Games of the Day

Rookie Ross Stripling takes on Marco Estrada as the Dodgers and Blue Jays start off the Mothers Day festivities. Note that Stripling is an old rookie, seasonal age 26. Already in his peak years, he brings a good strikeout rate and the ability to prevent home runs to the Dodgers rotation. His high ERA is due to a high BA allowed with runners in scoring position. Estrada adds the third dimension of few walks to Stripling’s ability, and comes into the game with an excellent 2.64 ERA.

The Royals and Indians send Edinson Volquez and Josh Tomlin to the mound, each with a 3.13 ERA. Volquez’s ERA would be even lower but for a terrible start in Anaheim in which he allowed eight runs in five innings. Ten of his 14 runs allowed this season came in road games. Tomlin won all four of his starts, as the Indians scored six runs or more in three of the four games.

Aaron Nola and Justin Nicolino lead takes the mound as the Phillies play at the Marlins. Nola is fast becoming not only the Phillies ace, but one of the best pitchers in the league as he blows away batters with the bonus of great control. Nicolino appears to have benefited from great defense in his first two starts of the season. He allowed nine hits in 13 1/3 innings despite just two strikeouts. He’s walked five, and that ratio of walks and strikeouts (25 each for his MLB career) usually doesn’t bode well for pitchers.

The Nationals try to both prevent a sweep and stop Jake Arrieta as they send Tanner Roark against the Cubs in Wrigley Field. Roark seems to have found a strike out pitch this year as he fanned 34 batters in 38 1/3 innings to somewhat compensate for his 15 walks allowed. Arrieta tries to match the record of his cross town rival Chris Sale at 7-0. Arrieta’s undefeated streak now stretches across 19 regular season starts, 17-0 in that stretch with a 0.66 ERA. He allowed just three home runs in his last 137 1/3 innings. Even more impressive is the last calendar year of games, 33 starts with a 25-3 record. So it is possible for a pitcher to win 25 games in a season, and like Sale, I hope one of these pitchers gets to 30 in a regular season.

Enjoy!

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/1rGafeF