Post by Commissioner Erick on Aug 13, 2020 12:59:29 GMT -5
Texas Rangers (17-4) @ Oakland Athletics (11-12)
TEX: Jordan Humphreys (3-0, 3.63)
OAK: Ofelki Peralta (2-2, 4.07)
When Texas decided the team needed to make a move to reintroduce themselves to the class of American League royalty, they swung a blockbuster deal for Noah Syndergaard. Nearly a month into the season, Texas has gotten 2.1 innings from Noah Syndergaard, won't have him for at least a month, yet sit with the best record in the American League at 17-4.
The Rangers will look to continue their early season dominance when they take on an Oakland Athletics team trying to maintain contact in the division race. A bad series and Oakland may be all but eliminated in April. That makes this contest between AL West rivals a critical one for this edition of the Game of the Week.
Texas has ridden a home-heavy slate to a tremendous record in the early going. The only six games they've played on the road have been a two-game split against a struggling Diamondbacks club, and a four game tilt Texas split with the last place Angels. Texas has gone 14-1 at home, but today's game won't be in Arlington.
Texas has easily the best ERA in the league despite playing so many early games in Arlington, a fact that is utterly remarkable. Jordan Humphreys has worked three quality starts at home in three outings making him an essential piece of the Syndergaard return and not just a throw-in. However, Humphreys allowed five runs to the Angels in his only road start and the A's are a better offense than the Angels.
Another question will involve the Texas offense. The Rangers have hit the most home runs and have the highest OPS in baseball with their home-heavy schedule playing a huge part. How they'll fare in a pitcher's park will be a real test. As it stands, five of the first seven hitters in the Rangers lineup are hitting over .300, and of the two that aren't, one leads the league in home runs with 11 and has a .291 average, while the other leads AL Right Fielders in home runs with eight, and is hitting .268. There are a pair of weak spots towards the bottom of the lineup, but Clayton Piper is trying to address them via trade. Still, those numbers are inflated playing in Globe Life Park. Whether or not the production can be produced in Oakland will be a test Texas needs to pass.
Oakland hasn't played that difficult a schedule, yet they're only 11-12. With Texas and Toronto on tap this week, a winning record will show that Oakland is a playoff contender and should steady the Athletics heading into an easy slate in May. The schedule turns nasty in the second half and Oakland will need to know what direction to take before then. Oakland is seeing Adam Hasely turn into a star as the outfielder had a 23-game-hitting streak that carried back to last year. He's hitting .329, and is second in the league in triples, and top 10 in runs scored. With Hasely getting on base so much, rookie Keenan Bell is fifth in RBIs. Miguel Hiraldo is putting a tough rookie year with the bat behind him, and Byron Buxton and Matt Olson are hitting for power. It's a good skeleton.
However, Jeter Downs and Jorge Mateo aren't producing early on, neither Hasely nor Bell is the kind of hitter that could hit for a high average and threaten league-leading power, and Anthony Santander has fallen off a cliff. In a division with Texas, those are a lot of offensive holes.
Oakland will call on Ofelky Peralta to start today's game. Peralta has made two home starts and two road starts and the differences have been night and day. He has a 0.60 mark at home and a 9.64 mark on the road. It isn't just a case of opponent quality either. Peralta allowed five runs in 3.2 innings in Houston earlier this month. is last start was at home welcoming Houston where he shut them out over 6.2 innings. With Oakland needing a win, they have the right man in the right location for the job.
Questions for the GMs:
For Clayton Piper, with Syndergaard going down for a month, will Esteban Valadez be called into a starting role, or will he still be a setup weapon against Oakland today?
Rougned Odor had a disappointing year last year and you allowed him to enter free agency, only signing him back to your club late in the offseason. How have you felt about his production this year?
After a pair of awful seasons with the Mets, how did you come to acquire Humphreys. Did you want him, or did Ryan James push him on you? Humphreys has been critical to your success this year.
For Creig McBride, what do you think explains Peralta's crazy home/road splits?
Nate Thurman had a great season for you last year. Why the move to Logan Ice behind the plate this season?
If your offense continues to be rough around the edges, might we see Juan Castorena sooner rather than later?
TRIVIA: How many different league batting champions have played for the Rangers?
TEX: Jordan Humphreys (3-0, 3.63)
OAK: Ofelki Peralta (2-2, 4.07)
When Texas decided the team needed to make a move to reintroduce themselves to the class of American League royalty, they swung a blockbuster deal for Noah Syndergaard. Nearly a month into the season, Texas has gotten 2.1 innings from Noah Syndergaard, won't have him for at least a month, yet sit with the best record in the American League at 17-4.
The Rangers will look to continue their early season dominance when they take on an Oakland Athletics team trying to maintain contact in the division race. A bad series and Oakland may be all but eliminated in April. That makes this contest between AL West rivals a critical one for this edition of the Game of the Week.
Texas has ridden a home-heavy slate to a tremendous record in the early going. The only six games they've played on the road have been a two-game split against a struggling Diamondbacks club, and a four game tilt Texas split with the last place Angels. Texas has gone 14-1 at home, but today's game won't be in Arlington.
Texas has easily the best ERA in the league despite playing so many early games in Arlington, a fact that is utterly remarkable. Jordan Humphreys has worked three quality starts at home in three outings making him an essential piece of the Syndergaard return and not just a throw-in. However, Humphreys allowed five runs to the Angels in his only road start and the A's are a better offense than the Angels.
Another question will involve the Texas offense. The Rangers have hit the most home runs and have the highest OPS in baseball with their home-heavy schedule playing a huge part. How they'll fare in a pitcher's park will be a real test. As it stands, five of the first seven hitters in the Rangers lineup are hitting over .300, and of the two that aren't, one leads the league in home runs with 11 and has a .291 average, while the other leads AL Right Fielders in home runs with eight, and is hitting .268. There are a pair of weak spots towards the bottom of the lineup, but Clayton Piper is trying to address them via trade. Still, those numbers are inflated playing in Globe Life Park. Whether or not the production can be produced in Oakland will be a test Texas needs to pass.
Oakland hasn't played that difficult a schedule, yet they're only 11-12. With Texas and Toronto on tap this week, a winning record will show that Oakland is a playoff contender and should steady the Athletics heading into an easy slate in May. The schedule turns nasty in the second half and Oakland will need to know what direction to take before then. Oakland is seeing Adam Hasely turn into a star as the outfielder had a 23-game-hitting streak that carried back to last year. He's hitting .329, and is second in the league in triples, and top 10 in runs scored. With Hasely getting on base so much, rookie Keenan Bell is fifth in RBIs. Miguel Hiraldo is putting a tough rookie year with the bat behind him, and Byron Buxton and Matt Olson are hitting for power. It's a good skeleton.
However, Jeter Downs and Jorge Mateo aren't producing early on, neither Hasely nor Bell is the kind of hitter that could hit for a high average and threaten league-leading power, and Anthony Santander has fallen off a cliff. In a division with Texas, those are a lot of offensive holes.
Oakland will call on Ofelky Peralta to start today's game. Peralta has made two home starts and two road starts and the differences have been night and day. He has a 0.60 mark at home and a 9.64 mark on the road. It isn't just a case of opponent quality either. Peralta allowed five runs in 3.2 innings in Houston earlier this month. is last start was at home welcoming Houston where he shut them out over 6.2 innings. With Oakland needing a win, they have the right man in the right location for the job.
Questions for the GMs:
For Clayton Piper, with Syndergaard going down for a month, will Esteban Valadez be called into a starting role, or will he still be a setup weapon against Oakland today?
Rougned Odor had a disappointing year last year and you allowed him to enter free agency, only signing him back to your club late in the offseason. How have you felt about his production this year?
After a pair of awful seasons with the Mets, how did you come to acquire Humphreys. Did you want him, or did Ryan James push him on you? Humphreys has been critical to your success this year.
For Creig McBride, what do you think explains Peralta's crazy home/road splits?
Nate Thurman had a great season for you last year. Why the move to Logan Ice behind the plate this season?
If your offense continues to be rough around the edges, might we see Juan Castorena sooner rather than later?
TRIVIA: How many different league batting champions have played for the Rangers?
