Texas and Baltimore are each chasing the lead team in their divisons, and each other for wild card slots as the teams meet Monday night. Derek Holland faces recently acquired Scott Feldman. Holland reduced his home run rate by one per nine innings compared to last season. Coupled with an improved walk and strikeout rate, Holland’s ERA is down over 1.5 runs to an excellent 3.13. Feldman pitched well in his Orioles debut, recording a quality start as he last six innings with no walks and six K.
Max Scherzer of the Tigers tries to match Roger Clemens‘s 14-0 start in 1986. Clemens was more dominant, espeically with his streak of 10 K games, striking out 51 in four starts and posting a 2.18 ERA. Scherzer’s ERA is higher, but his 139 K in 116 2/3 innings is a better rate than Roger, and his control is just as good. He’ll face the Indians and Scott Kazmir in the finale of their series. Scott has his walks under control, but he seems to have traded control for power, as he allowed 13 home runs in 74 innings.
With a win over the Phillies tonight, Dan Haren can join the club of pitchers with a win against all 30 major league teams. We’ll also see if his visit to the disabled list fixed his arm problems.
Homer Bailey tries for a third career no-hitter Monday night. Photo: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Two first place teams meet in Pittsburgh as the Oakland Athletics send Bartolo Colon against Jeff Locke. Colon gives up home runs on the road, with six of the nine long balls against him coming away from the Coliseum. Locke make his fourth start against an American League team this year. So far, he held the junior circuit to two runs in 19 1/3 innings. His opponents did include Seattle and Houston, but he held Detroit scoreless.
Homer Bailey attempts to become the second Reds pitcher to throw consecutive no-hitters as Cincinnati takes on Kyle Lohse and the Brewers. Homer holds batters to a .225 BA this year, and with no one on that drops to .186. That goes up to .297 with runners on. It’s tough to start a rally against him this year, but easier to maintain one. Lohse walked just five batters in 45 1/3 innings at home this season.
Finally, Matt Harvey tries to remind Tim Lincecum of what Tim used to be as the Mets visit the Giants. Harvey is the type of pitcher who we should expect to throw a no-hitter or a perfect game, as he allows a .194 BA and a .240 OBP. Tim still strikes out a ton of batters, but that no longer leads to a low hit total against him. Tim holds the opposition to low averages at home, but those go up once men get on base. Is it a concentration issue?
Enjoy!