MLB
Saturday, October 30
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Payoff Pitch: Today's Best Mound Matchup
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Jonathan Sanchez, San Francisco Giants vs. Colby Lewis, Texas Rangers
Jonathan Sanchez (13-9, 3.07 ERA)
When the left-hander is on the mound, you know two things: he is going to walk a lot of people and you will see a filthy curve ball.
Sanchez was eighth in the National League in strikeouts this season with 205 thanks to his fantastic hook, but also led the Senior Circuit with 96 walks, a staggering number of free passes, especially considering he averages just under 98 pitches per start. It’s a wonder he ever makes it out of the fifth inning.
In his most recent start in Game 6 against Philadelphia, an altercation with Chase Utley left him so rattled that he had to be pulled after giving up two runs over a meager two innings. Also over that span, he threw an absurd 50 pitches and walked a pair.
Not good news for facing a Texas lineup looking to find its groove and breakout after getting shutout in Game 2.
"I'm going to go there with the same mentality I always have," Sanchez told MLB.com. "You're not always going to have a perfect game, so you just have to be realistic. There are going to be good days and there are going to be bad ones."
Colby Lewis (12-13, 3.72 ERA)
And if you think Sanchez has a nasty curve ball, then you need to pay close attention when Lewis takes the bump.
Lewis threw the curve an average of 11.2 times per start before mid-September, with opponents hitting .304 against it. But since then, he is throwing it 14.6 times per outing with opponents hitting just .056 against it when they make contact. And in the playoffs he has leaned on the pitch even more. Through three postseason outings, he is tossing 18.7 curves per start.
And it’s not like the Yankees could hit it.
In two victories over the Bronx Bombers and their vaunted batting order, Lewis went a combined 13.2 innings, giving up just nine hits and allowing a measly three earned runs. His biggest issue -- like Sanchez -- is his walks. In three postseason starts, he has 18 punch-outs, but also has a postseason-leading issued 11 free passes.
"He has swing-and-miss stuff," Rangers manager Ron Washington told MLB.com. "When he's commanding the strike zone, he's as tough as any pitcher in the game. We've needed him twice so far in this postseason, and he's come through, and that's why we're so confident with Colby."
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Hot Lines: Today's best MLB bets
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San Francisco Giants at Texas Rangers (-152, 8.5)
So maybe this will be the round where the Rangers finally embrace home field advantage?
The Rangers reached the postseason by being among the best in the league at home, posting a 51-30 record in their own back yard. During the regular season, Texas averaged a whopping 5.3 runs per game at home and supported that number with a solid 93 home runs and 136 doubles. At home, the team also is hitting a phenomenal .288, making the most of opposing pitchers’ mistakes.
This postseason, however, the team is averaging nearly a run per game less -- 4.6 per game -- and is just 2-3 in its own yard. But anything familiar would be good for the Rangers at this point, as the team needs to win Game 3 of the World Series to have a legitimate chance at claiming a title in its first appearance in the Fall Classic.
"Now that we're home, we feel comfortable back in this place. Not taking anything away from the Giants, they beat us soundly," Texas manager Ron Washington told the Associated Press. "We've just got to come back here, get focused and win a game. We win a game, everything will be fine."
The team may be gripping the bat tight, but should be able to get loose on Saturday night and do enough to keep this series interesting.
Pick: Rangers
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This Day in Baseball
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On October 30 in Baseball History...
1911 - Clark Griffith is named manager at Washington, beginning a stand in the nation's capitol as manager, then owner, that will last until his death in 1955.
1945 - Branch Rickey signs Jackie Robinson to a contract with Montreal of the International League for 1946. Black pitcher John Wright also signs.
1956 - The Dodgers sell Ebbets Field to a real estate group. They agree to stay until 1959, with an option to stay until 1961.
1963 - Sandy Koufax wins again. The Dodgers southpaw, who won 25 games and pitched 11 shutouts, outpolls Cardinals shortstop Dick Groat 237 to 190 for the NL MVP award.
1967 - Arthur Allyn announces that his White Sox will play nine games in Milwaukee in 1968. Chicago will become the first AL team to play regular season games outside its own city since 1905.
1974 - Catfish Hunter is named the AL Cy Young Award winner. He led the league with 25 wins and a 2.49 ERA.
1975 - Giants pitcher John Montefusco outpoints Expos catcher Gary Carter for NL Rookie of the Year honors.
1984 - Tigers reliever Willie Hernandez wins the AL Cy Young Award, edging fellow reliever Dan Quisenberry of the Royals. Hernandez was 9-3 with 32 saves and a 1.92 ERA.