Coach Fletcher’s Saturday Scouting Edge
Saturday, August 1
10:35 am Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox
Expect Some Scoring at Fenway
Two pitchers who have had trouble getting outs meet Saturday at Fenway. Matt Moore goes for the Rays and his story since coming back from Tommy John surgery has not been a happy one. Moore is 1-2 with a huge era of 7.61. Opposing Moore will be the Red Sox Joe Kelly. Kelly is 2-6 with a 5.94 era. Moore last toed the rubber on Sunday where he was shelled by the Orioles. The O’s roughed up Moore for 5 runs on 8 hits in 5 innings. In his previous start the Phils knocked Moore around for 4 runs and 8 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Moore’s road era is a laughable 8.00. Of course that monster era is nothing compared to the last 3 starts from Boston’s Kelly. In his last 3 starts Kelly’s era is a Godzilla-like 9.49. In Kelly’s last start he was blasted for 4 runs and 7 hits in just 3 1/3 innings. The total opened at a very generous 9.
1:05 pm Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers
Kershaw Tries to Extend Scoreless Streak Against Cross Town Rival
Trying to figure out when Clayton Kershaw’s next start is might be harder than figuring out how to hit the southpaw star. He was originally scheduled to start last Wednesday but that was pushed to Friday. Then his Friday start was pushed to Saturday. It’s anybody’s guess whether he will or will not take the mound today. The Dodgers are saying that Kershaw has a “hip issue” which is odd since he has a 29 inning scoreless streak going into whenever he starts again. In his last 26 innings, 3 starts, he has allowed 0 runs, 14 hits and has fanned 38. Oddly enough, the Halos dynamic duo of Pujols and Trout have had success versus Kershaw. Pujols is hitting .368 against him and Trout is hitting .667. Shane Victorino is hitting .300 against Clayton.
4:10 pm Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds
Cole Goes for 15th Win Versus Nemesis
The Pirates Gerrit Cole is 14-4 with a 2.24 era. Things appear well set up for a major league leading 15th win tomorrow. Or does it? Cole is not exactly a fan of pitching against the Reds. Nor is he a fan of pitching in the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Cole just happens to be 0-3 lifetime against the Reds. All 3 losses have come this year. Cole’s era against the Reds is a pumped up 5.53. In his 1 start in Cincinnati, Cole gave up 3 runs on 5 hits in 5 innings. In fact, Cole has never made it past the 5th in his 3 starts against Cincinnati. 6 different Reds player are hitting over .300 against him and Todd Frazier has measured him for a pair of four baggers. Marlon Byrd has done the same. Cole opened at -165.
5:05 pm San Francisco Giants at Texas Rangers
Hamels Makes First Start for Texas
Cole Hamels, who threw a no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs in his last start before being traded, makes his first start for the Texas Rangers today. Hamels will not find an easy target for his debut as he faces the World Champion San Francisco Giants. Hamels was 11-5 with a 3.14 for the Phils. However, all was not so rosy prior to the no hitter. In his last 3 starts including the no-no, Hamels era was 8.12. In the 2 starts prior to the no-hitter Hamels gave up 14 runs and 20 hits in only 6 2/3 innings. On July 10, Hamels faced these same Giants and gave up 9 runs and 12 hits in 3 1/3 innings. In his last 7 games he went 1-2 with a 4.57 era. Hamels went 1-4 with a 4.33 era in his last 10 starts. Eight Giant players are hitting over .300 for their careers against Hamels, who opened as a -125 favorite.
6:05 pm Cleveland Indians at Oakland Athletics
Aaron Brooks Makes First Start For A’s After Trade
Aaron Brooks, acquired from the Royals in the Ben Zobrist trade, makes his debut for Oakland at home tonight. Brooks has spent little time in the majors but all or part of 5 seasons in the minors. His minor league record was 42-32 with a 4.21 era. He spent the last year and one-half in Triple-A with Omaha where he went 12-3 with a 3.88 eras in 2014. In 2015 he was 6-5 with a 3.71 era. In his short stint in the bigs, Brooks has not been effective. In 4 games for the Royals over the past 2 seasons Brooks has compiled a rather unfavorable era of 20.57. Most of that damage was done in 2014 when he went just 2 and 2/3 innings and allowed 13 runs. In 2015, Brooks improved throwing 4 1/3 innings with a 6.23 era. The line opened at Cleveland -110 as visitor.