Games of the Day

The Cardinals and Yankees start off the day with Carlos Martinez facing CC Sabathia. Martinez showed great control in his first two starts. For his career, his walks are low, but not impressively so. This season, he walked one batter in 12 1/3 innings. Sabathia comes into the game with a 1.64 ERA, having not allowed a home run in 11 innings. He has walked six and struck out five, however, and whenever those two number are in parity, trouble seems to follow, especially in Sabathia’s case where the walk rate is too high and the strikeout rate is too low.

The Rays continue their series in Boston with Jake Odorizzi taking on Chris Sale and the Red Sox. The Rays batters have hit 14 home runs this season to Boston’s four, as the Red Sox are at the bottom of the majors in homers. The Red Sox do lead the AL in doubles with 22, so there is some power there. So far this season, it’s been tough to start a rally against Odorizzi, as he allowed a .229 OBP with the base empty. Once started, the flood gates open, however, as opponents hit .333/.385/.750. That and the three home runs allowed explain his 4.50 ERA despite good numbers. Sale walked two and struck out 17 in 14 2/3 innings this season, but has yet to win a game. The Red Sox scored late in his first game (a 3-0 shutout), and just one run in his second.

Justin Verlander squares off against Corey Kluber as the Tigers continue their series with the Indians. Verlander held opponents to a .188 BA so far this season. That might continue today, and the Indians hit starters much worse than reliever this year. Twenty one of their eighteen RBI came against relievers this season, despite many fewer plate appearances. Kluber is off to a rough start thanks to four home runs allowed in 12 innings. He gave up 22 all last season in 215 innings.

Finally, Jacob deGrom leads the Mets against the Marlins and Adam Conley. deGrom allowed just eight hits in two starts this season, seven of them going for singles. Conley was supposed to make his second start of the season Friday, but pitching in the sixteen inning game pushed him back a day. He tends to allow home runs, and the Mets lead the majors in that category with 21.

Enjoy!

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