Tag Archives: AJ Smith-Shawver

May 28, 2025

Games of the Day

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Pablo Lopez faces Drew Rasmussen as the Twins and Rays finish their series in Tampa. Lopez is on his way to the best season of his career with a 2.31 ERA. He continued a three-year decline in his walk rate, and enhanced that with fewer balls leaving the park. Rasmussen is in his fifth straight season with an ERA under 3.00, although this is the first time he topped 50 innings since 2022. He allowed just a dozen walks in 52 innings.

Shane Smith leads the White Sox against the Mets and Griffin Canning. The rookie Smith owns a 2.36 ERA in 53 1/3 innings, but also allowed seven unearned runs. His strong suit comes from limiting home runs, just three allowed this season. Canning likes to get in batters kitchens, with 47 K and just 45 hits allowed in 50 innings.

The Braves battle the Phillies with AJ Smith-Shawver taking on Zack Wheeler. AJ Smith-Shawver brings a low home run rate against a good home run hitting team. Wheeler continues to dominate the Bill James Pitcher Rankings, with a 45 point lead over Tarik Skubal. Wheeler consistently goes deep in games with low walk and home run rates over the last four+ seasons.

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May 10, 2025

Games of the Day

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The Yankees at the Athletics feature two pitchers with similar ERAs. Carlos Rodon with a 2.96 ERA faces JP Sears with a 2.93 ERA. Rodon may think his 25 hits allowed in 48 2/3 innings helped get his ERA under three. His K per 9 at 10.54 is the highest in a season since joining New York. Sears catalog of successes include 34 hits and just six walks in 40 innings of work.

The Pirates try to make it two wins in a row under new manager Don Kelly as AJ Smith-Shawver takes on Andrew Heaney. Smith-Shawver allows batters to reach base at a good clip, but limits the power that might drive them home. Heaney limits batters to a .286 OBP, helping him to a 3.18 ERA.

Jacob deGrom and the Rangers take another shot at the red hot Tigers and Jack Flaherty. deGrom’s K rate is down this season, but that just means his ERA is low, instead of astronomically low. Flaherty is pitching better than his ERA, with his xFIP about 0.7 runs lower than his ERA.

Finally, Logan Webb of the Giants battles Joe Ryan of the Twins in Minnesota. Webb blows away batters, with 56 K in 48 1/3 innings, allowing just one home run. Ryan struck out 47 in 40 innings, so expect a lot of breezes at Target Field this evening.

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May 5, 2025

Hyphenated No-No

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AJ Smith-Shawver of the Braves just completed six no-hit innings against the Reds. He walked four and struck out four, with 80 pitches thrown. The Braves lead 4-0. This is his first game in 10 MLB starts that he completed six innings. If he continues to no-hit the Reds, I suspect a reliever will come in before he is finished.

Update: Smith-Shawver retires the side in order in the seventh. Tyler Stephenson hit a hard line drive, but it was right at Braves shortstop Nick Allen who made the catch. Smith-Shawver is now at 91 pitches.

Update: Santiago Espinal grounds a single up the middle leading off the eighth inning, ending the no-hitter. The Braves still lead 4-0.

October 11, 2023

Playoffs Today

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The Braves and Phillies kick off the action at 5 PM EDT in Philadelphia as AJ Smith-Shawver faces Aaron Nola. Smith-Shawver is the first players with a hyphenated name to start a post-season game. The rookie pitched 25 1/3 innings in six appearances covering five starts, allowing seven home runs and eleven walks. Nola pitched well against the Braves in his career, 15-10 in 33 starts with a 3.40 ERA. Last year, he shutout the Braves for six innings in the NLDS.

Jose Urquidy takes on Joe Ryan as the Astros take their first of two chances to advance to the ALCS. This has the makings of a slugfest as Urquidy allowed eleven home runs in 63 innings this season, while Ryan posted the fourth highest HR/9 IP in the majors. The game kicks off at 7 PM EDT

Finally, at 9 PM EDT, the Diamondbacks get a chance to play at home in the post-season, and they can celebrate in front of their fans with a win over the Dodgers. Lance Lynn battles rookie Brandon Pfaadt. This could be another game dominated by the offenses, as Lynn ranked at the top of the home run list linked above, and Pfaadt 22 dingers in 96 innings. Lynn owns a less than stellar post-season record with a 5.28 ERA, mostly in relief.

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June 9, 2023

Games of the Day

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The Astros send Cristian Javier to the mound in Cleveland against Logan Allen. Javier improved his walk rate for the second season in a row, although it seems he brought now his strikeout rate a bit. His WHIP remains below one, however. Allen, in his rookie season, allowed opponents a .189/.286/243 slash line with runners in scoring position. With a OBP allowed much higher than his BA allowed, Allen may be pitching around tough hitters in that situaiton.

Josiah Gray of the Nationals faces AJ Smith-Shawver of the Braves. Gray pitched better on the road this season due to limiting opponents power. They slug .433 against him at home, .365 on the road. The Braves rookie makes his first start after one relief appearance. Sporting both pretentious initials and a hyphenated last name, Smith-Shawver blew away batters in the minors. At seasonal age 20, he played for three levels this season and appeared to get his walks under control.

Finally, Luis Castillo leads the Mariners against the Angels and Shohei Ohtani. Castillo walked just sixteen batters in 70 2/3 innings while striking out 82. That helped him to a 2.55 ERA. Ohtani came into the day with a 3.30 ERA, up a bit from his stellar 2022. The difference is home runs allowed. He gave up ten dingers this season in 71 innings, having allowed 29 the previous two season in 296 1/3 innings.

Enjoy!