Coach Fletcher’s Sunday Scouting Edge
Sunday, July 5
10:05 am Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees
First Place Yankees Continue to Punish Reeling Rays – But There’s Hope for A Turnaround Sunday
The Yankees have won the last 2 games against the Rays with walk offs. That’s great news if you’re a NYY fan and more bad news if you’re a Rays fan. The first place Yanks go for a sweep at home against the Rays tomorrow, something they haven’t done since 2009. The Rays have lost 9 of their last 10 and 8 in a row. The Rays are batting .182 and have scored only 18 runs in those 8 starts. The Yankees are hitting .280 at home and averaging 5.8 runs per game in Yankee Stadium. Ivan Nova goes to the hill for the Yankees with a 1-1 record and a 1.50 era. The good news for the Rays is that Nova is 0-4 against the Rays with 4.60 era in his last 6 starts versus Tampa. Erasmo Ramirez will face the Yankees. He’s 6-3 with a 3.25 era. He has been dominant in his last 3 giving up only 1 run in his last 14 2/3 innings. Ramirez shut out the Yankees on May 14 allowing only 1 hit in 5 innings.
10:08 am Toronto Blue Jays at Detroit Tigers
After Being Swept, Tigers, Verlander Look to Sweep Jays with Cabrera on the Sideline
Fresh off being swept at home by the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Tigers will try to sweep the slumping Jays. Justin Verlander will do the honors, but the biggest news is that Detroit will be playing without super star Miguel Cabrera who suffered a calf injury. The Tigers have overwhelmed the Jays with good pitching despite giving up 6 runs in game one. In that game, Tiger starter Anabal Sanchez took a no-hitter into the 8th before giving up 4 runs. Yesterday, David Price allowed 1 run in 7 innings as the Tigers cruised to an 8-3 win. Verlander showed signs in his last start that he might finally be coming around. He gave up 3 early runs in his last start, but pitched shut out ball after the 3rd inning. He’s gone 3-3 with a 4.29 era in 9 starts against the Jays. Toronto is vulnerable on the road (16-23) and against RHP ( 30-33).
10:35 am Houston Astros at Boston Red Sox
McCullers Leads Astros Against Rodriguez
Houston’s Lance McCullers is one of the reasons that the Astros are in first place. Lance makes his 10th start of the season at Fenway Park and he has been outstanding. McCullers is 4-2 with a 2.19 era and a 1.01 whip. He’s gone 6 innings or more in 6 of his first 9 starts. McCullers has fanned at least 6 in 7 of his 9 starts. He’s allowed no more than 3 runs in any of his starts while averaging almost 10 strike outs per game. He held batters to a .164 batting average in June. However, his road era is up to 3.47. In his last 3 starts, 2 away from home, his era is 2.60. He’s never faced the Bosox, but Boston pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez has never seen the Astros. Rodriguez is also 4-2 and has a 3.92 era and a 1.11 whip. His record at home is abysmal giving up 16 runs in 15 1/3 frames at Fenway. His home era is a monster 9.39 and in his last 3 starts, only 1 at home, his era is 4.50. Rumor had it that Eduardo was tipping off his pitchers with his head position. After working on the problem, Rodriguez has given up 1 run in 2 of his last 3 starts.
11:15 am San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals
Cards Try to Find Some Offense; Hope Kennedy Will Be the Answer
Runs remain hard to come by for the MLB’s best team – the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cards will try for a series split Sunday while visiting Petco Park. Having lost 4 of their last 5 games, the Cards have only scored 8 runs in their last 5 games. St. Louis is hoping that the Friars starter, Ian Kennedy, will be enough to jump start their ailing offense. Kennedy is 4-7 with a 4.86 era over the season. However, Kennedy has allowed 10 runs in 11 innings in his last 2 starts, but only 2 were earned. The Padre offense could use some help too when Kennedy takes the mound. San Diego has only scored 5 runs in Kennedy’s last 4 starts where he has gone 1-2 with a 1.50 era. Kennedy has not done well against the Cardinals and the Cards are no doubt looking forward to seeing him. Kennedy is 2-4 with a 9.00 era in 6 starts against the Cards, but last faced them in 2013. The Red Birds are also banking on their 30-11 record at home and their 45-17 record versus right handed starters to help get the offense in gear.
1:10 pm Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks
De La Rosa versus De La Rosa Part 2 at Chase Field
Colorado and Arizona made history last week when Jorge De La Rosa faced off against Rubby De La Rosa. The same two hurlers go at it again Sunday. Jorge (Rockies) is 5-3 on the season with a 4.59 era. Rubby (Dbacks) is 6-3 for the year with a 4.60 era. You couldn’t find 2 pitchers with more similar records than the De La Rosas, who are not related. Rubby (Dbacks) has had more recent success ending June by going 2-0 with a 1.30 era in his last 4 starts. In last week’s contest, the Rockies prevailed 6-4. Jorge (Rockies) went 5 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits. Rubby (Dbacks) went 7 innings and allowed 1 run on 5 hits. You can’t get much closer than that either. Jorge is 8-8 when starting against Arizona and has posted a 3.05 era versus the Dbacks. Rubby is 2-0 versus the Rockies lifetime with a 2.50 era, but has only faced them once since 2011. Perhaps the difference will lie in who is tossing for the home team. Colorado won the first match up at home where they have a record of 17-22. On the road, the Rockies are 17-25. The Dbacks are 22-20 at home and 17-21 on the road.