Follow me on Twitter: @14AdotWalsh
To view today’s notes in a Microsoft Word file with color codings (much easier) download the link below:
New York Yankees (Luis Severino- R) @ Boston Red Sox (Rick Porcello- R)
SEVERINO:
+ Looked outstanding in his last 2 starts with 21 Ks in 15 innings
+ Does have a 35.2% strikeout rate against current members of the Red Sox
– However, the Red Sox have struck out the fewest in the majors so far this season
YANKEES OFFENSE:
* Notable BvP against Porcello:
+ Brett Gardner: 11-for-33 (3 2B, HR, 6 Ks)
+ Jacoby Ellsbury: 12-for-31 (2 2B, 4 HR, 3 BB, 3 Ks)
+ Chase Headley: 7-for-19 (3 2B, HR, 4 Ks)
+ Starlin Castro: 4-for-13 (2B)
+ Matt Holliday: 3-for-8 (2B)
– Aaron Hicks: 4-for-18 (2 HR, 3 BB, 4 Ks)
– Greg Bird: 0-for-6 (3 Ks)
– Chris Carter: 0-for-6 (1 Ks)
PORCELLO:
+ Got back on track last time out @ TOR after a couple bad starts. He went 7 innings, gave up 6 hits and a walk but allowed 3 unearned runs and got the loss subsequently.
RED SOX OFFENSE:
+ RHBs have had more success against Severino so far this season
* Notable BvP numbers against Severino:
+ Dustin Pedroia: 3-for-7 (2 2B, HR)
+ Jackie Bradley Jr: 2-for-6 (3 Ks)
+ Andrew Benintendi: 2-for-2 (2B, BB)
***7-for-16 with 2 BB in his last 4 games***
– Hanley Ramirez: 1-for-8 (2B, 4 Ks)
Tampa Bay Rays (Alex Cobb- R) @ Baltimore Orioles (Dylan Bundy- R)
COBB:
– Rough start for Cobb this season: 1-2 with 4.88 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He’s allowed 26 hits, 12 ER and 4 HR in the last 18.1 innings.
RAYS OFFENSE:
+ Kevin Kiermaier, Evan Longoria and Brad Miller are all 2-for-5 against Bundy with a HR
BUNDY:
+ Bundy has been remarkable this season at 3-1 with a 1.37 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. He hasn’t allowed an ER in the last 2 starts and has yet to allow a HR at all this season.
ORIOLES OFFENSE:
* Have not fared well against Cobb:
– Adam Jones: 6-for-23 (all singles, 7 Ks)
– Chris Davis: 2-for-16 (3B, 4 BB, 6 Ks)
– Manny Machado: 1-for-15 (HR, 2 Ks)
– Seth Smith: 2-for-11 (2 BB, 2 Ks)
* Some have, though:
+ JJ Hardy: 6-for-19 (3 BB, 3 Ks)
+ Mark Trumbo: 4-for-10 (2 2B, 3 Ks)
***4-for-26 with 8 Ks over the last week***
Miami Marlins (Wei-Yin Chen- L) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Vince Velasquez- R)
CHEN:
+ Threw a no-hitter last time out but was removed from the game after the seventh inning
+ 1.06 WHIP in 16 innings so far this season
MARLINS OFFENSE:
* Not much history against Velasquez:
+ Martin Prado: 3-for-9 (2 2B)
+ Christian Yelich: 3-for-8 (3B, 2 HR)
– Derek Dietrich: 1-for-9 (3 Ks)
– Giancarlo Stanton: 0-for-6 (2 BB, 3 Ks)
***He is hot right now being 9-for-17 with 4 HRs in his last 4 games***
VELASQUEZ:
+ Finally came away with a quality start last time @ NYM, but only 2 Ks in 6 innings
+ 1-0, 2.50 ERA in last 3 starts vs MIA
PHILLIES OFFENSE:
+ Aaron Altherr: 10-for-25 (4 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 8 R, 2 SB) during his current 7-game hitting streak
* Notable BvP numbers against Chen:
+ Daniel Nava: 7-for-17 (HR, 5 Ks)
+ Freddy Galvis: 5-for-12 (2B)
+ Cesar Hernandez: 5-for-12 (2 2B)
+ Odubel Herrera: 3-for-6
+ Tommy Joseph: 3-for-6 (HR)
– Michael Saunders: 3-for-11 (2B, 4 Ks)
Chicago Cubs (Jon Lester- L) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (Tyler Glasnow- R)
LESTER:
+ Great outing last time out vs PIT: allowed 3 H/2 BB, 0 R and had 3 Ks in 7 innings (ND). 4-2 with a 2.64 ERA from 2014-16 vs PIT.
+ Has thrown 100 or more pitches in all four starts this season.
– Has not factored into a decision yet, but does have 2 quality starts in 4 tries. Last start, however, did not go well @ CIN: 5.2 IP, 9 H/2 BB, 5 ER/1 HR, 4 Ks- 108 pitches.
CUBS OFFENSE:
+ Only one matchup against Glasnow, but Kris Bryant (HR) and Addison Russell (2B, 3B) had the most success against him. Bryant, Russell and Miguel Montero have been the hottest Cubs bats lately.
GLASNOW:
– 0-1, 7.94 ERA and 2.29 WHIP to start the season, no quality starts in 3 tries – 10 ER, 9 BB in 11 IP.
PIRATES OFFENSE:
+ RUN RUN RUN every time Lester is on the mound. Josh Harrison is the only one really getting on base for the Pirates currently.
***Notable BvP numbers against Lester:
+ David Freese: 5-for-16 (all singles, 4 BB, 6 Ks)
+ Jordy Mercer: 4-for-15 (2 2B, HR)
– Francisco Cervelli: 5-for-23 (all singles, 2 BB, 4 Ks)
– Josh Harrison: 4-for-21 (all singles, 3 Ks)
– Andrew McCutchen: 5-for-26 (3B, HR, 5 Ks)
Seattle Mariners (James Paxton- L) @ Detroit Tigers (Daniel Norris- L)
***WINDS BLOWING IN FROM CENTER FIELD AT AROUND 10 MPH TONIGHT***
PAXTON:
+ Was on a roll at 2-0 and a 0.00 ERA in his first 3 starts
– Howevahhhhh, last start @ OAK was a disaster: 4.1 IP, 9 H/1 BB, 5 ER, 8 Ks- 91 pitches (ND)
– 1-1, 3.29 ERA in last 2 starts vs DET: 13.2 IP, 16 H/4 BB, 5 ER, 7 K – .296 opp avg (both at Comerica Park)
MARINERS OFFENSE:
– None of the current Mariners have more than 8 plate appearances vs Norris: Robinson Cano (3-for-8, 2 2B, 3 Ks), Kyle Seager (0-for-5), Nelson Cruz (3-for-4, 3B, HR).
NORRIS:
– 1-1, 3.71 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 3 starts – 2 bad (vs BOS, @TB), 1 good (@CLE)
– No decisions in last 3 starts vs SEA: 1.35 WHIP, 6 ER, 3 HR, .269 opp avg in 13.1 innings
* Reverse home/road splits from 2014-16:
– Home: 1-4, 4.53 ERA – .278 opp avg
+ Road: 6-0, 2.99 ERA – .233 opp avg
+ Just posted massive numbers yesterday, can they do it again?
– None of the current (or healthy) Tigers have faced Paxton more than 10 times: Victor Martinez (2-for-8, 2B, 2 BB), Ian Kinsler (2-for-7), Nick Castellanos (2-for-6, 2B), Justin Upton (1-for-6, 3 Ks).
Atlanta Braves (Julio Teheran- R) @ New York Mets (Noah Syndergaard- R)
TEHERAN:
+ Teheran has owned the Mets over the course of his career, and he tossed a gem against them on Opening Day: 6 IP, 4 H/3 BB, 6 Ks (no decision).
BRAVES OFFENSE:
+ RHBs are hitting Gsellman much better because his two-seamer is left out over the plate too much and they’re taking advantage of it. Matt Kemp is 5-for-8 (3 2B, 2 HR) in his last 2 games at Citi Field, Brandon Phillips is 8-for-20 (2 2B, HR, 2 R) in his last 5 games and either Tyler Flowers or Kurt Suzuki could be an interesting way to go for GPPs.
– Ender Inciarte is really struggling after a hot start. He’s 2-for-21 with 5 Ks in his last 5 games.
GSELLMAN:
– He’s got strikeout potential but I’m not too enamored with him tonight starting
METS OFFENSE:
+ Asdrubal Cabrera (6-for-15, 2 2B) is the only one with any kind of success against Teheran. The rest of the Mets have abysmal numbers against him.
Minnesota Twins (Hector Santiago- L) @ Texas Rangers (Cole Hamels- L)
***WINDS BLOWING OUT TO CENTER FIELD AT ABOUT 7-13 MPH TONIGHT***
SANTIAGO:
+ 2-1 with a 2.19 ERA and 0.97 WHIP
+ The Newark, NJ native goes for his fourth QS in as many tries- also has 6 Ks in each of his last 2 starts. Opposing teams have only scored 9 runs in his 4 starts.
– Lots of experience facing this Rangers team over the last 3 seasons: 6-4, 4.40 ERA
TWINS OFFENSE:
– LHBs are only hitting 1-for-16 (.063) against Hamels this season.
* Not a whole lot of history for these current players against Hamels: Joe Mauer (0-for-12, 3 Ks), Brian Dozier (3-for-9, 2B, 3B, 2 BB, 3 Ks) and Miguel Sano (2-for-3, HR, 3 BB) are the only ones worth mentioning.
HAMELS:
+ Just like his counterpart, Hamels has 3 QS in 4 attempts. 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA and 1.04 WHIP.
– Unfortunately, the strikeouts haven’t been there: only 14 in 26 innings so far
– Not many great outings vs MIN over the last 3 seasons: 0-1, 10.80 ERA in 2 starts. In those starts, Hamels has allowed 15 H, 9 BB, 10 ER in 8.1 innings.
RANGERS OFFENSE:
* Lots of BvP numbers against Santiago:
+ Rougned Odor: 11-for-23 (3 2B, 2 BB, 3 Ks)
+ Ryan Rua: 6-for-13 (2B, HR)
+ Nomar Mazara: 2-for-6 (HR)
– Elvis Andrus: 6-for-33 (2B, 7 BB, 4 Ks)
– Shin-Soo Choo: 6-for-32 (HR, 4 BB, 7 Ks)
– Mike Napoli: 3-for-17 (2B, HR, 13 BB, 7 Ks)
– Robinson Chirinos: 2-for-9 (2B, HR, 3 Ks)
***Does have 3 HR in last 3 games***
Washington Nationals (Tanner Roark- R) @ Colorado Rockies (Tyler Chatwood- R)
ROARK:
+ 3 quality starts in 4 tries this season: 2-0 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.05 WHIP
+ At least 97 pitches in all 4 starts
– Did allow 2 HR in his last start against the Mets
NATIONALS OFFENSE:
* Not much history for the current Nationals against Chatwood: Daniel Murphy (1-for-8, 2 Ks) and Adam Eaton (2-for-6, 2B) have seen him the most.
CHATWOOD:
+ 2-2 with a 4.10 ERA and 1.18 WHIP
ROCKIES OFFENSE:
+ Second in the majors with 31 HR
+ RHBs were much better against Roark last season, but things have normalized this season
+ Charlie Blackmon is 10-for-24 (2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 8 R) over the last week, while Mark Reynolds (8-for-22, 2 2B, 3 HR and 9 RBI), Gerardo Parra (6-for-21, 2 HR, 6 R) and Tony Wolters (8-for-15, 2 2B) have all crushed it as well.
* Not much history for the current Rockies against Roark, but Gerardo Parra is 4-for-10 with a double and a HR against the Nationals righty.
San Diego Padres (Trevor Cahill- R) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (Taijuan Walker- R)
CAHILL:
+ Somehow goes out and pitches a gem vs MIA last time out: 7 IP, 3 H/1 BB, 1 ER (via HR), 6 Ks
+ Hasn’t been terrible this season: 1-2 with a 3.44 ERA and 1.04 WHIP
PADRES OFFENSE:
+ Corey Spangenberg just got called back up from AAA. He was crushing it down there, I like him a lot tonight but he’s not available on FanDuel (sad face emoji). I’m also interested to see how Ryan Schimpf responds to this move. After all, it’s because of him why Spangenberg was called up.
WALKER:
+ Could be a decent GPP arm tonight, he does have at least 6 strikeouts in 3 of 4 starts
– Hasn’t had a quality start yet, but he’s also faced the Dodgers and Giants twice- not exactly the greatest matchup for a right-hander.
DIAMONDBACKS OFFENSE:
+ These guys are scorching hot right now- 42 runs over the last 5 games, including 16 in the first 2 games of this series.
– Not much history at all for these current D-Backs against Cahill
Oakland A’s (Sean Manaea- L) @ Los Angeles Angels (Matt Shoemaker- R)
MANAEA:
+ Intriguing numbers to start the season: 26 Ks in 22.1 IP with a 1.12 WHIP to go along with it. He’s also had more outs on the ground than the air in all 4 starts.
+ Only allowed 1 ER in each of the last 2 starts, 6 Ks in both as well.
– Faced the Angels in his season debut: 6 IP, 5 H/2 BB, 4 ER, 4 Ks.
– 4.43 ERA is a bit high and he’s allowed 14 BB in those 22.1 IP.
A’S OFFENSE:
* Not many current A’s have fared well against Shoemaker:
– Stephen Vogt: 3-for-25 (2 HR, 3 BB, 8 Ks)
– Marcus Semien: 5-for-18 (2 2B, HR, 4 BB, 6 Ks)
– Rajai Davis: 2-for-10 (all singles, 2 Ks)
– Trevor Plouffe: 0-for-8
+ Khris Davis has done well against Shoemaker in the short term, though, with 2 HR in 7 at-bats but also 4 Ks. Matt Joyce is also 3-for-8 with a 2B against Shoemaker.
SHOEMAKER:
+ Rough start to 2017 for Shoemaker, but he was great in his last start @ HOU: 7 IP, 3 H/2 BB, 2 ER (via 2 HR), 7 Ks…and somehow, he still took the loss.
+ Faced the A’s earlier this season: 5 IP, 4 H/3 BB, 2 ER (1 HR), 4 Ks – no decision. He was 4-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 10 appearances (9 starts) against the A’s over the last 3 seasons.
ANGELS OFFENSE:
– None of the current Angels have more than 9 plate appearances against Manaea, but there are more than a few of them: Mike Trout (4-for-7, 3B, HR, 2 BB), Andrelton Simmons (2-for-9), Albert Pujols (0-for-9), Yunel Escobar (2-for-8), Jefry Marte (1-for-8, HR, 3 Ks), Kole Calhoun (1-for-7, 2 Ks) and Cameron Maybin (2-for-5, 2B) all have some experience against him.
Los Angeles Dodgers (Alex Wood- L) @ San Francisco Giants (Johnny Cueto- R)
***WINDS BLOWING OUT TO RIGHT-CENTER FIELD AT 11-12 MPH TONIGHT***
WOOD:
– Split time between the bullpen/rotation so far this season. Probably will only have a max of 5 innings in this one, but it’s not like we were thinking about rostering Wood anyway.
DODGERS OFFENSE:
* Lots of history for these current Dodgers against Cueto:
+ Chase Utley: 11-for-34 (2B, HR, only 4 Ks)
+ Justin Turner: 7-for-21 (2 2B, HR, only 2 Ks)
+ Corey Seager: 6-for-17 (2B, 4 Ks)
– Adrian Gonzalez: 7-for-27 (2B, HR, only 3 Ks)
– Yasmani Grandal: 4-for-15 (2B, 4 Ks)
– Joc Pederson: 1-for-13 (6 Ks)
– Yasiel Puig: 0-for-7 (5 Ks)
CUETO:
+ 4-2, 2.15 ERA in last 7 starts against the Dodgers with 50 Ks in 46 innings
– Cueto’s 5.25 ERA looks terrible right now but 10 of his 14 ER came at Chase Field and Coors Field.
GIANTS OFFENSE:
+ Wood hasn’t fared well against these guys, especially two of the biggest Giants bats: Buster Posey (4-for-7, 2 2B) and Hunter Pence (3-for-6, 2B, 2 BB).
– Brandon Crawford left last night’s game with an injury. Aaron Hill is also injured so it’ll likely be Eduardo Nunez taking over at shortstop.