Game of the Week: July 16: TEX @ TOR

[Zigmo-Whitesox]

Texas (42-48) @ Toronto (60-29)

TEX: Laurente Baffi (6-2, 2.96)

TOR: Devin Ortiz (8-3, 2.94)


Texas comes into this game regaining their footing after an absolutely dreadfull stretch of baseball in May 7-25 from the end of April through the beginning of June.  Since that stretch though they compiled series wins against the dodgers and division rival oakland three times going 6-3 against their division rival.  They also compiled series wins that would have been expected going into the season against Tampa Bay, Houston, Detroit and Minnesota.  This team has quite a lot of talent and had they just went .500 during that awful stretch earlier in the year they would firmly be in the wildcard hunt right now.  After several years of good but not great pitching Laurente Baffi takes the hill throwing like an ace and should provide quite a good matchup against a good Blue Jays offense.

Toronto is coming into this game holding down first place in the AL East and on a 7 game winning streak.  Their specialty has been good pitching and defense, offensively Toronto largely generates offense with a collection of power hitters with 5 guys having launched 15 or more bombs on the year and Guastao Couraca leading the pack with 24.  Devin Ortiz gets the ball today and is having a career year his 2.94 ERA is over a run better than his 4.35 career average.  Ortiz comes into the game having not given up a run in the last two contests.  In his last 5 starts Ortiz hasn't given up more than 5 hits in any game and in his last 28.2 IP he has allowed just 6 earned going 4-0 in that span.

This one looks like a classic pitchers duel and in an even contest Toronto has the better bullpen of the two squads.

HOT/COLD of Note:  HOT: SP Devin Ortiz(TOR), RP Justin Meyer(TOR),  1B Nick Pratto (TEX), RP Sean Deveraux(TEX)   COLD: C Luis Mosso(TOR), RF Mike Lomax(TOR)

Questions for the GMs:


For Dave Lowitzki, You have indicated a willingness to move many of your star players is this the beginnings of a complete rebuild or a retool?

What in the heck is wrong with Gestoso?

Nick Pratto continues to rake and now sits at 50 WAR is he a slam dunk HOF in your opinion or does he need another big season or two?



For Aaron Dunham, Last year it seemed like your team underachieved.  Are you surprised with your teams success this year or did you expect big things?

With the trade deadline approaching will you look to bolster the roster?

Bringing in Reineri looks to be a great move on a 6 WAR pace currently.  What's a more under the radar acquisition you have made to set this team up for the success it is having now.


Trivia: Since 2029 - so last 4 seasons who leads the league in WPA(Win probability added) by a vast margin 22.41 - second is 14.73.

[Zigmo-Whitesox]

Texas 6 - Bluejays 0

WP: S. Devereaux (4-2)
LP: D. Ortiz (8-4)

Behind the hitting of Juan Gestoso, the Texas Rangers stopped the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-0. Gestoso went 2 for 4 with 2 doubles, while adding 3 RBI and scoring once for the Rangers. The winner was Texas reliever Sean Devereaux, now 4-2. The loser was Devin Ortiz. Texas, now 43-48, holds down third place in the American League West Division.

Early in the game, Gestoso had a bases-clearing double for Texas. It was his 18th double of the season and put the Rangers on top, 3-0.

"We were able to get some things going offensively," said Gestoso.


Questions for the GMs:

For , Dave Lowitzki your pitching was great, despite a tired baffi you only had to use 3 pitchers to get the shutout.  You have a lot of relievers who can go multiple innings is this by design or just a case of best available?

Gestoso had a big day today accounting for 4 runs is getting him going the key to jump starting this team down the stretch?

You are just 4 games back of oakland and 6.5 back of the wildcard do you feel you have a late season run in you this year still?


For Aaron Dunham, The offense just didn't have it going today but the talent is there.  Who needs to step it up down the stretch to hold off the surging Redsox?

Your upcoming schedule is brutal to put it lightly over the next 20 games if I told you you would go 10-10 but 6-4 vs Boston you taking that? Or rolling the dice your team can do better?  I'd give you a game or two more wins but you have a 17 game streak vs as it stands now playoff teams. 10-10 would be respectable and not disastrous given the series wins vs Boston.

You seem to be a lock for the playoffs almost what is a successful season for you?  90 wins?  World Series or bust?  Win the division?


Trivia: Since 2029 - so last 4 seasons who leads the league in WPA(Win probability added) by a vast margin 22.41 - second is 14.73.

[torontogm]

May 3, 2024 9:45:42 GMT -5 Zigmo-Whitesox said:

Last year it seemed like your team underachieved. Are you surprised with your teams success this year or did you expect big things?



With the trade deadline approaching will you look to bolster the roster?



Bringing in Reineri looks to be a great move on a 6 WAR pace currently. What's a more under the radar acquisition you have made to set this team up for the success it is having now.

- I am not surprised at our success. I felt like we had a solid club last year and this year maybe it's better. The players who should be performing well are doing so.

- Probably not. I have been pretty busy in real life, am pretty maxed out financially in-game, and don't have a ton of glaring holes to improve that wouldn't cost me a ton of prospects.

- I actually think Andres Gimenez has been maybe more of an important addition for us. He was our first major signing and an important one. It has shored up our 3B position, given us a valuable leadoff hitter, and also provided us depth at SS. We don't really have a quality bat who can backup SS if Edwards gets hurt. He isn't blowing anyone away, stats-wise, but he has been really important to our success.

[torontogm]

The offense just didn't have it going today but the talent is there. Who needs to step it up down the stretch to hold off the surging Redsox?



Your upcoming schedule is brutal to put it lightly over the next 20 games if I told you you would go 10-10 but 6-4 vs Boston you taking that? Or rolling the dice your team can do better? I'd give you a game or two more wins but you have a 17 game streak vs as it stands now playoff teams. 10-10 would be respectable and not disastrous given the series wins vs Boston.



You seem to be a lock for the playoffs almost what is a successful season for you? 90 wins? World Series or bust? Win the division?

- Everyone needs to play solid baseball. The Red Sox are good. In particular I know Aceto is capable of showing more.

- My priority is winning against Boston. If I can do that, and get swept by all the other teams, it's something.

- Given the current playoff format we are fortunate to be in a good position. My goal is to win the division and then anything can happen in the postseason.