Sunday, September 18, 2016

Games of the Day

The Pirates have won four in a row after a double-header sweep on Saturday, and are on the fringes of the NL Wild Card race. They send Ivan Nova against the Reds and Dan Straily Sunday afternoon. Nova looks like the next pitcher to benefit from the coaching staff in Pittsburgh. He greatly reduced his walk and home run rates since he joined the Pirates, helping him to a 5-0 record and 2.41 ERA in eight starts. In about half the innings he threw for the Yankees this season, he allowed about 1/5 as many home runs and 1/8 as many walks. Straily owns a 3.12 ERA against the Pirates this season, but is just 1-2 on the season against them.

Good pitchers in a meaningless game square off as the White Sox send Jose Quintana against the Royals and Danny Duffy. Quintana showed great control against the Royals this season, walking one and striking out 20 in 21 2/3 innings. Finding a way to strike out the Royals is a usually a good way to beat them, but Quintana is 0-2 in three starts despite a 3.32 ERA. Duffy struck out 24 White Sox batters in 24 2/3 inning with three walks. His 2.19 ERA in those games was good for a 2-0 record.

Houston goes for a sweep of Seattle, both tied with Detroit three games back in the wild card race. Doug Fister takes on Ariel Miranda. Fister proved to be an effective innings eater this season, posting a 12-11 record while throwing 170 1/3 innings in 29 starts. Miranda, with a 4-1 record in his rookie year, appears to be prospering in the tempest of a division race.

Finally, CC Sabathia and David Ortiz square off the what is likely to be the last time at Fenway Park. Sabathia handled Ortiz well overall, holding the slugger to a .219/.284/.342 slash line in 81 plate appearances. At Fenway, however, that goes up to .353/.395/.618 in 38 PA. A Red Sox win pretty much puts the last nail in the coffin of the Yankees season.

Enjoy!



from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2ciazgU

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