Guys, MLB is winding down with a few good races going. Give me your opinions and or thoughts on todays games.
Here's some that stand out to me.
*******TOP Choice -GOY Type Play********
Philly-1.5 -135
Philly has literally owned the Braves this year.
Braves: This will be Reyes' final opportunity to make the positive impression that he's been unable to provide while going 0-7 with a 7.79 ERA in his past 12 appearances. The 23-year-old hurler agitated Braves manager Bobby Cox while allowing the Mets five earned runs in just 3 1/3 innings on Friday. It marked the seventh time in 11 starts that he didn't complete at least five innings. He is 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Phillies this year.
Phillies: Hamels has been the team's most consistant pitcher and has posted a 2.73 ERA in his previous 10 starts. Already into uncharted territory as far as innings, Hamels isn't going to stop now until he gets the Phillies into the postseason. This could be his final start of the regular season, unless the Phillies don't have a spot clinched by Sept. 28.
*******Best of the Rest***********
Mets-1.5.....-115
Cubs clinched and celebrated last night. The Cubs probably will rest some players. This is the one guy in the NYM rotation that really has a chance to win in this series. Looks like the Cubs throw out Harden and Zambrano next.
Cubs: Marshall will be making his seventh start as the Cubs adjust their rotation to set it up for the postseason. His last start was Sept. 7 at Cincinnati, when he gave up one run on three hits and two walks over six innings. The lefty is 1-4 with a 4.24 ERA in his six starts, and 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in 25 relief appearances.
Mets: Santana's fine September continued last Thursday in Washington, where he struck out eight Nationals over seven innings, allowing merely one run. That effort earned him a win, which hasn't always been the case this month -- or this year -- when Santana has pitched well. Of his last six no-decisions, all of them have been quality starts. He has produced a 2.68 ERA in those six games, compared to a 1.36 ERA in his six most recent victories. Santana's next start will be his first against the Cubs since holding them to one run over eight innings back in 2006.
Milw-1.5.....-110
The Brewers have dominated the Pirates all year.
Pirates: A bad umpiring call worked against Karstens in his last start, though the right-hander can't escape the fact that he allowed 11 hits and needed 91 pitches to finish five innings. Fatigue seems to have set in with Karstens some, and for a pitcher who is not overpowering, that has been just enough to give opponents the edge. Karstens has lost each of his last six starts. One of those losses came against Milwaukee, though it was more a reflection of how good CC Sabathia was than how off Karstens may have been. Karstens allowed three runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Brewers: Bush is the most likely choice to take the injured Ben Sheets' spot because he would be on regular rest. Bush hasn't won this month, but he hasn't pitched poorly. He has not given up more than three runs in any of his past three starts, including his last outing, at Wrigley Field on three days' rest. The right-hander held the Cubs to a pair of solo homers in five innings and would have received the win if Salomon Torres hadn't blown a four-run lead in the ninth. In his last start against Pittsburgh, Bush gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings on Aug. 29 to get his ninth win. He's 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA in four starts against the Pirates this season.
******Teams that have to win to get into playoffs, but could get beat*******
Twins
Need to win all 3 against the CWS in order to win the division
White Sox: Working on three days rest has not exactly been a recipe for success during Vazquez's career. The right-hander made his third start while coming back in this short period and slipped to 0-3 overall in Thursday's 9-2 loss to the Yankees. Vazquez allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out four, walked four and threw 88 pitches during his trip to the mound. The White Sox brought back Vazquez on three days, in part, to have him rested and ready for the start of the series in the Metrodome on Tuesday. Vazquez has a 2-0 record with a 5.11 ERA against Minnesota this season and holds a 6-5 career mark against the Twins. Vazquez also has a 1-4 ledger in the Metrodome.
Twins: Pitching on only three days rest, Baker was forced to throw a lot of pitches early in his last start against the Indians. He lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits. Baker didn't want to use the short rest as an excuse, but it appeared to affect him. The right-hander will now get an extra day before his next start against the White Sox thanks to Monday's off-day. Baker is 2-2 with a 7.99 ERA in seven career starts against Chicago, including going 1-0 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts vs. the South Siders this season.
LAD-255
Up 2 games to Arizona, the LAD need to continue to win. But Billingsley got crushed in his last outing vs Pitt.
Padres: LeBlanc hasn't been in the Major Leagues a month and yet the rookie left-hander will face the Dodgers for the third time this month. The Padres staked LeBlanc to a 9-0 lead in his last start Sept. 15 though he eventually did allow four runs on a grand slam to Troy Tulowitzki. The changeup specialist walked three over six innings and allowed seven hits, but showed a knack for escaping tight situations over his final two innings to notch his first Major League victory.
Dodgers: Billingsley gave up seven runs (six earned) in his last start in Pittsburgh, the most of any start this year. He was punished by Adam LaRoche, who homered twice and chased the right-hander with a grand slam. Billingsley had gone 12 straight outings without allowing more than three runs, a time in which he was 7-2 with a 2.52 ERA. Billingsley is 0-2 against the Padres this year, receiving only two runs of support.
Arizona-110
D-backs: Johnson escaped a first-inning jam by allowing just one run after the first three hitters of the game got on base. That was all the Big Unit ended up allowing the entire game as he matched Giants ace Tim Lincecum pitch for pitch. He was in line for his 295th career win until Juan Cruz allowed a game-tying homer in the eighth. Johnson, who recently missed a start with shoulder fatigue, saw his velocity drop to the high 80's. He took an unconventional approach on Thursday, throwing several breaking balls to retire the Giants hitters, the most breaking balls manager Bob Melvin said he has ever seen Johnson throw in a game.
Cardinals: Lohse finally got a win to show for his solid efforts recently, giving him 14 victories to equal a career high. Over his last six starts he's averaged 6 1/3 innings per game with a 3.08 ERA, yet he only has one win. There's a lot to like about the way Lohse is pitching, though, with or without the victories. He's struck out 23 against seven walks in his past four starts. And on Thursday against the Reds, he did the one thing he hadn't been doing: he avoided the one big hit when he got in trouble.
Here's some that stand out to me.
*******TOP Choice -GOY Type Play********
Philly-1.5 -135
Philly has literally owned the Braves this year.
Braves: This will be Reyes' final opportunity to make the positive impression that he's been unable to provide while going 0-7 with a 7.79 ERA in his past 12 appearances. The 23-year-old hurler agitated Braves manager Bobby Cox while allowing the Mets five earned runs in just 3 1/3 innings on Friday. It marked the seventh time in 11 starts that he didn't complete at least five innings. He is 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Phillies this year.
Phillies: Hamels has been the team's most consistant pitcher and has posted a 2.73 ERA in his previous 10 starts. Already into uncharted territory as far as innings, Hamels isn't going to stop now until he gets the Phillies into the postseason. This could be his final start of the regular season, unless the Phillies don't have a spot clinched by Sept. 28.
*******Best of the Rest***********
Mets-1.5.....-115
Cubs clinched and celebrated last night. The Cubs probably will rest some players. This is the one guy in the NYM rotation that really has a chance to win in this series. Looks like the Cubs throw out Harden and Zambrano next.
Cubs: Marshall will be making his seventh start as the Cubs adjust their rotation to set it up for the postseason. His last start was Sept. 7 at Cincinnati, when he gave up one run on three hits and two walks over six innings. The lefty is 1-4 with a 4.24 ERA in his six starts, and 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in 25 relief appearances.
Mets: Santana's fine September continued last Thursday in Washington, where he struck out eight Nationals over seven innings, allowing merely one run. That effort earned him a win, which hasn't always been the case this month -- or this year -- when Santana has pitched well. Of his last six no-decisions, all of them have been quality starts. He has produced a 2.68 ERA in those six games, compared to a 1.36 ERA in his six most recent victories. Santana's next start will be his first against the Cubs since holding them to one run over eight innings back in 2006.
Milw-1.5.....-110
The Brewers have dominated the Pirates all year.
Pirates: A bad umpiring call worked against Karstens in his last start, though the right-hander can't escape the fact that he allowed 11 hits and needed 91 pitches to finish five innings. Fatigue seems to have set in with Karstens some, and for a pitcher who is not overpowering, that has been just enough to give opponents the edge. Karstens has lost each of his last six starts. One of those losses came against Milwaukee, though it was more a reflection of how good CC Sabathia was than how off Karstens may have been. Karstens allowed three runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Brewers: Bush is the most likely choice to take the injured Ben Sheets' spot because he would be on regular rest. Bush hasn't won this month, but he hasn't pitched poorly. He has not given up more than three runs in any of his past three starts, including his last outing, at Wrigley Field on three days' rest. The right-hander held the Cubs to a pair of solo homers in five innings and would have received the win if Salomon Torres hadn't blown a four-run lead in the ninth. In his last start against Pittsburgh, Bush gave up one run in 6 2/3 innings on Aug. 29 to get his ninth win. He's 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA in four starts against the Pirates this season.
******Teams that have to win to get into playoffs, but could get beat*******
Twins
Need to win all 3 against the CWS in order to win the division
White Sox: Working on three days rest has not exactly been a recipe for success during Vazquez's career. The right-hander made his third start while coming back in this short period and slipped to 0-3 overall in Thursday's 9-2 loss to the Yankees. Vazquez allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out four, walked four and threw 88 pitches during his trip to the mound. The White Sox brought back Vazquez on three days, in part, to have him rested and ready for the start of the series in the Metrodome on Tuesday. Vazquez has a 2-0 record with a 5.11 ERA against Minnesota this season and holds a 6-5 career mark against the Twins. Vazquez also has a 1-4 ledger in the Metrodome.
Twins: Pitching on only three days rest, Baker was forced to throw a lot of pitches early in his last start against the Indians. He lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits. Baker didn't want to use the short rest as an excuse, but it appeared to affect him. The right-hander will now get an extra day before his next start against the White Sox thanks to Monday's off-day. Baker is 2-2 with a 7.99 ERA in seven career starts against Chicago, including going 1-0 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts vs. the South Siders this season.
LAD-255
Up 2 games to Arizona, the LAD need to continue to win. But Billingsley got crushed in his last outing vs Pitt.
Padres: LeBlanc hasn't been in the Major Leagues a month and yet the rookie left-hander will face the Dodgers for the third time this month. The Padres staked LeBlanc to a 9-0 lead in his last start Sept. 15 though he eventually did allow four runs on a grand slam to Troy Tulowitzki. The changeup specialist walked three over six innings and allowed seven hits, but showed a knack for escaping tight situations over his final two innings to notch his first Major League victory.
Dodgers: Billingsley gave up seven runs (six earned) in his last start in Pittsburgh, the most of any start this year. He was punished by Adam LaRoche, who homered twice and chased the right-hander with a grand slam. Billingsley had gone 12 straight outings without allowing more than three runs, a time in which he was 7-2 with a 2.52 ERA. Billingsley is 0-2 against the Padres this year, receiving only two runs of support.
Arizona-110
D-backs: Johnson escaped a first-inning jam by allowing just one run after the first three hitters of the game got on base. That was all the Big Unit ended up allowing the entire game as he matched Giants ace Tim Lincecum pitch for pitch. He was in line for his 295th career win until Juan Cruz allowed a game-tying homer in the eighth. Johnson, who recently missed a start with shoulder fatigue, saw his velocity drop to the high 80's. He took an unconventional approach on Thursday, throwing several breaking balls to retire the Giants hitters, the most breaking balls manager Bob Melvin said he has ever seen Johnson throw in a game.
Cardinals: Lohse finally got a win to show for his solid efforts recently, giving him 14 victories to equal a career high. Over his last six starts he's averaged 6 1/3 innings per game with a 3.08 ERA, yet he only has one win. There's a lot to like about the way Lohse is pitching, though, with or without the victories. He's struck out 23 against seven walks in his past four starts. And on Thursday against the Reds, he did the one thing he hadn't been doing: he avoided the one big hit when he got in trouble.
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