The day starts with a great pitching match-up as Chris Sale leads the White Sox against Justin Verlander and the Tigers. Sale’s strikeout rate dropped quite a bit from 2015, but it’s so good he still yields very few hits. Verlander raised his K rate back up, making him a dominating pitcher once again.

Just a few minutes later, the Rays and Red Sox kick off with Drew Smyly facing Steven Wright. Smyly gets hammered by home runs. Fourteen of the twenty seven he allowed came with men on base, despite a good OBP allowed. Seven of the ten home runs Wright allowed came in Boston, where his ERA stands at 4.30.

Game number three of the afternoon see King Felix Hernandez taking on Texas as Martin Perez hurls for the Rangers. Hernandez has not lost a game since returning from the disabled list, and the Mariners need this win as they fade in a crowded wild card race. Perez’s high walk rate and low strikeout rate leads to a .340 OBP allowed, but his ability to limit opponents power somewhat limits the damage against him.

The evening festivities begin with Toronto and Baltimore playing the rubber game of their series with Aaron Sanchez taking on Yovani Gallardo. Sanchez is supposed to be on an innings limit, but winning now often trumps the future. He is 7-1 on the road with a 2.70 ERA. Gallardo comes into the game with a 5.69 ERA, but 3.69 in Baltimore. He’s only thrown 39 innings at home, however.

The best NL match-up of the day pits Ryan Vogelsong of the Pirates against Jason Hammel of the Cubs. Vogelsong owns a 2.25 ERA in his seven starts, compared to 4.91 out of the bullpen. Hammel owns a 2.31 ERA against the Pirates in two starts this season.

Enjoy!