Coach Fletcher’s Sunday Scouting Edge
Sunday, August 30
10:07 am Detroit Tigers at Toronto Blue Jays
Buehrle Has Hit a Bump
The general notion is that the Blue Jays are an offensive machine that can’t be stopped. It’s hard to argue that after they pounded Detroit 15-1 on Saturday. But if the stars align just right – who knows. Take for example Tiger starter Alfredo Simon. Despite his 11-8 record and a 4.89 era, on August 20 he threw a 9 inning 1 hitter against the Texas Rangers. Pretty impressive. But in his next start, Simon lasted just 4 1/3 innings and gave up 8 runs on 9 hits to the Angels. Blue Jay starter Mark Buehrle has been strong this year with a 13-6 record together with a 3.60 era. But if the starts align just right – who knows. Buehrle has been battered about a bit in his last 2 starts. On August 19 the Phillies got him for 4 runs and 7 hits in only 4 frames. In his next start, Buehrle went 6 against the Rangers who popped him for 5 runs and 7 hits. Toronto and Buehrle opened up a -270 for Sunday’s tilt.
10:10 am Los Angeles Angels at Cleveland Indians
Weaver Tries to Make Angels Relevant Again
When a fly ball that should have been caught fell between Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun last week in Detroit, Weaver exploded in the dugout. That’s not something the Halos have been used to but it did spark the Angels to a win. But Weaver’s outburst hasn ‘t had a lasting effect on the Angels who continue to have problems on the mound, in the field and at the plate. Maybe Weaver will need to explode a second time to get the Angels rolling again before it is too late. Weaver took a 2.08 era into his last start since since coming off the DL. Losers of 13 of their lasts 20, the Angels have scored less than 5 runs in 10 of their last 13. They have only averaged 3.00 runs per game in their last 7. The Halos will be facing Josh Tomlin who will be making his 4th start after missing most of the season with a shoulder injury. Tomlin’s gone 2-1 with a 3.26 era. Tomlin has had some trouble keeping the ball in the park in his last 3 starts giving up a total of 6 round trippers. But Trout and Pujols have done a great job of keeping the ball in the park as of late. Cleveland opened at -125.
10:35 am San Diego Padres at Philadelphia Phillies
Asher Makes First Start for Phils Against Shields
Who is Alec Asher? Asher is the second player the Phils acquired in the trad for Cole Hamels. He makes his big league debut today against the Padres and James Shields. Asher is 23 years old and was drafted in the 2010 Amateur Draft from Lakeland High School then again by Texas in the 4th round of the 2012 draft. In 4 seasons in the Minor Leagues, Asher has gone 28-31 with a 3.53 era. He has been with 3 teams in 2015 in Double-A and Triple-A going 5-6 with a 3.97 era. In Triple-A this season he has averaged 7.3 strikeouts per game and 2.7 walks. One troubling stat is the fact that he gave up 1.5 home runs per 9 innings. Asher will face James Shields who sandwiched one good game between two bad ones in his last 3 starts. In the bad ones he allowed 14 hits and 10 runs in just 12 innings against the Reds and Nats. In- between he went 6 innings and shut out the Braves on 5 hits. Shields threw a season high 121 pitches in his last start. The padres opened as -155 favorites.
11:10 am Houston Astros at Minnesota Twins
Facing Santana May Awaken Dormant Astro Bats
The mighty Astro bats and their 3 run homer barrage has subsided in recent weeks. Other than a 15 run explosion against the NYY, the Astros have not scored more than 6 runs in their last 13 games. Nevertheless they have won 8 of their last 13. Perhaps the bats will awaken Sunday when the Twins send Ervin Santana to the bump. Santana is 2-4 with a 6.05 era. August has been decidedly worse. In 5 starts, Santana’s era has been a lofty 9.12. He only lasted 2 2/3 innings in his last start allowing 5 runs to weak hitting Tampa Bay. In his prior 2 starts he went 13 2/3 innings giving up 15 hits and 9 earned runs. Santana is 1-4 with a 7.28 era in his last 7 games. Left handers are hitting .303 off Santana. Houston opened at -130 on the road.
1:05 pm St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants
Garcia Continues to Sparkle
Jaime Garcia has yet to allow more than 3 earned runs in a start this season. That’s a pretty good formula for victory. Yet Garcia is only 6-4 despite a 1.77 era, second only to Zack Greinke. Garcia has gone at least 6 innings in 12 of his 13 starts. Remarkably consistent, Garcia is 4-1 with a 1.77 era in his last 7 starts and 6-4 with a 1.77 era in his last 15 starts. He faced the Giants on August 19 and gave up 3 runs on 7 hits. He is even better on the road where he is 3-2 with a 1.35 era. Daytime is also kind to Garcia where his era is only 1.50 but his record is 0-1. Garcia has gone 3-0 in August with a 1.38 era. Lefties are hitting just .229 off him while the right siders are struggling at .191. Oddly, though at bats are limited, 8 Giants are hitting .313 or better against Garcia. Garcia opened as the -110 chalk against Chris Heston who was just recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to replace Matt Cain in the Giant rotation.