David Price goes for his 14th victory of the season as the Rays host the Tigers and Rick Porcello. Rick is a good example of how pitchers can swing around a mean. His strikeout and walk rates are about the same as in 2009, and his home run rate is a bit better. His FIPs are nearly identical, 4.77 in 2009, 4.64 this season. Last year, good luck brought his ERA down to 3.96, while bad luck this season pushed it up to 5.55. Over his career, his ERA is just slightly better than his FIP. Price is also posting improved three-true outcomes from last season, but his ERA fell more than expected. That may be why his ERA has been on the rise lately.

Ubaldo Jimenez tries to stop Colorado’s eight game losing streak as he takes on the Pirates and Paul Maholm in Denver. The Rockies only scored 17 runs during this streak, and no more than four in a game. Maholm, with a low strikeout and walk rate allows lots of balls in play, and that should help the Rockies find some holes for hits. Jimenez is trying to salvage a poor July in which he has posted a 7.59 ERA. Wildness hurt him as he walked 15 in 21 1/3 innings of work.

The Marlins go for a split of their four game series with the Giants as Anibal Sanchez faces Madison Bumgarner. The road proved difficult for Anibal this season as he allowed a .308 BA there so far. Bumgarner makes just his second start of the season at AT&T Park. He gave up two home runs in seven innings of work in his first start there against Boston.

The Dodgers and Padres play the rubber game of their series at PETCO park with Vicente Padilla visiting Mat Latos. Padilla holds an excellent four to one strikeout to walk ratio, but tends to give up the long ball. Pitching in San Diego should help that. Latos tries to put the finishing touches on an excellent July in which he allowed just two runs in 21 innings, both coming on solo home runs. He walked four and struck out 22 over that time.

Finally, the Athletics send Vin Mazzaro against the Rangers and C.J. Wilson as Oakland tries to stay close in the AL West. Mazzaro’s strikeout and walk numbers were close to parity his first two months of the season, but in July he’s struck out 22 while walking eight and posted a 2.25 ERA. Wilson is surviving his high walk total due to his OBP (.306) allowed being higher than his slugging percentage allowed (.297).

Enjoy!