Ben Burns
Game: Minnesota Twins at Tampa Bay Devil Rays Sep 6 2006 7:15PM
Prediction: Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Reason: With Carlos Silva pitching on the road, I don't feel that the Twins should be favored over anyone. Not even Tampa Bay! Granted, the Devil Rays have the second worst record in baseball. However, despite their struggles (and yesterday's loss) they remain above 500 at home, where they have been a very profitable team (+9.5 net games) all season.
Silva has had an awful year and he's been particularly bad recently. In his last outing, Silva gave up six runs (four earned) in just four innings vs. the Yankees. Looking at his last three starts shows that Silva has gone 0-3 while allowing 35 baserunners in 15 1/3 innings and recording an ugly 8.80 ERA. Looking at his season stats shows that he is 3-8 with an 8.51 ERA on the road!
Silva will square off against rookie Jason Hammel, who has made four starts since being called up by the Devil Rays. He got rocked in
his first appearance, allowing seven earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, vs. the Orioles. However, he's been fairly respectable since then, allowing three earned runs or less in his other three starts, while pitching at least five full innings in each. Hammel, who will have the advantage of facing the Twins for the first time, should be motivated to pitch well this September in the hopes of solidifying a spot in the Rays' rotation next season. Look for him to receive plenty of run support this evening as the Rays hit Silva hard, bounce back from yesterday's embarrassing loss and avoid the sweep.
Game: Minnesota Twins at Tampa Bay Devil Rays Sep 6 2006 7:15PM
Prediction: Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Reason: With Carlos Silva pitching on the road, I don't feel that the Twins should be favored over anyone. Not even Tampa Bay! Granted, the Devil Rays have the second worst record in baseball. However, despite their struggles (and yesterday's loss) they remain above 500 at home, where they have been a very profitable team (+9.5 net games) all season.
Silva has had an awful year and he's been particularly bad recently. In his last outing, Silva gave up six runs (four earned) in just four innings vs. the Yankees. Looking at his last three starts shows that Silva has gone 0-3 while allowing 35 baserunners in 15 1/3 innings and recording an ugly 8.80 ERA. Looking at his season stats shows that he is 3-8 with an 8.51 ERA on the road!
Silva will square off against rookie Jason Hammel, who has made four starts since being called up by the Devil Rays. He got rocked in
his first appearance, allowing seven earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, vs. the Orioles. However, he's been fairly respectable since then, allowing three earned runs or less in his other three starts, while pitching at least five full innings in each. Hammel, who will have the advantage of facing the Twins for the first time, should be motivated to pitch well this September in the hopes of solidifying a spot in the Rays' rotation next season. Look for him to receive plenty of run support this evening as the Rays hit Silva hard, bounce back from yesterday's embarrassing loss and avoid the sweep.
