Drew Hutchison holds the Yankees to one run on Sunday as Toronto avoids a sweep with a 3-1 victory. Since 7/26/2014, Hutchison allowed six runs in five starts against New York, good for a 1.78 ERA. He allowed just 17 hits in 30 1/3 innings, walking 11 and striking out 30. He allowed five home runs, accounting for all six RBI. The Yankees can’t a long rally going against the Jays starter.
Toronto moves back to 1/2 game out of first place in the AL East.
This games of the day post comes to you live from the Humphrey Bogart terminal outside Minneapolis, MN. (At least, that’s who I think it was named after.)
The Yankees go for a sweep of the Blue Jays as Luis Severino takes on Drew Hutchison. Severino walked one and struck out nine in his first 11 major league innings. Hutchinson cut his home runs allowed this season, but his strikeouts fell as well and his ERA ballooned.
Jeff Locke and Matt Harvey square off as the Pirates finish their series against the Mets. Locke owns a 6.51 ERA on the road, although it’s tough to see what he is doing very differently than at home. His ERA stands at 3.16 in Pittsburgh. Harvery walked just 12 batters in 83 2/3 innings at Citi Field this season.
The Cubs try to extend their winning streak to 10 games as they send Dan Haren against Chris Sale and the White Sox. Haren allowed 12 hits, three of them homers, in 10 1/3 innings for the Cubs. Sale owns a 6.39 ERA since the All-Star break. He’s pitching well in terms of his three-true outcomes, but allowed a ton of hits.
Drew Smyly returns to the Rays rotation against Yovani Gallardo and the Rangers. Smyly struck out 21 in 16 2/3 innings before going on the disabled list in May. Gallardo completed the transition from power to finesse pitcher this year. He only struck out 88 batters in 138 innings, but allowed just 128 hits.
Finally, the Reds try to stop Zack Greinke as they send Anthony DeSclafani to the mound. DeSclafani is hurt by his home park, where allowed eight of his 11 home runs. Going on the road cuts his ERA in half. Greinke comes into the game with a 1.59 ERA in 158 1/3 innings, meaning his likely to reach the ERA qualification for the season today. He is tough against both left and right-handed hittters, with a .196/.267/.267 slash line against lefties, .187/.208/.268 against righties.
Enjoy
Johnny Cueto makes his first start for the Royals as they battle the equally improved Blue Jays and Drew Hutchison. Cueto posted an ERA under 3.00 each season starting in 2011, and in that time only Clayton Kershaw owns a better ERA. Hutchinson is 9-2 despite a 5.42 ERA, as the Blue Jays scored six runs or more in his starts 16 times!
Gio Gonzalez faces Matt Harvey as Washington tries to take advantage of a Mets team in a tailspin. Between the front office, the grounds crew, and the Padres, the Mets had a horrible 36 hours. Gonzalez makes a bid for pitcher of the month with his 1.80 ERA in four starts. He walked six in his last 24 innings. Harvey is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA against the Nationals this season.
The Cubs send Jason Hammel against Milwaukee’s potential rookie of the year candidate Taylor Jungmann. Hammel struck out 71 in 59 2/3 innings on the road this year, much better than his 9 K per 9 IP overall. Jungmann keeps the ball in the park, with just two home runs allowed in 59 innings.
Finally, the battle of LA takes place in Dodger Stadium as the Angels send Hector Santiago against Clayton Kershaw. Santiago owns the better ERA, 2.43 to 2.51. Kershaw has not allowed a run since July 3rd, and struck out 38 batters in his last 26 innings.
Enjoy!
The Blue Jays and Orioles both stand 3-2 in the AL East as Drew Hutchison takes on Chris Tillman. Hutchison makes his ninth start against the Orioles in his short career. He had a great deal of success, going 4-1 with a 2.29 ERA. He struck out 55 in 51 innings, holding the Orioles to just 36 hits. Tillman came up young, at seasonal age 21, and his first three seasons proved to be a learning experience. Since then he cut down on his walks allowed, increased his strikeout rate, and lowered his ERA by more than two runs.
Out west, Yordano Ventura and the suddenly high-scoring Royals take on the Angles and C.J. Wilson. Ventura let his defense do the work in his first start, striking out two and walking one in six innings, but allowing just four hits. Wilson did him two better, walking one and striking out two in eight innings, allowing just two hits.
Enjoy!
Happy Opening Day!
The Blue Jays and Yankees kick things off in the Bronx as Drew Hutchison faces Masahiro Tanaka. Hutchison is an interesting choice for opening day on baseball’s biggest stage. He posted impressive three-true outcomes at all levels of the minor leagues, and in his first season in the majors. His MLB ERA has not reflected that success, however. With men on base, he allowed a .481 slugging percentage, versus .380 with the bases empty. He giving up long hits when they do the most damage. That may be a maturity issue, but at seasonal age 24 the Blue Jays put him in the role of an ace. Tanaka plays with an iffy elbow. He says his velocity won’t be back this year. That’s okay, as plenty of pitchers found success with slower stuff and deception.
I very much like the AL Central this season, and the Twins at the Tigers is a bit of a David versus Goliath game. The Twins should be better this season as they send Phil Hughes against David Price. Hughes found his control in 2014, walking just 16 batters in 209 2/3 innings, fitting into the Twins philosophy perfectly. At the same time, he lowered his home run rate as well. Price turned into a work horse, logging 248 1/3 innings for the Rays and Tigers in 2014. That’s 24 more inning that he ever threw before in the regular season. He struck out 9.8 per nine innings, over one K per 9 IP better than his career average.
Max Scherzer makes his Washington debut as Bartolo Colon leads the Mets against the Nationals. Colon will be 42 in a few weeks, but managed to throw nearly 400 innings over the last two seasons. He still commands the strike zone, walking just 59 batters in that time frame. Only Price has a better walk rate since the start of 2013. Scherzer uses his power pitching to keep his ERA low. Combined with a high scoring Detroit lineup, he owns the highest winning percentage in the majors over the last two seasons.
While there was plenty of hype about the Cubs Sunday night, the White Sox are also a greatly improved team. Jeff Samardzija leads the south siders into Kansas City to face Yordano Ventura. Samardzija was part of the failed Oakland plan of revamping their rotation to make the playoffs. The Samardzija, like Jon Lester, pitched well, but was not supported. He gives the White Sox a solid front three in the rotation. Ventura signed a nice extension, making him a millionaire and helping the Royals control costs. A right-handed pitcher, he exhibited a reverse platoon advantage so far in his career.
The best pitching matchup of the day might be Jered Weaver against Felix Hernandez in Seattle. The Mariners improved once again and look ready to take the AL West crown from the Angels. Despite an off-year for Weaver in 2014, he still managed an 18-9 record. His 27 home runs allowed were a career high, but starting the season in Seattle should lessen that weakness. King Felix turned in the most innings and lowest ERA of his career in 2014. He held batters to a .231 OBP at home last season.
James Shields begins his Padres career in Los Angeles against Clayton Kershaw. (I supposed having to face Kershaw a number of times during a season would be a reason not to sign with the Padres.) Shields pitched well for the Royals in his two years there, making the Wil Myers trade seem better in retrospect. Myers will be behind Shields in the outfield today. Kershaw is the best in the game right now. He led the NL in ERA four years in a row, the last two seasons with ERAs under 2.00. He struck out nearly five times as many as he walked, and is very stingy with the home run ball.
The Indians extended their new ace, Corey Kluber, and he opens the season in Houston against Dallas Keuchel. Kluber, by the way, is not young. He plays this season as a 29-year-old, making him more of a late bloomer. His 2014 season combined stamina (three complete games), power (269 K), and support (18-9 record) to make him the highlight of the Cleveland season. Keuchel had a lower level break-out year, posting a 2.93 ERA, and helped the Astros improve by 19 games.
Finally, playoff hero Madison Bumgarner leads the Giants into Arizona to face Josh Collmenter. Bumgarner made six starts and a five inning relief appearance in the playoffs. His strikeout rate was lower than during the regular season, but he allowed just one walk per nine innings pitched, and help the opposition to a .219 slugging percentage. Opponents were just 2 for 24 against him with runners in scoring position. Collmenter had his first full season of play since 2011. He allows the ball to be put in play, but keeps his walks low so the hits don’t do too much damage.
Enjoy!
It could be mid-Atlantic clinch night as both the Orioles and Nationals can clinch their divisions with wins. The Blue Jays send Drew Hutchison against Ubaldo Jimenez. Hutchinson, who recently turned 24, may be coming into his own. In his last four starts, he struck out 32 and walked just seven in 25 1/3 innings. I suspect that Orioles fans would have been happy to know Jimenez would be pitching the clinching game back at the start of the season, but his 70 walks in 114 1/3 innings leaves something to be desired.
Tanner Roark takes on Aaron Harang as the Nationals attempt to clinch their second NL East title in three years. Roark pitched like an ace this season with a 2.96 ERA and excellent walk numbers. Harang had a surprisingly good season given his 5.40 ERA in 2013. He only allowed 12 home runs this year after giving up 26 in forty fewer innings in 2013.
Johnny Cueto keeps trying to make his case for the Cy Young Award as he faces the Cubs and Jake Arrieta. A win would match his 2012 total of 19, the most he’s had in a single season.
Milwaukee gets a last chance to gain ground on the Cardinals as Wily Peralta takes on Lance Lynn. Peralta is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA against the Cardinals this season, allowing just seven walks in 26 innings. Lynn has not allowed a home run to the Brewers in 18 innings, helping him to a 2.00 ERA against the division rivals.
Enjoy!
Drew Hutchison is thrilling the Toronto fans through three innings. He retired the first nine batters, six on strikeouts. Marco Estrada served up another long ball, this time to Jose Bautista as the Blue Jays lead the Brewers 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning.
Update: Hutchinson strikes out two more in a perfect fourth. The Jays still lead 1-0.
Update: With two out in the fifth, Khris Davis hits a ball up the middle that Jose Reyes fields. Reyes can’t get off a strong throw, however, and Davis is safe at first. That goes as a hit and the no-hitter is gone, but I could see how a generous official scorer could charge an error there. If Reyes doesn’t lollipop the ball, he might have thrown Davis out.
Milwaukee does not score in the fifth, and the Blue Jays continue to lead 1-0.
Update: It seems Estrada is required to allow a home run every four innings as Colby Rasmus takes him deep in the bottom of the fifth for a 2-0 Toronto lead.
Happy Canada Day! First place teams from Milwaukee and Toronto play a rare Tuesday afternoon game in celebration of Canada sort of being its own country. Marco Estrada faces Drew Hutchinson in a potential slugfest. Estrada allowed a whopping 24 home runs in 96 innings. (You might say Estrada is a great pitcher. Great in his use of negative imagery more than anything else.) Hutchinson seems downright in control of his homers with 11 allowed in 92 1/3 innings. Eight those, however, came at home in just 27 2/3 innings.
Enjoy!
The Royals go for a sweep of the Tigers as Danny Duffy takes on Anibal Sanchez. Duffy owns a great ERA of 2.83 but a poor record of 4-5. The Royals won his last three starts, however, as he allowed just three runs in 18 2/3 innings. Sanchez brings a 2.44 ERA into the game, having allowed just one home run and 19 walks in 62 2/3 innings.
Drew Hutchinson tries to prevent a sweep of Toronto by the Yankees as he faces David Phelps. Hutchinson pitches well on the road, with a 1.79 ERA in nine starts. With a 9.72 ERA in Toronto, this game will give him 2/3 of his starts away. Phelps has yet to allow a home run at Yankee Stadium this season after giving up five on the road, although he pitched three times more innings on the road.
The Nationals have a 1 1/2 game lead on the Braves as Atlanta travels to Washington. Gavin Floyd battles Jordan Zimmermann. Atlanta won five of the six games against Washington so far this season. Floyd does a good job of limiting power this season with runners on base, holding opponents to a .309 slugging percentage. Since power moves runners, this helps Floyd’s ERA. Zimmerman is close to a 5-1 K:BB ratio, with 71 K and 15 walks in 84 2/3 innings.
Enjoy!
The first place Blue Jays take on the first place Tigers with Drew Hutchison facing Anibal Sanchez. Hutchison pitched much better on the road this season, walking 10 in 46 1/3 innings versus 12 walks in 18 2/3 innings at home. Sanchez, a right-hander, is holding left-handers to a .154/.230/.231 slash line.
C.J. Wilson travels back to Texas with the Angels to battle Collin McHugh and the Astros. Wilson allowed six of his seven home runs on the road, although his BA and OBP allowed are very similar home and road. McHugh came into his own this season with 50 K in 45 innings after striking out 28 in his first 47 2/3 major league innings.
Enjoy!
Friday generated six shutouts, not a record but the first time this season that many were thrown in a day. The feat was accomplished with just 14 games played, also, as the Pirates and Yankees were rained out. Seven pitchers went at least 5 innings without allowing a run, all earning a win for their efforts. Chris Tillman and Drew Hutchinson going the distance. Hutchinson pitched the best game of the night, allowing just three hits, walking one, and striking out six. Jorge de la Rosa allowed just one hit, but only pitched seven innings.
Max Scherzer‘s six shutout innings against the Red Sox (including a rain delay) moved him back into first place in the AL Cy Young points race. He leads Masahiro Tananka 30.8 to 27.6. Zack Greinke gained ground on Johnny Cueto, but still trails him by 10 points in the NL race.
Note that Jeff Samarzjia still ranks high in the NL race despite his 0-4 record. That’s a good sign this tool captures what really matters.
Big shutout days have slowed down a bit lately, despite offense staying low. There were eight days with at least six shutouts between 2009 and 2012, only two since.
A revamped Yankees lineup opens the season in Houston as CC Sabathia faces Scott Feldman. Sabathia starts 2014 after posting the highest ERA of his career. All three-true outcomes deteriorated for Milliliter in 2013, especially his home runs allowed. Sabathia gave up 28, and his previous single season high was 22. Feldman spent eight seasons with the Rangers, and returns to the Lone Star State after combining for a 3.86 ERA for the Cubs and Orioles. Scott doesn’t strike out many batters, and tries to keep his walks low to counter the extra hits allowed from lack of Ks.
The Blue Jays and Rays continue their series with a match-up between young pitchers as Drew Hutchinson takes on Alex Cobb. Hutchinson made just 11 starts in 2013, but starts 2014 as the number two starter on the Blue Jays. His problem as a rookie was the home run ball, as he gave up eight dingers in 58 2/3 innings. His minor league numbers look great, however, and he only allowed nine homers in 270 MiLB innings. Cobb came into his own in his third season last year, posting a 2.76 ERA as he raised his strikeout rate.
Matt Cain tries to keep the Diamondbacks winless as the Giants face Wade Miley. Cain saw a drop in his strikeout rate and an increase in his home run rate in 2013 that led to his ERA reaching 4.00 for the first time since 2006. Miley was a victim of bad timing in Australia, as he struck out eight in five, innings, allowing just three hits. Two of those were a double and home run, both with men on base, and that cost him three runs.
Enjoy!
Dustin McGowen and Drew Hutchison both need surgery, McGowen on his shoulder and Hutchinson the Tommy John variety. Toronto has been forced to use ten different starters this season, and there are some pretty poor ERAs mixed in there.
Drew Hutchison pitched the best game of his brief career, holding the Orioles scoreless for seven innings. He allowed three hits and three walks, striking out nine. Toronto gains on all three AL East teams ahead of them and are now four games out of first place.
Drew’s problem so far came from allowing home runs. He posted an outstanding home run rate in the minors, so look for that to improve as he gets more experience.
Kelly Johnson provided more than enough offense out of the lead-off slot with three extra-base hits, including his ninth home run. He scored twice and drove in three.
Drunk Jays Fans wonders if there is a plan to limit Drew Hutchison‘s minor leagoue innings early in the season so he can participate in a stretch run late in the year (think Matt Moore in 2011).
So… what exactly is the deal there? Are the Jays simply planning ahead for Hutchison having an extended season by way of a September call-up? With the expectation that he’s going to be getting regular turns in the big league rotation? Or maybe just saving his bullets to help them in some kind of a stretch run?
I’m not saying I’m opposed to it or anything, I’m just a little surprised by the plan. Have I missed something here?
In 218 minor leauge innings, Drew struck out 234 while walking 54. He’ll play this season as a 21-year-old, and I can understand the Jays wanting to see how the pitcher handles AA at this point. If the plan is to bring him along this year for the second half of the major league season, I like Alex Anthopoulos’s thinking.
Note that this would be the opposite strategy of the Nationals with Stephen Strasburg. They’re not thinking about a stretch run with him, although that might change depending on how the season goes.