Post by Commissioner Erick on Jun 15, 2019 10:20:20 GMT -5
Oakland Athletics (73-45) @ Texas Rangers (72-47)
OAK: Kevin Gowdy (6-4, 5.34)
TEX: Adonis Medina (6-5, 4.17)
Before a recent minor skid, the Texas had been on a rampage, winning 16 of their last 18 games. They'll take on an Oakland team that has won six of their last seven to maintain control of the AL West.
It's a battle of AL West behemoths when the Texas Rangers face off against the Oakland Athletics on the Game of the Week.
Texas is charging fast, plus they've made a few deadline deals to bolster their team. Matt Carpenter was added from Detroit, and Kyle Barraclough from Miami, to bolster their lineup and bullpen. The Rangers already had the second best offense, but aside from Giancarlo Stanton, some of their key players had been underperforming. Instead of acquiring a superstar, the Rangers now have balance and depth across all spots in their lineup. Carpenter had a poor 2020 and signed late as a result, picking up with the Detroit Tigers. However, he slashed .268/.382/.460 and played a decent third base for the Tigers, allowing them to flip him for last year's 3rd Round pick, Luis Ramos.
Barraclough adds to a bullpen that is currently ranked 3rd in AL bullpen ERA. They easily have the best bullpen ERA this month, with a 2.16 worlds better than Tampa Bay's second best 3.77. Back in July, Texas' 3.24 mark edged out Oakland's 3.35 for the best mark.
Barraclough has been a huge part of the August excellence. Since arriving in Texas, he has 4.1 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. He had struggled a bit in Miami last year, but as with Marcus Stroman, Texas has a history of taking talented pitchers in sub-optimal situations and rejuvenating them.
Alex Claudio has been a huge part of the unit's yearlong success. Claudio has a 1.35 ERA this year with 32 saves in 33 attempts. His only blown save came last week when Travis Demeritte cracked a home run off him, but Claudio won the game anyway. He has 60 strikeouts in 53.1 innings, and has allowed 31 hits and 13 walks for a 0.84 WHIP. He's allowed more than one run in a game just once, and Demeritte's home run was the only run he's allowed in his last 18 appearances. He's allowed just four hits during that span, pitching at least an inning in all but one of them.
Oakland will need to do its work early to not have to deal with Claudio. Fortunately for them, its offense has been doing just that, averaging an even 9 runs a game over their last eight games. They've scored 20 runs in the first inning in that stretch, and have only failed to score in the first twice.
Tyler Wade deserves a lot of the credit for the quick starts. He's hitting for a .298 clip this month, getting on base with a .365 on-base mark. This is on the heels of a .341 July with a .407 on-base percentage. He has a .384 on-base percentage as a leadoff hitter and has really done his job as a table setter in Oakland's lineup. He's 2-6 against Adonis Medina in his career.
Franklin Barreto's also playing the best ball of his season. After a dreary start, Barreto turned in a July with a .360 average, 11 doubles, and a .409 on-base mark. In August, the average dropped to .323 and the on-base mark dipped to .361. However, he only has two doubles, but seven home runs has some of his balls that would land in the gap or bounce off the wall have gone over the fence. He's still top 10 in doubles, but if the power is real, it'll add a whole other dimension to his game.
Oakland's hitters are coming around at just the right time to make this contest with Texas a real treat.
Questions for the GM's:
For Sam East, how has the deal for Miguel Sano worked out for you?
Texas has gotten the attention, but you have the best pen on the season by ERA. What do you think about your bullpen?
Are you going to play out today any differently knowing Claudio is exceptional in the 9th?
For Clayton Piper, why specifically did you go after Carpenter and how has it affected your team?
You picked up Adonis Medina in the Rule V draft last year, and now he's starting. What do you like about him?
How important will it be for you to pick up runs against Kevin Gowdy, knowing they have the best bullpen in the AL?
TRIVIA: How many players in the top 30 in Home Runs by a Third Baseman do these two teams employ combined?
OAK: Kevin Gowdy (6-4, 5.34)
TEX: Adonis Medina (6-5, 4.17)
Before a recent minor skid, the Texas had been on a rampage, winning 16 of their last 18 games. They'll take on an Oakland team that has won six of their last seven to maintain control of the AL West.
It's a battle of AL West behemoths when the Texas Rangers face off against the Oakland Athletics on the Game of the Week.
Texas is charging fast, plus they've made a few deadline deals to bolster their team. Matt Carpenter was added from Detroit, and Kyle Barraclough from Miami, to bolster their lineup and bullpen. The Rangers already had the second best offense, but aside from Giancarlo Stanton, some of their key players had been underperforming. Instead of acquiring a superstar, the Rangers now have balance and depth across all spots in their lineup. Carpenter had a poor 2020 and signed late as a result, picking up with the Detroit Tigers. However, he slashed .268/.382/.460 and played a decent third base for the Tigers, allowing them to flip him for last year's 3rd Round pick, Luis Ramos.
Barraclough adds to a bullpen that is currently ranked 3rd in AL bullpen ERA. They easily have the best bullpen ERA this month, with a 2.16 worlds better than Tampa Bay's second best 3.77. Back in July, Texas' 3.24 mark edged out Oakland's 3.35 for the best mark.
Barraclough has been a huge part of the August excellence. Since arriving in Texas, he has 4.1 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. He had struggled a bit in Miami last year, but as with Marcus Stroman, Texas has a history of taking talented pitchers in sub-optimal situations and rejuvenating them.
Alex Claudio has been a huge part of the unit's yearlong success. Claudio has a 1.35 ERA this year with 32 saves in 33 attempts. His only blown save came last week when Travis Demeritte cracked a home run off him, but Claudio won the game anyway. He has 60 strikeouts in 53.1 innings, and has allowed 31 hits and 13 walks for a 0.84 WHIP. He's allowed more than one run in a game just once, and Demeritte's home run was the only run he's allowed in his last 18 appearances. He's allowed just four hits during that span, pitching at least an inning in all but one of them.
Oakland will need to do its work early to not have to deal with Claudio. Fortunately for them, its offense has been doing just that, averaging an even 9 runs a game over their last eight games. They've scored 20 runs in the first inning in that stretch, and have only failed to score in the first twice.
Tyler Wade deserves a lot of the credit for the quick starts. He's hitting for a .298 clip this month, getting on base with a .365 on-base mark. This is on the heels of a .341 July with a .407 on-base percentage. He has a .384 on-base percentage as a leadoff hitter and has really done his job as a table setter in Oakland's lineup. He's 2-6 against Adonis Medina in his career.
Franklin Barreto's also playing the best ball of his season. After a dreary start, Barreto turned in a July with a .360 average, 11 doubles, and a .409 on-base mark. In August, the average dropped to .323 and the on-base mark dipped to .361. However, he only has two doubles, but seven home runs has some of his balls that would land in the gap or bounce off the wall have gone over the fence. He's still top 10 in doubles, but if the power is real, it'll add a whole other dimension to his game.
Oakland's hitters are coming around at just the right time to make this contest with Texas a real treat.
Questions for the GM's:
For Sam East, how has the deal for Miguel Sano worked out for you?
Texas has gotten the attention, but you have the best pen on the season by ERA. What do you think about your bullpen?
Are you going to play out today any differently knowing Claudio is exceptional in the 9th?
For Clayton Piper, why specifically did you go after Carpenter and how has it affected your team?
You picked up Adonis Medina in the Rule V draft last year, and now he's starting. What do you like about him?
How important will it be for you to pick up runs against Kevin Gowdy, knowing they have the best bullpen in the AL?
TRIVIA: How many players in the top 30 in Home Runs by a Third Baseman do these two teams employ combined?
