September 30, 2016

Games of the Day

The Mets can clinch a wild card berth with a win against the Phillies and a Cardinals loss. Robert Gsellman takes on Alec Asher. The two have combined for a total of 79 1/3 major league innings. Gsellman posted strong three-true outcome numbers so far, especially his 35 K in 38 2/3 innings with one home run allowed. Asher’s strikeouts are very low, he fixed his home run problem from 2015. He gave up eight home runs in 29 innings last year, none in 21 2/3 innings this year.

The Blue Jays hold the tie-breaker with the Orioles, so as long as they continue to win, they will host the wild card game. Marco Estrada takes on the Red Sox and Rick Porcello in a game threatened by rain. Estrada holds a 4.26 ERA career at Fenway, but his last start there was his best. I wonder if Porcello actually starts this game? If it’s wet and cold, why risk the best pitcher on your team? Winning home field is a long shot now, and with Cleveland’s depleted rotation, I suspect the Red Sox might want to play the Indians rather than the wild card.

Finally, the Dodgers try to push the Giants out of the post-season as Rich Hill faces Madison Bumgarner. In his brief time with the Dodgers, Hill faced the Giants twice and allowed one run in 11 innings. He managed to lose the game with the one run, as the Giants pitched a shutout. Despite striking out 32 Dodgers in 23 innings and walking just three, Bumgarner is 0-2 against the Dodgers this season in four starts with a 3.91 ERA. The Dodgers BABIP is .356 against Bumgarner this season.

Enjoy!

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