Post by Commissioner Erick on Apr 15, 2023 8:54:30 GMT -5
Cleveland Indians (12-3) @ Seattle Mariners (6-10)
CLE: Ernesto Ortega (3-0, 0.82)
SEA: Chris Ford (1-1, 8.59)
Indians 3 Key Stats:
9: Road games with an RBI for Luis Retana: Four Eyes has driven in a run in all nine games he’s played away from Progressive Field this year. He’s had multiple hits in six of his last eight road games, and all seven of his home runs have been hit away from Progressive Field. He’s hitting .475 on the road. All of his road figures are ridiculous and Seattle is going to have to find some way to slow him down.
8: Back to back shutout inning starts by Ernesto Ortega: Ortega led the league in strikeouts and WAR last year, and has put up the most innings two seasons in a row, but this year he’s off to an even better start. He was strong in a road start in Minnesota to start the year, then dominated the Blue Jays and Tigers with back to back 8 shutout inning performances allowing three hits or fewer with one walk. Last Year’s Cy Young Winner is looking like the best pitcher in the American League again.
.626: Izak Pals’ OPS: The Ignitor has had a tough start to his PBA career. He has just one run driven in and hasn’t homered yet, batting only .226. He’s also whiffed 20 times, having trouble reacting to PBA offspeed pitching. He has enough talent that he should figure things out, but it also shows that Cleveland could be even better going forward.
Mariners 3 Key Stats
5: Seattle home wins in nine games. The Mariners have struggled on the road, but have fared well at home. They’ve split series with the Red Sox and Angels and taken a set with Houston. Their pitching has been good at home, allowing a run or fewer in three of their last four home outings. Hopefully Chris Ford can get the memo as he’s been the rare pitcher struggling at home, allowing four runs or more in both his home starts—and five runs on 10 hits in 4 innings in a start at the White Sox for good measure.
3: Home runs allowed by Woo-seok Ko: Once an excellent starting pitcher, Ko transitioned into a good reliever, but he’s struggled this year. He’s worked 10.1 innings, allowing three homers to date and losing two games. He still has good stuff, though it’s down from his record-setting strikeout days, and his control is still good. He’ll need to do a better job of keeping the ball in the yard though to be effective. Today will be a tough challenge with a Cleveland squad that’s tied for fourth in home runs so far.
0: Home Runs for Chad Woods: Seattle is going with an interesting strategy for First Base, with Chad Woods getting most of the starts. However, only thing The Undertaker is burying is Seattle’s power totals. The Mariners are 11th in homers and 13th in wOBA. Woods is getting on base as he has a .424 OBP and as many walks as strikeouts. He plays okay defense up the middle and is clearly a solid player. However, his position at First Base robs Seattle of punch from a position that demands it. It’ll be interesting to see whether Woods’ average and defense are enough to overcome an expected lack of power.
Questions for the GMs:
For Chris Stephan, you’re going with Oil Can Evans in Right Field instead of Bryce Harper. Is Harper’s time as a starter and quality PBA player over?
Terrible John Kinser had been a successful Closer for you. You have him playing Left Field. Why?
Franklin Barreto didn’t play last year. You gave him a contract and he’s hitting .353 with four homers. What did you see in Barreto when you signed him?
For Jay Bigs, You’re not getting any power from Chad Woods. Does that concern you?
Young Michael Green is hitting .333 with a pair of homers. How has the decision to eschew veterans and start him looking?
Ernesto Ortega has been spectacular this year. What’s the plan to score some runs?
TRIVIA: Ernesto Ortega leads the AL in Wins since 2026. Who is second in AL Wins in that timespan?
CLE: Ernesto Ortega (3-0, 0.82)
SEA: Chris Ford (1-1, 8.59)
Indians 3 Key Stats:
9: Road games with an RBI for Luis Retana: Four Eyes has driven in a run in all nine games he’s played away from Progressive Field this year. He’s had multiple hits in six of his last eight road games, and all seven of his home runs have been hit away from Progressive Field. He’s hitting .475 on the road. All of his road figures are ridiculous and Seattle is going to have to find some way to slow him down.
8: Back to back shutout inning starts by Ernesto Ortega: Ortega led the league in strikeouts and WAR last year, and has put up the most innings two seasons in a row, but this year he’s off to an even better start. He was strong in a road start in Minnesota to start the year, then dominated the Blue Jays and Tigers with back to back 8 shutout inning performances allowing three hits or fewer with one walk. Last Year’s Cy Young Winner is looking like the best pitcher in the American League again.
.626: Izak Pals’ OPS: The Ignitor has had a tough start to his PBA career. He has just one run driven in and hasn’t homered yet, batting only .226. He’s also whiffed 20 times, having trouble reacting to PBA offspeed pitching. He has enough talent that he should figure things out, but it also shows that Cleveland could be even better going forward.
Mariners 3 Key Stats
5: Seattle home wins in nine games. The Mariners have struggled on the road, but have fared well at home. They’ve split series with the Red Sox and Angels and taken a set with Houston. Their pitching has been good at home, allowing a run or fewer in three of their last four home outings. Hopefully Chris Ford can get the memo as he’s been the rare pitcher struggling at home, allowing four runs or more in both his home starts—and five runs on 10 hits in 4 innings in a start at the White Sox for good measure.
3: Home runs allowed by Woo-seok Ko: Once an excellent starting pitcher, Ko transitioned into a good reliever, but he’s struggled this year. He’s worked 10.1 innings, allowing three homers to date and losing two games. He still has good stuff, though it’s down from his record-setting strikeout days, and his control is still good. He’ll need to do a better job of keeping the ball in the yard though to be effective. Today will be a tough challenge with a Cleveland squad that’s tied for fourth in home runs so far.
0: Home Runs for Chad Woods: Seattle is going with an interesting strategy for First Base, with Chad Woods getting most of the starts. However, only thing The Undertaker is burying is Seattle’s power totals. The Mariners are 11th in homers and 13th in wOBA. Woods is getting on base as he has a .424 OBP and as many walks as strikeouts. He plays okay defense up the middle and is clearly a solid player. However, his position at First Base robs Seattle of punch from a position that demands it. It’ll be interesting to see whether Woods’ average and defense are enough to overcome an expected lack of power.
Questions for the GMs:
For Chris Stephan, you’re going with Oil Can Evans in Right Field instead of Bryce Harper. Is Harper’s time as a starter and quality PBA player over?
Terrible John Kinser had been a successful Closer for you. You have him playing Left Field. Why?
Franklin Barreto didn’t play last year. You gave him a contract and he’s hitting .353 with four homers. What did you see in Barreto when you signed him?
For Jay Bigs, You’re not getting any power from Chad Woods. Does that concern you?
Young Michael Green is hitting .333 with a pair of homers. How has the decision to eschew veterans and start him looking?
Ernesto Ortega has been spectacular this year. What’s the plan to score some runs?
TRIVIA: Ernesto Ortega leads the AL in Wins since 2026. Who is second in AL Wins in that timespan?
