Post by Commissioner Erick on Aug 28, 2020 17:04:52 GMT -5
Texas Rangers (33-18) @ Seattle Mariners (34-21)
TEX: Sonny Gray (5-3, 3.88)
SEA: Jhoan Duran (4-3, 2.55)
With Oakland and Houston on the downswing, Los Angeles perennially down in the PBA basement, and Texas limping to an underwhelming 2023 finish, the Seattle Mariners emerged as clear favorites for the AL West throne. Early season injuries to Kyle Hendricks and Noah Syndergaard only reinforced that fact, as Seattle appeared on paper to be in a class of its own relative to its division brethren.
Oakland and Houston continue to be non-factors for the division race, while Los Angeles expectedly is the worst team in the entire league. Kyle Hendricks continues to be hurt, and Noah Syndergaard continues to make frequent trip to the doctors. However, instead of surveying the landscape below them on a division throne, Seattle has to look up at a Rangers team that holds a one-game lead on them in the AL West.
Seattle could move into a virtual tie for the division lead today, but they'll have to knock off the Texas Rangers in the Game of the Week to do so.
Despite taking a small step back in May, the Rangers continue to perform with some of their veterans having great seasons. Paul Goldschmidt's average and power have returned to pre-2021 levels, giving the team more run production and not only an on-base magnet. Francisco Mejia had two really good seasons the past couple years, but has returned to the MVP levels of his younger days with an average in the .330s and a huge quantity of doubles. Texas was a powerhouse with Goldy and La Cabra laying waste to American League pitching, and with the duo playing their best baseball in years, the Rangers are back on top.
Clayton Piper has also made some shrewd moves with veteran signings to fill some holes on the team. With Daniel Quiceno and Luis Gonzalez not providing top-tier production, Texas called up Ender Inciarte, a minor league free agent signing late in the offseason. Inciarte had some good production earlier in the decade, but a rib injury in 2022 cut his season short, and he struggled last year. Texas took a flier and Inciarte is once again putting his bat on the ball, slashing hits to center field, and keeping the Texas offense moving.
The Rangers also called up Anthony Rendon to get one more bat in the lineup after signing the former Nationals star after he was released. Rendon had three doubles and four homers in 71 Plate Appearances, giving Texas some extra punch. Unfortunately, he suffered an oblique injury yesterday, but Texas has the luxury of having Gregory Guerrero behind him. Guerrero doesn't have the most dynamic bat, hitting only .220 so far, but he's shown a little bit of power in his career. He's also a plus defender, which helps with Carlos Correa at Shortstop.
The Rangers will have their work cut out when they face Jhoan Duran, the AL's third best pitcher in terms of WAR and FIP, and the league's fourth best arm in ERA. Duran had a solid start to his career, but has found another notch this year. He helped lead the Dominican Republic to a WBC Championship in the offseason, working 20 innings and striking out 27 batters without allowing a walk or home run. He's continued to dominate the strike zone and avoid barrels, and is on track for an All-Star nod. He allowed eight hits and a walk in Texas on Wednesday, but he struck out nine Rangers to get out of jams, including Kyle Lewis, Goldschmidt, and Inciarte to escape a bases-loaded, no-out fifth inning jam. He allowed just two runs over 5 innings in a Texas win.
Seattle's pitching is still great, but the hitting hasn't remained as good as it was last year. Francisco DeJesus is still a superstar, but he's been more of a solo act this year. MVP Tomoya Mori is batting just .180 with a .281 OBP. As a result, Seattle has lacked an MVP candidate that would take their offense to the next level. Lucious Fox and Jonathan Capellan have seen their batting averages crater and Seuly Matias is batting under .200, which have also hurt. While Lourdes Gurriel has been an upgrade on Isaac Paredes and Aramis Ademan is having a breakout campaign, Seattle likely needs a little bit more offense to overtake Texas.
Questions for the GMs:
For Clayton Piper, with Anthony Rendon out and Rougned Odor not expected back for another week, who will take Rendon's place on the roster and in the lineup?
Kevin Smith is playing subpar defense and is hitting .188 with a .240 OBP. How long can you play him as a starter?
What caused you to ink Inciarte to a deal this offseason and call him up?
For Jeff Thomas, Duran looks like he's taken a big leap from last year. What's been the difference for him?
Texas is a formidable team. What would you say your team has to do today to secure the win?
How do you think the Lourdes Gurriel signing has worked out for you thus far?
TRIVIA: Jhoan Duran is tied for second for most wins in the WBC with four, and has done so without a loss. Of the four other players with at least four career WBC wins, who is the only other pitcher who also does not have a loss?
TEX: Sonny Gray (5-3, 3.88)
SEA: Jhoan Duran (4-3, 2.55)
With Oakland and Houston on the downswing, Los Angeles perennially down in the PBA basement, and Texas limping to an underwhelming 2023 finish, the Seattle Mariners emerged as clear favorites for the AL West throne. Early season injuries to Kyle Hendricks and Noah Syndergaard only reinforced that fact, as Seattle appeared on paper to be in a class of its own relative to its division brethren.
Oakland and Houston continue to be non-factors for the division race, while Los Angeles expectedly is the worst team in the entire league. Kyle Hendricks continues to be hurt, and Noah Syndergaard continues to make frequent trip to the doctors. However, instead of surveying the landscape below them on a division throne, Seattle has to look up at a Rangers team that holds a one-game lead on them in the AL West.
Seattle could move into a virtual tie for the division lead today, but they'll have to knock off the Texas Rangers in the Game of the Week to do so.
Despite taking a small step back in May, the Rangers continue to perform with some of their veterans having great seasons. Paul Goldschmidt's average and power have returned to pre-2021 levels, giving the team more run production and not only an on-base magnet. Francisco Mejia had two really good seasons the past couple years, but has returned to the MVP levels of his younger days with an average in the .330s and a huge quantity of doubles. Texas was a powerhouse with Goldy and La Cabra laying waste to American League pitching, and with the duo playing their best baseball in years, the Rangers are back on top.
Clayton Piper has also made some shrewd moves with veteran signings to fill some holes on the team. With Daniel Quiceno and Luis Gonzalez not providing top-tier production, Texas called up Ender Inciarte, a minor league free agent signing late in the offseason. Inciarte had some good production earlier in the decade, but a rib injury in 2022 cut his season short, and he struggled last year. Texas took a flier and Inciarte is once again putting his bat on the ball, slashing hits to center field, and keeping the Texas offense moving.
The Rangers also called up Anthony Rendon to get one more bat in the lineup after signing the former Nationals star after he was released. Rendon had three doubles and four homers in 71 Plate Appearances, giving Texas some extra punch. Unfortunately, he suffered an oblique injury yesterday, but Texas has the luxury of having Gregory Guerrero behind him. Guerrero doesn't have the most dynamic bat, hitting only .220 so far, but he's shown a little bit of power in his career. He's also a plus defender, which helps with Carlos Correa at Shortstop.
The Rangers will have their work cut out when they face Jhoan Duran, the AL's third best pitcher in terms of WAR and FIP, and the league's fourth best arm in ERA. Duran had a solid start to his career, but has found another notch this year. He helped lead the Dominican Republic to a WBC Championship in the offseason, working 20 innings and striking out 27 batters without allowing a walk or home run. He's continued to dominate the strike zone and avoid barrels, and is on track for an All-Star nod. He allowed eight hits and a walk in Texas on Wednesday, but he struck out nine Rangers to get out of jams, including Kyle Lewis, Goldschmidt, and Inciarte to escape a bases-loaded, no-out fifth inning jam. He allowed just two runs over 5 innings in a Texas win.
Seattle's pitching is still great, but the hitting hasn't remained as good as it was last year. Francisco DeJesus is still a superstar, but he's been more of a solo act this year. MVP Tomoya Mori is batting just .180 with a .281 OBP. As a result, Seattle has lacked an MVP candidate that would take their offense to the next level. Lucious Fox and Jonathan Capellan have seen their batting averages crater and Seuly Matias is batting under .200, which have also hurt. While Lourdes Gurriel has been an upgrade on Isaac Paredes and Aramis Ademan is having a breakout campaign, Seattle likely needs a little bit more offense to overtake Texas.
Questions for the GMs:
For Clayton Piper, with Anthony Rendon out and Rougned Odor not expected back for another week, who will take Rendon's place on the roster and in the lineup?
Kevin Smith is playing subpar defense and is hitting .188 with a .240 OBP. How long can you play him as a starter?
What caused you to ink Inciarte to a deal this offseason and call him up?
For Jeff Thomas, Duran looks like he's taken a big leap from last year. What's been the difference for him?
Texas is a formidable team. What would you say your team has to do today to secure the win?
How do you think the Lourdes Gurriel signing has worked out for you thus far?
TRIVIA: Jhoan Duran is tied for second for most wins in the WBC with four, and has done so without a loss. Of the four other players with at least four career WBC wins, who is the only other pitcher who also does not have a loss?
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