Sunday: 2-6, -3.3 units
Enjoyed the Seattle game very much. Not only do the Mariners not hit well in Safeco, but other teams immediately stop hitting. Case in point, the Red Sox were stroking it pretty well before heading out west. Then in Seattle they score 9 runs in 4 games. That can be one game in Fenway! The Safeco power alleys are pretty deep and the heavy marine air just seems to make balls die on the warning track and in the gaps. Doubront throws hard, but almost too hard on his off speed pitches. His fastball is a little erratic. Luckily for him, the Mariners are experts at killing any rally. Their young hitters all look to have screwed up mechanics. They can't seem to hit any ball squarely. Vargas' fastball never exceeded 89 MPH, but he moves it around well, mixing in off speed pitches that vary in speed well. Unfortunately, for him, if his command isn't perfect (it was Sunday except for one pitch to Pedroia, who hit an absolute rocket into the LF stands), then he gets shelled- usually on the road.
Anyways, I hope you forgot to make your plays Sunday. Two losing days in a row, but I feel good about Monday.
Pirates: This club is believing in themselves. They might have swept the Cards in STL if McCutcheon had played or if they could have gotten those 2 runners in the eighth in with one out. This is the best they've hit since…….way back. I mostly like this game because the Astros seem to be in a Dodger/ mariner type hitting funk. Indications of this are when you get shut down by average type pitchers like Paul Maholm and Travis Wood. Altuve is back, but I'm not sure it'll make much difference. Pirates also have a much better bullpen than the Cubs and the Astros. Lyles has had 2 good outings, but he might have been the beneficiary of pitching vs. SD and KC. Also, he has been very poor on the road. McDonald had his first poor start of the year last game. Statistically it had to happen. He will want to prove that to be a fluke start. I still think he is the best pitcher under the radar in the NL this year. McCutcheon should be playing and Pirates are at home. Got this at -1 (-117). 3 units.
Enjoyed the Seattle game very much. Not only do the Mariners not hit well in Safeco, but other teams immediately stop hitting. Case in point, the Red Sox were stroking it pretty well before heading out west. Then in Seattle they score 9 runs in 4 games. That can be one game in Fenway! The Safeco power alleys are pretty deep and the heavy marine air just seems to make balls die on the warning track and in the gaps. Doubront throws hard, but almost too hard on his off speed pitches. His fastball is a little erratic. Luckily for him, the Mariners are experts at killing any rally. Their young hitters all look to have screwed up mechanics. They can't seem to hit any ball squarely. Vargas' fastball never exceeded 89 MPH, but he moves it around well, mixing in off speed pitches that vary in speed well. Unfortunately, for him, if his command isn't perfect (it was Sunday except for one pitch to Pedroia, who hit an absolute rocket into the LF stands), then he gets shelled- usually on the road.
Anyways, I hope you forgot to make your plays Sunday. Two losing days in a row, but I feel good about Monday.
Pirates: This club is believing in themselves. They might have swept the Cards in STL if McCutcheon had played or if they could have gotten those 2 runners in the eighth in with one out. This is the best they've hit since…….way back. I mostly like this game because the Astros seem to be in a Dodger/ mariner type hitting funk. Indications of this are when you get shut down by average type pitchers like Paul Maholm and Travis Wood. Altuve is back, but I'm not sure it'll make much difference. Pirates also have a much better bullpen than the Cubs and the Astros. Lyles has had 2 good outings, but he might have been the beneficiary of pitching vs. SD and KC. Also, he has been very poor on the road. McDonald had his first poor start of the year last game. Statistically it had to happen. He will want to prove that to be a fluke start. I still think he is the best pitcher under the radar in the NL this year. McCutcheon should be playing and Pirates are at home. Got this at -1 (-117). 3 units.