Coach Fletcher’s Thursday Scouting Edge
July 2
Some interesting pitching matchups highlight Thursday’s action. For example, the Giants and Marlins kick things off tomorrow at 9:10 am with Matt Cain taking the hill for SF against Miami’s Jose Fernandez. Cain hasn’t pitched in MLB since July 9 of last year and Fernandez hasn’t been seen since May 9 of last year. Newcomer Manny Banuelos goes to the bump for the Atlanta Braves. Manny comes from AAA Gwinnet where he was 6-2 with a 2.29 ERA. Matt Moore returns to Tampa Bay after a prolonged absence of 14 months for Tommy John surgery. Moore was a 2013 All Star pick. Playing any of these games will be problematic unless you research their rehab protocol and rehab starts. One thing you can be certain of is that it is highly unlikely any of these hurlers will go past 5 innings or 100 pitches. Do your diligence on the bullpens as well. We did our diligence on the rehab starters and have a play on the early game today.
10:10 am Chicago Cubs at New York Mets
Mets Try to Avoid Third Straight Blanking – May Not Be Easy
The Mets haven’t been shut out 3 times in a row since 1992! Jake Arrieta will take the bump for the Cubs against Jacob de Grom and if these 2 continue to pitch the way they have been pitching, runs are going to be scarce. A shut out is a real possibility. Jacob de Grom is 8-5 with a 2.15 ERA and a 0.93 whip this season. De Grom has allowed only 3 runs and 13 hits in his last 22 1/3 innings. He hasn’t fared well against the Cubbies however, giving up 4 runs in 5 innings in his last 2 starts against them – once this season, once last season. Arrieta is 7-5 on the year with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.06 whip. He’s only allowed 1 run in his last 16 innings giving up 6 hits. He has also pitched well against the Mets. He’s 1-1 lifetime with a 2.02 ERA. He held the Mets to 3 hits and 1 run, striking out 10 in his lone start versus the Mets this year. Last year he gave up only 1 run on 9 hits in 11 2/3 innings against NY. The Cubs haven’t scored more than 2 runs in their last 8 games and have tallied 1 run only in their last 4. The Mets have scored more than 2 runs only once in their last 8 games but given up only more than 2 twice.
3:35 pm Milwaukee Brewers vs Philadelphia Phillies
Look for Another Slugfest at Philly
When the two worst teams in baseball meet, you aren’t expecting a pitcher’s duel. That’s for certain in Philly tomorrow when the hapless Phils host the Brewers. The Brewers have won the first 3 of this series and look for their 4th straight win. Milwaukee, with the league’s 2nd worst record, has won 7 of the last 9 and scored 20 runs and 43 hits at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils have plated 16 runs but lost all 3 games. After handing Aaron Harang his 11th loss of the season yesterday, the Brewers appear to get another sitting duck when Philly hurler Chad Billingsley takes the hill. Billingsley is 0-2 this year with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.62 whip. The Brew Crew’s Matt Garza hopes he can avoid his 11th loss of the season. He’s 3-10 with a 5.93 ERA and a 1.57 whip. Garza’s ERA in his last 3 games is a sky high 8.50. Oddly, the total for the contest is 8.5 based primarily on Garza’s lifetime ERA of just 2.32 versus the Phils. He doesn’t seem to be anywhere near the same pitcher today.
4:05 pm Texas Rangers at Baltimore Orioles
Gallardo Hopes to Continue Unreal Run in Baltimore
What has Yovani Gallardo done for the Rangers lately? How about 3 shut outs? Gallardo has tossed 3 blanks in a row beating the Dodgers, White Sox and hard hitting Toronto. He held the Jays to only 3 hits; the Pale Hose to 5; and LA to just 4 hits. He is 7-6 on the year with a 2.72 ERA and a 1.16 whip. Yovani has a 3.14 road ERA. He started only once versus the O’s, that was last year when he gave up 3 runs and 4 hits in 6 2/3 frames. In his last 7 starts Gallardo is 4-0 with a 0.99 ERA.
7:05 pm Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics
Kazmir, A’s Hope to Take Advantage of Elias and M’s
Scott Kazmir is hot. Roenis Elias is not. The A’s hope for more of the same tonight when Kazmir hopes to even up his record. Kazmir is only 4-5 despite a 2.79 ERA and a 1.20 whip. Home is where he likes it with a 1.63 ERA. In his last 3 starts Scott has a 2.79 ERA and figures to do well against one of the league’s weakest hitting teams. Roenis Elias tries to reverse his recent fortunes that have been flat out bad. In his last start Elias was pounded for 7 runs in 3 2/3 innings. On June 18 the Astros chased Elias with 8 runs in only 3 1/3 innings. His ERA in his last 3 starts is a ridiculous 10.29. However, in 2 starts versus Oakland last year, Elias was 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA.