The Yankees at the Cubs offers an excellent early pitching matchup as Clarke Schmidt takes on Javier Assad. Schmidt makes his first start since May. He returns to the rotation with a 2.52 ERA in eleven starts. He allowed seven hits and struck out 18 in 11 1/3 rehab innings. Assad owns a 3.21 ERA in 120 innings. He pitched consistently well in his short MLB career, with a 14-9 record and 3.13 ERA in 273 innings.

The Royals are now 1/2 game ahead of the Twins for the second AL wild card slot as they host Minnesota for the second game of their weekend series. Bailey Ober faces Alec Marsh. The Royals hit Ober hard this year, scoring 14 runs in 6 1/3 innings in two starts. That includes six of the 22 home runs Ober allowed. I guess it’s Ober and out when he faces Kansas City. Marsh is a little better, with a 5.51 ERA in two career starts against the Twins. He allowed three home runs in twelve innings.

Finally, Logan Webb of the Giants takes on Dylan Cease of the Padres. Both pitchers own records just over .500 despite good ERAs. Webb uses low walk and home run rates to compensate for his low K rate, while Cease uses a very high K rate to compensate for his middling walk and HR rates.

Enjoy!