Post by Commissioner Erick on Mar 7, 2018 19:22:50 GMT -5
Chicago White Sox (68-42) @ Cleveland Indians (67-43)
CHW: Carlos Martinez (15-2, 1.48)
CLE: Corey Kluber (8-4, 3.77)
The Chicago White Sox traded for Carlos Martinez and are now fighting for the AL Central crown. The Cleveland Indians retained the majority of their 2017 AL Championship team and are right there with Chicago.
With a marquee pitching matchup kicking off a pivotal AL Central showdown, Carlos Martinez and the Chicago White Sox take on Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians in a tantalizing Game of the Week.
The game gives a chance to spotlight Carlos Martinez, whose season to date deserves no lack of superlatives. He carries a 15-2 record and a 1.28 ERA, which is the kind of number that doesn't get broken if one carries it for a full season. For context, Tyson Ross, Tyson Ross has a 2.28 ERA, which is second in the league, and a full run lower than Martinez!
Martinez easily carries the best walk rate in the American League, and while teammate Carlos Rodon gives competition for the best strikeout rate, Martinez wins that too. His FIP is the best in the league, nearly a full run better than Dallas Keuchel. His WAR is the best in the league, 1.3 better than Dallas Keuchel. In 11 of his 21 starts, he's allowed zero earned runs. Only once has he allowed more than three runs total, and not once has he allowed more than three earned runs. He's allowed three earned runs since June 22, and has a 0.41 ERA in that span.
It's hard to take a 1.98 ERA and pitch so well you virtually cut it in half, but we're there with Martinez' last six weeks.
While he's only allowed 21 runs on the year, six have come against Cleveland, as well as one of his two losses. Cleveland has given Martinez his second-highest ERA on the year, though a still paltry 2.75. Only Oakland has given Martinez a higher ERA and that's after he threw at Franklin Barreto after Jorge Mateo pimped a home run.
Lewis Brinson and Giancarlo Stanton tagged Martinez with home runs in a pedestrian three-runs in 6 innings start back on May 30, that Cleveland won. A few weeks later, Edwin Encarnacion and Francisco Lindor went deep as Martinez turned in an identical three-runs in 6 innings mark. Luke Weaver pitched a gem for Cleveland and Martinez took a loss.
However, on July 13th, Martinez turned in maybe his finest game of the year. He worked 7.2 innings, allowing no runs and five hits. He walked none, struck out 12, retired 10 more on ground balls, and surrendered only one fly ball out. Three of the five hits were grounders that bled through, one was a grounder that never left the infield. Only a booming double by J.D. Martinez, and a lazy fly out by Martinez escaped the infield.
Cleveland will be the unique position of having produced perhaps the most success against Martinez this year, while also being shut down by his absolute best.
Fortunately, they'll be able to counter with a star of their own. Corey Kluber is one of the game's best pitchers according to scouts, and he turned in an excellent year last year. His 2017 campaign saw him win 19 games with a 3.48 ERA and 246 strikeouts. He's still carrying an exceptional strikeout to walk rate this year, as he's third in both walks per nine and strikeouts per walk. The strikeout numbers are little bit down, but Kluber's pinpoint control allows him to overwhelm hitters with his ability to manipulate at bats.
In his only start against Chicago this year, however, Kluber was hit hard. He gave up 11 hits, a season high, and five runs in 6 innings.
In the rematch, he'll have to find a way to control Andrew Benintendi, who is the only healthy player on Chicago who is a well-above average hitter. He dominated Kluber with a double and home run off him on July 16th, as he's got a good enough bat that can turn around Kluber's stuff if Kluber wants to make sure to throw strikes.
Benintendi is hitting .305 thus far with 24 doubles and 25 home runs. He's scored 79 times and driven in 84, and is currently in the top five in RBI and runs, hitting in the middle of a good Chicago lineup. However, David Peralta is out and Brandon Guyer is banged up taking away some of Benintendi's supporting cast. It'll be up to the other young players Chicago got from Boston in the Chris Sale deal to step up.
Yoan Moncada is having a decent season. He's getting on base at a great clip, and has been strong on the bases. However, his average is only .239 and though he has some extra base pop, pitchers may challenge him more if he can't get his average up. Rafael Devers has also been okay, but not great as he's played better defense than anticipated, but hasn't hit for the power the White Sox have needed. The doubles are there, but Chicago may need Devers to develop more extra base punch with Peralta on the disabled list.
Of course, with Martinez on the mound, needing more offense may be a moot point if Chicago can cobble together one run.
Questions for the GMs:
For Mike Ball, you didn't make any moves leading up to the trade deadline. Why didn't you look to upgrade your team with any trades?
Charlie Tilson hit .327 last year and looked like a star. It's been a struggle for him this year with an OBP of .303. Why hasn't he kept up last year's pace?
With a few banged up players, an exceptional pitcher on the hill, and a tough matchup with Kluber, do you look to play small ball tonight?
For David Springgay, Carlos Martinez has made the American League his plaything this season. How do you try to go about beating him tonight?
With Arismedy Alcantara claimed by Cincinnati, who starts for you at third base tonight?
Bradley Zimmer looked overmatched at times last year. He's back with the parent club now. What convinced you to bring him back up to the majors?
CHW: Carlos Martinez (15-2, 1.48)
CLE: Corey Kluber (8-4, 3.77)
The Chicago White Sox traded for Carlos Martinez and are now fighting for the AL Central crown. The Cleveland Indians retained the majority of their 2017 AL Championship team and are right there with Chicago.
With a marquee pitching matchup kicking off a pivotal AL Central showdown, Carlos Martinez and the Chicago White Sox take on Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians in a tantalizing Game of the Week.
The game gives a chance to spotlight Carlos Martinez, whose season to date deserves no lack of superlatives. He carries a 15-2 record and a 1.28 ERA, which is the kind of number that doesn't get broken if one carries it for a full season. For context, Tyson Ross, Tyson Ross has a 2.28 ERA, which is second in the league, and a full run lower than Martinez!
Martinez easily carries the best walk rate in the American League, and while teammate Carlos Rodon gives competition for the best strikeout rate, Martinez wins that too. His FIP is the best in the league, nearly a full run better than Dallas Keuchel. His WAR is the best in the league, 1.3 better than Dallas Keuchel. In 11 of his 21 starts, he's allowed zero earned runs. Only once has he allowed more than three runs total, and not once has he allowed more than three earned runs. He's allowed three earned runs since June 22, and has a 0.41 ERA in that span.
It's hard to take a 1.98 ERA and pitch so well you virtually cut it in half, but we're there with Martinez' last six weeks.
While he's only allowed 21 runs on the year, six have come against Cleveland, as well as one of his two losses. Cleveland has given Martinez his second-highest ERA on the year, though a still paltry 2.75. Only Oakland has given Martinez a higher ERA and that's after he threw at Franklin Barreto after Jorge Mateo pimped a home run.
Lewis Brinson and Giancarlo Stanton tagged Martinez with home runs in a pedestrian three-runs in 6 innings start back on May 30, that Cleveland won. A few weeks later, Edwin Encarnacion and Francisco Lindor went deep as Martinez turned in an identical three-runs in 6 innings mark. Luke Weaver pitched a gem for Cleveland and Martinez took a loss.
However, on July 13th, Martinez turned in maybe his finest game of the year. He worked 7.2 innings, allowing no runs and five hits. He walked none, struck out 12, retired 10 more on ground balls, and surrendered only one fly ball out. Three of the five hits were grounders that bled through, one was a grounder that never left the infield. Only a booming double by J.D. Martinez, and a lazy fly out by Martinez escaped the infield.
Cleveland will be the unique position of having produced perhaps the most success against Martinez this year, while also being shut down by his absolute best.
Fortunately, they'll be able to counter with a star of their own. Corey Kluber is one of the game's best pitchers according to scouts, and he turned in an excellent year last year. His 2017 campaign saw him win 19 games with a 3.48 ERA and 246 strikeouts. He's still carrying an exceptional strikeout to walk rate this year, as he's third in both walks per nine and strikeouts per walk. The strikeout numbers are little bit down, but Kluber's pinpoint control allows him to overwhelm hitters with his ability to manipulate at bats.
In his only start against Chicago this year, however, Kluber was hit hard. He gave up 11 hits, a season high, and five runs in 6 innings.
In the rematch, he'll have to find a way to control Andrew Benintendi, who is the only healthy player on Chicago who is a well-above average hitter. He dominated Kluber with a double and home run off him on July 16th, as he's got a good enough bat that can turn around Kluber's stuff if Kluber wants to make sure to throw strikes.
Benintendi is hitting .305 thus far with 24 doubles and 25 home runs. He's scored 79 times and driven in 84, and is currently in the top five in RBI and runs, hitting in the middle of a good Chicago lineup. However, David Peralta is out and Brandon Guyer is banged up taking away some of Benintendi's supporting cast. It'll be up to the other young players Chicago got from Boston in the Chris Sale deal to step up.
Yoan Moncada is having a decent season. He's getting on base at a great clip, and has been strong on the bases. However, his average is only .239 and though he has some extra base pop, pitchers may challenge him more if he can't get his average up. Rafael Devers has also been okay, but not great as he's played better defense than anticipated, but hasn't hit for the power the White Sox have needed. The doubles are there, but Chicago may need Devers to develop more extra base punch with Peralta on the disabled list.
Of course, with Martinez on the mound, needing more offense may be a moot point if Chicago can cobble together one run.
Questions for the GMs:
For Mike Ball, you didn't make any moves leading up to the trade deadline. Why didn't you look to upgrade your team with any trades?
Charlie Tilson hit .327 last year and looked like a star. It's been a struggle for him this year with an OBP of .303. Why hasn't he kept up last year's pace?
With a few banged up players, an exceptional pitcher on the hill, and a tough matchup with Kluber, do you look to play small ball tonight?
For David Springgay, Carlos Martinez has made the American League his plaything this season. How do you try to go about beating him tonight?
With Arismedy Alcantara claimed by Cincinnati, who starts for you at third base tonight?
Bradley Zimmer looked overmatched at times last year. He's back with the parent club now. What convinced you to bring him back up to the majors?
