Post by Commissioner Erick on Nov 30, 2019 18:27:49 GMT -5
Oakland Athletics (77-66) @ Chicago White Sox (86-56)
OAK: Logan Shore (6-2, 4.32)
CHW: Carlos Martinez (15-1, 2.64)
The Chicago White Sox are battling for playoff positioning, while the Oakland Athletics are battling for their playoff lives. Chicago is trying to edge out Tampa Bay for the best record in the American League, and has a hard enough schedule where they need to be concerned with Kansas City in the race for the AL Central. They need all the wins they can get, but will have to face off with an Oakland team desperately trying to hold back Texas. The Athletics are a half game ahead of the Rangers, and it's becoming more and more unlikely that the AL West loser will earn a wild card berth. That means it's extremely likely that it will be divison-or-bust for the Athletics. They have a rough schedule down the stretch, so they'll need to earn their way in. If they can hold down Rafael Devers, Andrew Benintnedi, and the gang today though, not only will they be in a better position to make the playoffs, but they'll convince the league they have a better chance to do damage once they're in.
Players to Watch:
Athletics:
C—Logan Ice:
Ice has had a storied minor league career, especially as the first batting champion of the Canadian Rookie League, but didn't make his major league debut until this season as a 27-year-old. The ice-man has had a good run getting on base, with a .376 on-base percentage. He also has 21 doubles, and has played good defense. At worst, Ice is a good, cheap backup catcher, but his defense and on-base ability make him a good starting catcher on a team that needs someone to get on base.
CL—Bobby Wahl:
Wahl's continued to do a better job since the heat of the summer, as the home run he allowed to Rougned Odor on Saturday was the first he's allowed since August 3rd. Before that, he'd allowed only two runs in his last 13.1 innings. Since August 3rd, he has a strikeout in every game he's pitched where he's faced more than two batters, and he's saved nine of 11 chances in that span, plus has a 3-0 record. Oakland had an outstanding August and has had a good September. If they can get a lead headed to the ninth more often, they'll have a great September too.
SP—Frankie Montas:
Montas has worked half the season as a reliever and half as a starter. While his numbers as a reliever were dominant, he's been good as a starter as well. His total numbers include a 3.19 ERA, more than a strikeout an inning, and a solid job keeping the ball in the park. Montas has not allowed more than three runs in a start since July 31, a span of eight starts, and has not given up more than a hit an inning in that span as well. Montas will walk hitters, but against teams that can string out hits, Montas has the stuff to neutralize them. Montas is scheduled to pitch Tuesday, and how he fares against Benintendi and Devers will be fascinating.
White Sox:
RP—Dan Jennings:
Re-acquired in a deadline deal, Jennings has been spectacular in his return to Chicago. He has a 0.61 ERA in 19 games, allowing just a single run. Lefties are just 2-20 off Jennings since the calendar turned to August, as he's dominated same-side hitting. Jennings was acquired partly for his postseason prowess, where hitters bat just .178 off him with a walk and 15 strikeouts in 76 plate appearances. Jennings still has the most saves in a single postseason, and if he qualified, he's have the second best playoff ERA. Chicago's bullpen is deep and strong, and Jennings' presence could put them over the top.
RP—Derek Law:
Law had a great trio of seasons with San Francisco, and suffered from bad luck with the White Sox in 2020, but a forgettable 2021 left his career in doubt. He resigned with Chicago late in Free Agency and has rewarded Mike Ball's forgiveness with a tremendous 1.84 ERA in 31 games. A shoulder injury has limited Law to 29.1 innings, but he hasn't allowed a home run all year. Barring a complete catastrophe, this will be his fifth time in six seasons allowing four home runs or fewer in a season. It's entirely possible the top four teams in the AL in home runs miss the postseason, with Chicago being number five. Given Law's ability to limit home runs, and the possibility to no ferocious power teams in the postseason, Law's ability to force teams to score runs by playing it fair could give Chicago a huge postseason edge.
3B—Rafael Devers:
Devers has virtually locked up the American League MVP with a stupendous season. He's taken another leap as a player, and despite the loss of Andrew Benintendi for much of the year, has kept the White Sox the top offense in the American League. Devers leads the league in Average, Hits, OPS, runs, and is second in RBIs. It's a small thing, but Devers is also second in sacrifice flies, showing his ability to make contact and get runners in with less than two outs, even if he can't do even more damage. With Benintendi out, Devers has been given a green light on the bases to manufacture some more offense, and he's been successful on 19 of 20 attempts. He's one of the game's best and brightest, and every plate appearance involving him is must see television.
TRIVIA: Rafael Devers leads the league in OPS with a .987 mark. Which AL hitter has the lowest OPS in a year they led the AL in the category?
OAK: Logan Shore (6-2, 4.32)
CHW: Carlos Martinez (15-1, 2.64)
The Chicago White Sox are battling for playoff positioning, while the Oakland Athletics are battling for their playoff lives. Chicago is trying to edge out Tampa Bay for the best record in the American League, and has a hard enough schedule where they need to be concerned with Kansas City in the race for the AL Central. They need all the wins they can get, but will have to face off with an Oakland team desperately trying to hold back Texas. The Athletics are a half game ahead of the Rangers, and it's becoming more and more unlikely that the AL West loser will earn a wild card berth. That means it's extremely likely that it will be divison-or-bust for the Athletics. They have a rough schedule down the stretch, so they'll need to earn their way in. If they can hold down Rafael Devers, Andrew Benintnedi, and the gang today though, not only will they be in a better position to make the playoffs, but they'll convince the league they have a better chance to do damage once they're in.
Players to Watch:
Athletics:
C—Logan Ice:
Ice has had a storied minor league career, especially as the first batting champion of the Canadian Rookie League, but didn't make his major league debut until this season as a 27-year-old. The ice-man has had a good run getting on base, with a .376 on-base percentage. He also has 21 doubles, and has played good defense. At worst, Ice is a good, cheap backup catcher, but his defense and on-base ability make him a good starting catcher on a team that needs someone to get on base.
CL—Bobby Wahl:
Wahl's continued to do a better job since the heat of the summer, as the home run he allowed to Rougned Odor on Saturday was the first he's allowed since August 3rd. Before that, he'd allowed only two runs in his last 13.1 innings. Since August 3rd, he has a strikeout in every game he's pitched where he's faced more than two batters, and he's saved nine of 11 chances in that span, plus has a 3-0 record. Oakland had an outstanding August and has had a good September. If they can get a lead headed to the ninth more often, they'll have a great September too.
SP—Frankie Montas:
Montas has worked half the season as a reliever and half as a starter. While his numbers as a reliever were dominant, he's been good as a starter as well. His total numbers include a 3.19 ERA, more than a strikeout an inning, and a solid job keeping the ball in the park. Montas has not allowed more than three runs in a start since July 31, a span of eight starts, and has not given up more than a hit an inning in that span as well. Montas will walk hitters, but against teams that can string out hits, Montas has the stuff to neutralize them. Montas is scheduled to pitch Tuesday, and how he fares against Benintendi and Devers will be fascinating.
White Sox:
RP—Dan Jennings:
Re-acquired in a deadline deal, Jennings has been spectacular in his return to Chicago. He has a 0.61 ERA in 19 games, allowing just a single run. Lefties are just 2-20 off Jennings since the calendar turned to August, as he's dominated same-side hitting. Jennings was acquired partly for his postseason prowess, where hitters bat just .178 off him with a walk and 15 strikeouts in 76 plate appearances. Jennings still has the most saves in a single postseason, and if he qualified, he's have the second best playoff ERA. Chicago's bullpen is deep and strong, and Jennings' presence could put them over the top.
RP—Derek Law:
Law had a great trio of seasons with San Francisco, and suffered from bad luck with the White Sox in 2020, but a forgettable 2021 left his career in doubt. He resigned with Chicago late in Free Agency and has rewarded Mike Ball's forgiveness with a tremendous 1.84 ERA in 31 games. A shoulder injury has limited Law to 29.1 innings, but he hasn't allowed a home run all year. Barring a complete catastrophe, this will be his fifth time in six seasons allowing four home runs or fewer in a season. It's entirely possible the top four teams in the AL in home runs miss the postseason, with Chicago being number five. Given Law's ability to limit home runs, and the possibility to no ferocious power teams in the postseason, Law's ability to force teams to score runs by playing it fair could give Chicago a huge postseason edge.
3B—Rafael Devers:
Devers has virtually locked up the American League MVP with a stupendous season. He's taken another leap as a player, and despite the loss of Andrew Benintendi for much of the year, has kept the White Sox the top offense in the American League. Devers leads the league in Average, Hits, OPS, runs, and is second in RBIs. It's a small thing, but Devers is also second in sacrifice flies, showing his ability to make contact and get runners in with less than two outs, even if he can't do even more damage. With Benintendi out, Devers has been given a green light on the bases to manufacture some more offense, and he's been successful on 19 of 20 attempts. He's one of the game's best and brightest, and every plate appearance involving him is must see television.
TRIVIA: Rafael Devers leads the league in OPS with a .987 mark. Which AL hitter has the lowest OPS in a year they led the AL in the category?