With the exception of the Cardinals-Braves double header, all games today begin at 3:00 PM EDT (12 PDT), so the outcome of an earlier game won’t effect the use of pitchers in a later game.
The Yankees try once again to clinch home field in the wild card game as Michael Pineda takes on the Orioles and Chris Tillman. Pineda’s ERA is about 0.65 runs better on the road, where he walks fewer batters and gives up fewer home runs. He owns a 5.70 ERA against Baltimore despite four walks and 32 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings. He allowed 30 hits, four of them home runs. Tillman pitched poorly down the stretch, giving up 39 runs in 54 innings since Aug. 1.
Garrett Richards and Cole Hamels square off in the most important game of the day, as the Angels try to stay alive and Texas tries to win the AL West Championship outright. Richards had mixed results against Texas this season. On one hand, he walked nine and struck out just 12 in 20 2/3 innings against the Rangers. On the other, he did not allow a home run, and wound up 3-0 with a 2.18 ERA. Hamels has a great record but a high ERA since joining the Rangers, 6-1, 3.86. He solidify the starting rotation.
The Pirates appear to have a good chance of clinching home field in the wild card game as the Reds send Josh Smith to the mound. In his rookie season, he is 0-3 with a 7.22 ERA. He strikes out lots of batters, but issued 21 walks in 28 2/3 innings. J.A. Happ, with a 2.04 since joining the Pirates, will try to shut down a weak Reds team.
The Cubs need a Pirates loss, and send Dan Haren against rookie Jorge Lopez in Milwaukee. Haren owns a 4.30 ERA with the Cubs. Lopez is making his second MLB start at age 22.
Clayton Kershaw needs six strikeouts against the Padres to reach 300 K for the season.
Finally, Lance McCullers tries to pitcher Houston into the playoffs as he takes on Robbie Ray and the Arizona Diamondbacks. McCullers 6-7 record should be better given his 3.21 ERA. Fourteen times the Astros scored three runs or less in his 21 starts, including the last five in a row. Ray suffered a similar fate, with a 5-12 record and a 3.50 ERA. Arizona scored three runs or less in 13 of his 22 starts.
Enjoy!