Tag Archives: Rich Hill

May 23, 2016

Games of the Day

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The Mets and Nationals start their second series of the season, this time in Washington, as Bartolo Colon faces Gio Gonzalez. Despite allowing six home runs in 48 innings, Colon has not allowed much power this season. Only 13 of his 51 hits allowed went for extra bases, good for an opposition .413 slugging percentage. Gonzalez pitched even better in that regard, with one double, one triple and three home runs allowed in his 48 1/3 innings. Opponents are slugging a mere .289 against him.

The Cubs visit St. Louis with John Lackey taking on Adam Wainwright. Lackey is blowing away hitters once again with 52 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings. He has allowed a 4.74 ERA on the road. Wainwright allowed five home runs this year, a high rate for him. All of those came on the road, however. That doesn’t mean he’s pitching well at home. He owns a 4.81 ERA in St. Louis this season.

The wounded Oakland Athletics trail the Mariners by eight games as they open a series in Seattle. Rich Hill faces Taijuan Walker. Hill serves as the Oakland ace this season, as they have used seven different starters and just put Sonny Gray on the disabled list. Hill walked a few too many batters this season but makes up for it with an excellent K rate and a very low home run rate. Walker is just 2-3 despite a 2.95 ERA and playing for a first-place team. He doesn’t go deep, and the Mariners have not provided much run support.

Brandon Finnegan tries to break Cincinnati’s seven game losing streak. It’s a tough assignment, as he faces Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers. Finnegan doesn’t allow many hits, but does allow a ton of base runners due to walks. Five of the nine home runs he allowed came with men on base, which is why his ERA is high despite a .196 BA allowed with runners in scoring position. Kershaw walked just four batters this season. Since the start of 2014, he ranks third in the majors in lowest walk rate.

Finally, Drew Pomeranz and Johnny Cueto battle as the Padres take on the Giants. Pomeranz earned a decision in all eight of his starts, but he is 4-4 with 1.96 ERA. In three of his starts, the Padres scored a combined 28 runs. In the other five starts, they combined for four runs. Cueto’s 6-1 record goes very well with his 2.70 ERA. His home run rate is way down, having allowed just two in 66 2/3 innings for the Giants.

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May 18, 2016

Games of the Day

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Steven Wright and Ian Kennedy pitch the first game of the Red Sox and Royals double header in Kansas City. Wright is showing great control for a knuckleball pitcher this season, walking just 18 in 45 2/3 innings while striking out 41. Kennedy is just slightly better, with 16 BB and 41 K in 44 1/3 innings.

Oakland tries to gain in the AL West race as Texas sends Martín Pérez against Rich Hill on the west coast. Perez owns a good ERA despite a high walk rate and a low strikeout rate. He holds opponents to a .226 BA and only allowed three home runs. He’s an extreme ground ball pitcher who also limits line drives. The veteran Hill is blowing away batters with 53 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings.

Taijuan Walker and Chris Tillman battle as the Mariners play the Orioles. Walker Tillman own similar ERAs, but Walker sports a 2-2 record while Tillman stands 5-1. The Mariners scored 21 runs in Walker’s seven starts, while the Orioles scored 34 runs in Tillman’s eight starts.

Finally, Johnny Cueto leads the Giants into San Diego to face Drew Pomeranz. Cueto is the poster child for three-true outcomes this season, with 53 K, 10 BB, and just two home runs allowed in 57 2/3 innings. Pomeranz is close, lacking the low walk numbers. His 51 K in 40 innings helped him to a 1.80 ERA.

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October 1, 2015

Games of the Day

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Rookie Sean Gilmartin makes his first major league start for the Mets as they face the Phillies and their rookie Jerad Eickhoff. Gilmartin pitching masterfully out of the bullpen, with one home run allowed, 17 walks, and 51 K in 52 1/3 innings. I also wonder how many people in his life thought his name was Gill Martin. Eickhoff owns a 3.07 ERA in seven starts, already averaging better than six innings a start. Don’t be too taken by him, however, as he’s already 24 years old.

Rich Hill tries to extend his amazing short-season performance as the Red Sox once again try to stop the Yankees from clinching a wild card. CC Sabathia takes the mound for New York. Hill walked 2 and struck out 30 in three starts, allowing just three runs. Sabathia owns a 2.25 ERA since employing a new knee brace.

Finally, the Angels send Andrew Heaney against the Rangers and Derek Holland, the Angels needing to sweep the Rangers to have a chance at an AL West championship. Heaney pitched well on the road this year, 3-1 with a 2.23 ERA. He allowed just two of his nine home runs away from Anaheim. Holland pitched well when he first returned from the disabled list, but his last four starts were poor. He walked 11 and struck out 10 in 22 innings, allowing five home runs. That’s about as bad as you can get in terms of three-true outcomes.

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September 25, 2015

The Amazing Rich Hill

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Rich Hill continues to baffle hitters, pitching a two-hit shutout against the Orioles as Boston wins a laugher 7-0. Hill walked one and struck out 10, lowering his ERA to 1.17 and his batting average allowed to .127. He struck out ten batters in each of his three starts, walking just two. He’s like Bob Gibson‘s 1968 season compressed into three starts. While Hill always had a high K rate, he never showed this kind of control before. At age 35 he discovered something, and if he can keep it up he’ll make a nice piece of change next season.

September 13, 2015

One Hitter

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The Red Sox just finished nine innings of one-hit ball against the Rays. Rich Hill, making his 2015 debut, was fooling Rays batters with his 9-3 curve ball. He struck out 10 in seven innings of work. The bullpen added two perfect innings with two strikeouts.

That Red Sox have not won, however. Drew Smyly struck out 11 in six innings, and the Rays bullpen shut down the Red Sox as well. The teams are playing the top of the tenth inning with neither side scoring yet.

Update: The Red Sox win 2-0 in 13 innings, allowing just three hits.

June 1, 2011