First place teams collide in Cleveland as the Rangers and Colby Lewis take on the Indians and Jeanmar Gomez. Lewis posted a great walk rate in 2011, issuing a free pass about every four innings. He halved that so far this season with just four walks in 32 2/3 innings. Gomez comes off his five game suspension with three walks and 13 K in 15 1/3 innings. He’s dominating left-handed batters, with a .185/.214/.222 against them.

The White Sox and Tigers battle in Detroit with veteran Jake Peavy facing rookie Drew Smyly. Peavy returned to his form of the mid aughties this season. He’s in total control with 33 K and just five walks in 37 2/3 innings. Jake holds the opposition to a .197 OBP. Smyly is making a good case to stay in the rotation even when Doug Fister returns. Three of the four runs scored against him came on solo home runs.

Washington leads the fourth place Phillies by 3 1/2 games as the teams open a weekend series in Washington. Kyle Kendrick takes the mound against Stephen Strasburg. Kendrick gets hit often and hard this season, with a .351 BA allowed and a .561 slugging percentage against. His two homers allowed were both solo shots, however. Strasburg plays with Bryce Harper for the first time at home. Strasburg for his career now has 150 K and just 25 walks. He has not allowed a home run since returning from Tommy John surgery, 56 innings. Harper hit four doubles in five games. We’ll see if Bryce hits the ball out of the park before Stephen gives one up.

Finally, the two pitchers who changed the way writers vote for Cy Young square off in San Francisco as Zack Greinke and the Brewers take on Tim Lincecum. Like 2011, Zack’s stats are better than his ERA. His ERA stands at 3.94, but his home run rate especially harkens back to his Cy Young season of 2009. Tim’s ERA stands at 5.74 as for the first time in his career he’s allowing more hits than innings pitched. Batters hit more line drives against him this season and fewer fly balls. It seems that some of the pitches batters used to get under are now resulting in solid contact.

Enjoy!

Correction: Added “at home” to the Strasburg/Harper comment.