MLB viewing guide: Monday schedule spotlight
The Dodgers and Red Sox hope to end losing streaks while David Ortiz hopes to advance his 25-game hitting streak in the annals of Boston’s history.
Day | Home SP | Visit. SP | Time | Where |
6-May | James Shields (2-2), 3.00 ERA, 2.78 FIP | Chris Sale (3-2), 3.83 ERA, 4.22 FIP | 2:10 pm ET | CSN, FOX Sports-Kansas City |
The White Sox havev followed up an unsightly 14-21 finish to last year’s season with a 12-17 start to 2013, but fans of the Pale Hose should not lose faith yet. That same contending team was sputtering in a 3-11 stretch 365 days ago today, and they were four under .500 in mid-May. Though he’s facing one of his kind, Sale is the ace that manager Robin Ventura needs to reverse fortunes for both the ChiSox and the Royals, who could sweep Chicago with a victory.
Day | Home SP | Visit. SP | Time | Where |
6-May | Bronson Arroyo (2-3), 3.95 ERA, 4.07 FIP | Paul Maholm (3-3), 3.08 ERA, 3.26 FIP | 7:05 pm ET | ESPN, Sports South, FOX Sports-Ohio |
Someone better check on Justin Upton, as he did not homer at all last week in seven games against the Tigers, Nationals, and Mets. While that comment was in jest, someone actually should check on B.J. Upton, whose 33 wRC+ is lower than 152 of 154 players with at least 100 plate appearances. A minuscule .185 batting average on balls in play suggests he'll turn it around soon, but Braves fans are getting understandably antsy.
Photo credit: Hannah Foslien
Day | Home SP | Visit. SP | Time | Where |
6-May | Clay Buchholz (6-0), 1.01 ERA, 2.28 FIP | Vance Worley (0-4), 7.22 ERA, 4.59 FIP | 7:10 pm ET | NESN, FOX Sports-North |
Boston just dropped three in a row to Texas in their first rough series of the year, but the match-up of the terrific Buchholz against the struggling Worley at home in Fenway is in their favor. Meanwhile, David Ortiz carries a 25-game hitting streak into today, a mark better than all but 10 such streaks in Red Sox history. Another hit would tie him with Buck Freeman (1902), Johnny Pesky ('47), and Nomar Garciaparra ('03) for the seventh-longest hitting streak throughout the franchise's 113 years. This streak is also a weird one, as it's lasted for over 300 days.
Day | Home SP | Visit. SP | Time | Where |
6-May | Chris Capuano (0-1), 9.64 ERA, 3.23 FIP | Trevor Cahill (1-3), 2.84 ERA, 3.36 FIP | 10:10 pm ET | PRIME, FOX Sports-Arizona |
Capuano returning to from injury isn't exactly Sandy Koufax or even Zack Greinke in terms of inspiring confidence, but the Dodgers were just swept by the Giants and have dropped four in a row, so it can't hurt. Don't think for a second that the ownership group that invested so much money in this team will hesitate to make some moves to shake up the clubhouse if the 13-17 record gets worse.
Day | Home SP | Visit. SP | Time | Where |
6-May | Madison Bumgarner (3-0), 1.55 ERA, 2.94 FIP | Cliff Lee (2-2), 3.46 ERA, 2.82 FIP | 10:15 pm ET | CSN, CSBA |
Thought the Giants have scored 4.5 runs per game, they’ve scored just 2.8 per game in Bumgarner’s six starts; despite his superb ERA, he only has three wins to his name, and shutout ball through seven wasn’t enough to win in his last start in Arizona. He figures to be up against another such challenge with Lee on the mound for the Phillies, who has given up just three earned runs in 43 career regular season innings against the Giants.
