We'll discuss the matchups for Friday and look around the diamond at what occurred Thursday. The bullpen has been a constant source of struggles this season, and we'll touch on the situation with the Indians, Mariners, Padres and Twins. Is an Athletics starter worn out? Which Astros and Cardinals starters are surging? Which Rockies batter is aging but still productive?
Cody Allen has 22 saves and 87 strikeout over 66.2 innings. His ERA is 2.03 as well.
Joaquin Benoit is expected to return Friday night. However, according to Jeff Sanders, he won't be immediately put back in to the 9th inning. It's possible that Kevin Quakenbush will continue to get the call in the 9th inning over the final week of the season.
Michael Cuddyer had three hit including a home run. Injuries have limited the 35 year old to just 42 games this season but he's been on his game when on the field batting .327 with eight homers and 27 runs scored. It will be interesting to see what type of contract he garners over the offseason as an aging, in jury prone, yet still productive, hitter.
Don't look now but Scott Feldman is pitching better. He allowed one run in eight innings last night. That runs his streak of quality starts to 6-straight outings as he's lowered his ERA to 3.82. The new Mark Buehrle he is.
Sonny Gray picked up a loss Thursday allowing five runs in five innings (four earned). He's clearly worn down over the course of the year and he now has just one win in 10 outings. Great first full season, but predictably things have slowed as the inning have piled up.
Shelby Miller allowed two runs, one earned, over six innings. That's two earned runs over his last four starts. Finally righting the ship to finish strong after a poor start to the year is he.
Glen Perkins has a nerve irritation and a slight muscles strain. Sounds like his season is over if I had to guess. If that is the case he will finish the year with an elevated 3.65 ERA that doesn't tell the story. For the second straight year he's hit 34 saves, he struck out 66 in 61.2 innings and posted a 1.18 WHIP. He's one of the more stable options going in the 9th inning with that 6.00 K/BB ratio.
Speaking of closers... those 46 saves of Fernando Rodney certainly snuck up on a few people, didn't it?
Danny Salazar allowed one run over 7.1 innings Thursday. That effort lowers his ERA to 3.06 over his last 11 starts. He's finally on track after being so spotty in the first half.
Jake Smolinski, he plays for the Rangers by the way, had four hits Thursday. That gives him 20 hits in 48 at-bats or a .408 batting average. He's only gone deep once, has just two walks, and has struck out 13 times, but come on now. Ride that .543 BABIP for all it is worth the final week of the season.
Jered Weaver will have his start moved to Saturday to set him up to start Game 1 of the ALDS.
Brandon Workman fell to 1-10 Thursday. Question. Why are the Red Sox still running him out there? What's to like with that 5.17 ERA and 1.43 WHIP?
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* NOTE: Players are listed in alphabetical order for the sake of making them easily sortable/findable. The matchups are also generated based on Batter vs. Pitcher data.
DISH DIAMONDS – The Best Hitting Matchups of the Day
Stephen Drew is batting .438 with a homer against Mark Buehrle in 16 at-bats. Brian McCann is batting .417 with a homer in 24 at-bats. Brett Gardner is batting .414 over 29 at-bats. Ichiro Suzuki is batting .426 in 61 at-bats. Derek Jeter is batting .347 in 49 at-bats.
Freddie Freeman has seven hits in 13 at-bats against Zack Wheeler. He's also walked seven times leading to a .538 average and .667 OBP.
Andrew McCutchen has hit .327 with four homers in 52 at-bats against Yovani Gallardo.
Miguel Montero has six hits in 11 at-bats against Jordan Lyles. He also has five RBIs.
Salvador Perez has a .424 average and 10 RBIs in 33 at-bats against Justin Verlander. Billy Butler is batting .415 with 15 RBIs in 82 at-bats. That's a lot of at-bats.
Jose Reyes is batting .462 with a homer and steal over 26 at-bats when Hiroki Kuroda is on the bump. Teammate Munenori Kawasaki has six hits in 13 at-bats.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia has five hits, including a homer, against Doug Fister in 11 at-bats.
Mark Trumbo has three homers and six RBIs in nine at-bats against Jordan Lyles... and the games is in Colorado.
DISH DISASTERS – Worst Hitting Matchups of the Day
Marlon Byrd and Jimmy Rollins each have one hit in 11 at-bats against Jon Lester. Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz are 1-for-18.
Jacoby Ellsbury is hitting a mere .212 with one RBI in 33 at-bats against Mark Buehrle.
Alex Gordon has a .213 average with 26 strikeouts over 75 at-bats against Justin Verlander. Josh Willingham has hit .150 with 11 Ks in 20 at-bats. Mike Moustakas has hit .170 in 47 at-bats.
Adam Lind has two hits in 19 at-bats against Hiroki Kuroda. Colby Rasmus has three hits, and 13 Ks, in 34 at-bats.
Hanley Ramirez has two homers against Edwin Jackson but he also has a .176 batting average and .263 OBP. Carl Crawford is 0-for-8.
Justin Upton has no hits, and seven strikeouts, in 18 at-bats against Zack Wheeler. Chris Johnson has two hits in 17 at-bats.
MOUND MAVENS – Starting Pitchers to Target
Dallas Keuchel has one win in four starts. He has allowed a total of seven runs in those starts however. He's walked just seven batters in five games during which time he has permitted one homer. He pitches at home against the Mariners and he has a 2.95 ERA and 1.15 WHIP at Minute Maid this year.
Jon Lester has allowed seven runs over his last four starts. He's also pitched five times at home – with Oakland – and he's killed it. He's only got two wins but he's also posted a 1.88 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with a better than 4:1 K/BB ratio. He faces the Phillies.
Odrisamer Despaigne faces the hot Giants at home. He has been on the bump seven times this season at Petco. He's gone just 2-1 but check out the ratios – 2.11 ERA and 1.02 WHIP – while he's held hitters to a .202 batting average.
MOUND MESSES – Starting Pitchers to Avoid
Trevor Bauer has not been effective in 11 road starts this year: 1-5, 4.91 ERA, 1.52 WHIP with a 2.00 K/BB ratio. Just not good. He pitches on the road against the Twins. He does have 19 Ks an a 1.02 WHIP over three starts, but he's 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA as well.
Mark Buehrle is destroyed by the Yankees. In 20 starts he has a 1-13 record. His ERA is 6.14. His WHIP is 1.57. This year he is 0-3 with a 6.65 ERA and 1.57 WHIP.
John Lackey threw a bullpen Tuesday as he tries to work through a case of dead arm. He says he is fine. Do you believe it? Even if he is he's allowed eight runs over his last eight innings and a homer in 5-straight games. Moreover, he's allowed eight homers in seven games. He's also sporting a 5.05 ERA and 1.49 WHIP over eight starts with the Cards. Lackey faces the Reds at home.
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