One of the strangest games in baseball occurred yesterday. Rich Hill-Of the L.A. Dodgers- threw a no hitter…but did he? He threw 9 no hit innings, however it wasn’t classified as a no hitter because there was no decision after nine. The red hot Dodgers have to feel terrible for not showing any run support, that has to be a tough pill to swallow for Rich Hill. To top it off he got the loss as he went out there for 10th inning and let up a home run on the first batter. You have to respect the hustle of new out fielder Curtis Grandson as he ran full force into the wall trying to catch that home run-he almost had it too.
It’s Sale Day and we have a small slate of games as we head into a weekend stretch.
Low-Scoring Plays
Washington Nationals @ Houston Astros- This game looks to be the pitching matchup of the day. Steven Strasburg who is coming off the DL will have a rested arm. The Astros are the top team in the American League but they haven’t been making noise lately but are a great team. Dallas Keuchel gets the call for the Astros who are not the same team with out Harper. Don’t get me wrong both teams are great and can win it all this year but I love both pitchers in this matchup.
Targets: Strasburg, Keuchel
Chicago Cubs @ Cincinnati Reds-Jake Arrieta gets the call for the Cubs who has turned this season around this year. The Reds aren’t a great team, so Arrieta should be able to shine in this one. He has held the Reds to a collective average of .205 throughout their careers. In 146 at bats he has surrender 3 home runs to the Reds, while striking out 33. This game shapes up well for the Cubs and Arrieta.
Targets: Arrieta, Rizzo
High-Scoring Plays
Boston Red Sox @ Cleveland Indians- This could be the pitching matchup of the day, but I don’t think it will happen. The Red Sox have been shutting down the Indians, allowing 4 hits over the past 2 games. You would think that Sale would come out and dominate as well but the Indians are too good of a team to let this happen again. Sale usually tails off at this part of the season. I like the Indians here, Encarnacion is killing Boston this year and Sale does give up a home run or two a start. I think the Indians get to him in this game.
Targets: Encarnacion, Lindor, Napoli
New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers- Gary Sanchez has been one of the hottest player in baseball. He is bashing the ball left and right and just destroying the Tigers. They need to sweep the Tigers and head into the weekend series with Boston. Aaron Judge is a play that I love today. Like I said yesterday, I think Judge has turned the corner again after breaking his strike out streak. The Yankees put up runs in the past two games, I like him to score as well.
Targets: Sanchez, Judge
Extra-Innings
Here is a screen shot from Baseball-Reference of Chris Sales Career numbers in the 1st half vs the 2nd half.
His win loss percentage is down a ton, almost 300 points, and his ERA goes from a 2.74 to over a 3. his strike outs are down and has allowed more home runs. Sale has been great this year for Boston, and already won the Cy Young in my eyes. However he has tailed off in the second half particularly this time of year. Maybe it’s different now that he is on a team that could win it all, but I wouldn’t risk it on a pitcher who has proven to not play as well. You have to sacrifice your entire line up to afford Sale, to me it’s not worth it tonight.