyst Tom Candiotti writes a weekly scouting report. Here is the former knuckleballer's book on Anaheim Angels pitcher Jarrod Washburn, who goes for his 12th straight victory Sunday against Seattle.

	Jarrod Washburn has a 2.60 ERA during his 11-game winning streak.

The Angels have been waiting for Washburn to emerge as a dependable No. 1 starter. It now looks like their wish is coming true. Washburn has battled through injuries over the last three years, but in 2002 he has conquered the injury bug and has the look of a top-of-the-rotation pitcher.

Angels pitching coach Bud Black certainly has a lot to do with Washburn's development. Black has coached Washburn well, stressing the importance of establishing his fastball on both sides of the plate before going to his off-speed pitches. This formula has certainly worked for Washburn.

Strengths
Washburn has always been a pitcher labeled with a plus arm and minus command. The potential was there, the makeup was great, but the command just had not arrived yet. Now it has.

Washburn's key to success is his fastball. It isn't a sinking fastball; it is a four-seam fastball with life. Washburn has really begun to trust his stuff. He will throw his fastball to any spot in the zone and isn't afraid to challenge any hitter with it when he falls behind in the count.

He possesses a nice curve ball and a changeup, but his fastball is his money pitch. He likes to pitch up in the zone and is successful there because his fastball has a hop to it and even rides at times. Washburn's fastball, usually in the low-90s, isn't one of the league's hardest, but it's hop and life makes it hard to hit. He also fields his position very well, with good range off the mound.

Most pitchers usually lose a little velocity or stuff when pitching from the stretch, but Washburn has learned to focus on the hitter before the potential base stealer. Credit that to having Mike Scioscia as the manager. Scioscia runs the holding runners, pickoffs, and pitchouts from the dugout and is probably the best in baseball at doing so. That can relax a pitcher and let him concentrate and focus on the hitter.

Weaknesses
Washburn struggles when he loses his command. He doesn't have pinpoint control yet, so it is important for him to get the hitters in a swinging mode.

Without his control Washburn becomes very vulnerable on the mound. Hitters can wait and zone his fastball since he has trouble locating his breaking ball when he is behind in the count.

Best approach
The best way for hitters to get after Washburn is to be ready for the fastball and try and stay on top of it with the swing. If they don't, then Washburn will get a ton of weak flyballs and popups.

Hitters need to be disciplined and lay off the chest-high fastballs. It is much easier said than done because the chest-high heater looks very tempting to a hitter.

ESPN baseball analyst Tom Candiotti won 151 games pitching in 16 major-league seasons.