MLB viewing guide: Wednesday schedule spotlight
King Felix visits Pittsburgh for the first time, the Tigers and Nats try to play baseball again, and David Ortiz looks to tie a Boston Hall of Famer.
Day | Home SP | Visit. SP | Time | Where |
8-May | A.J. Burnett (3-2), 2.57 ERA, 3.52 FIP | Felix Hernandez (4-2), 1.60 ERA, 2.17 FIP | 12:35 pm ET | ROOT Sports |
The teams might not seem enticing at first glance, but both are tossing their aces out there. Andrew McCutchen went 4-for-4 against Aaron Harang and the Mariners bullpen yesterday and leadoff hitter Starling Marte has a .789 slugging percentage in the past week, but they'll have to contend with King Felix today, a pitcher unlike any they've ever faced: the only Pirates with even 15 plate appearances against Felix are Russell Martin, who might not play, and backup Brandon Inge, who is Brandon Inge.
Day | Home SP | Visit. SP | Time | Where |
8-May | Carlos Villanueva (1-2), 2.85 ERA, 3.85 FIP | Jake Westbrook (2-1), 1.07 ERA, 3.53 FIP | 2:20 pm ET | FOX Sports-Midwest, CSN |
The Cubs are a terrible team, but Cards/Cubs remains one of the classic National League rivalries. The theme of this game is “How low can Westbrook’s ERA go?” Even against the lowly Cubs, it probably cannot go much lower --Westbrook still has yet to give up a homer, and Wrigley Field is not quite “The Friendly Confines” for pitchers. Then again, the Cubs are the Cubs.
Photo credit: Patrick McDermott
Day | Home SP | Visit. SP | Time | Where |
8-May | Jordan Zimmermann (5-1), 1.64 ERA, 2.92 FIP | Anibal Sanchez (3-2), 1.82 ERA, 1.33 FIP | 7:05 pm ET | FOX Sports-Detroit, MASN |
Day | Home SP | Visit. SP | Time | Where |
8-May | Allen Webster (0-0), 3.00 ERA, 6.66 FIP | Pedro Hernandez (1-0), 3.92 ERA, 5.18 FIP | 7:10 pm ET | ESPN, NESN, FOX Sports-North |
The Red Sox only got four hits last night in a 6-1 loss to the Twins, but one of them was a second inning single by David Ortiz to extend his hitting streak to 27. That brought him even with Manny Ramirez and Dom DiMaggio's 27-gamers from '06 and '51, respectively. Another hit tonight will tie him with Hall of Famer Wade Boggs's 28-game hitting streak from '85 for the fourth-longest in Red Sox history. One would be hard-pressed to find a more inexperienced pitching matchup this year: combined, the two starters have seven career games and four starts in the pros.
Day | Home SP | Visit. SP | Time | Where |
8-May | Matt Moore (5-0), 1.95 ERA, 4.08 FIP | Ricky Romero (0-1), 6.75 ERA, 7.25 FIP | 7:10 pm ET | RSN, Sun Sports |
The Jays rebounded from both the gruesome injury to J.A. Happ and the runs that scored during that play to win their third game in a row. Another win tonight would clinch just their second series victory of the season, something that seemed unimaginable a little over a month ago. Moore's ERA appears intimidating, but he's due for some regression -- he's walked 4.6 per nine innings in six starts, allowed a mere .179 BABIP, and stranded 97 percent of all baserunners.
Day | Home SP | Visit. SP | Time | Where |
8-May | Clayton Kershaw (3-2), 1.66 ERA, 2.59 FIP | Wade Miley (2-1), 3.06 ERA, 3.56 FIP | 10:10 pm ET | FOX Sports-Arizona, PRIME |
Los Angeles area teams are in the middle of a terrible stretch of baseball, but at least the Dodgers can start Kershaw every now and then to give them a real chance at a win. Miley and Paul Goldschmidt won't make it easy for the big lefty, though -- Miley has a 2.11 ERA in three starts at Dodger Stadium and Goldschmidt is red hot with nine hits in his last 20 at bats (.450/.519/.800).
