As a baseball team in the midst of a downward spiral, there are few faces you'd rather see less than that of Felix Hernandez, especially if the Mariners would just so happen to be fighting you tooth and nail for the final AL playoff spot. But that's exactly what the Oakland Athletics will have to contend with Saturday in Seattle.
MLB Saturday viewing guide: Athletics face King Felix
King Felix is at home on Saturday, which is good news for the Mariners and very bad news for the A’s.
Otto Greule Jr
With King Felix defending his throne the way he has all season -- a 2.13 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 109 Ks in 109 innings pitched at Safeco Field -- the A's better hope that Sonny Gray can pitch closer to the last start he had against anyone, a seven-inning two-run game against the White Sox, and not like the last time he pitched against the Mariners, when he gave up six runs on seven hits in five innings pitched. Because there's almost no chance their offense will help him, considering the 1.92 runs/game they've had in the last 14 games they've played.
Friday’s MLB schedule
Time (ET) | Game | TV | Reason to watch |
1:05 p.m. | FOX | The Yankees as "AL East champions" ship has likely sailed, but they will fight until the end to get the Captain into the playoffs. And ruin Buck's day. | |
1:05 p.m. | FOX | Lisalverto Bonilla has a wonderful name, and Julio Teheran has a wonderful fastball | |
1:07 p.m. | Rays at Blue Jays | Sun Sports, Rogers Sports Network | Jeremy Hellickson has the potential to be an ace, so what better time to watch him than in a game that doesn't really count for much. |
4:10 p.m. | Twins at White Sox | The first game of a double header, and a chance to see what happens when bad teams have good pitching. | |
7:05 p.m. | Fox Sports Florida, Comcast Sports Philly | The Marlins continue their run toward the NL Wild Card. | |
7:05 p.m. | ROOT Pittsburgh | The Pirates are so close to the NL Central lead they can taste it. Either that, or brats. | |
7:08 p.m. | Sports Time Ohio, Fox Sports Detroit | Kyle Lobstein has started to hit a groove in his last two starts. | |
7:10 p.m. | NESN, Fox Sports KC | The Red Sox continue their "let's see if this is worth keeping" tour against a Royals team who is hungry for the playoffs. | |
7:10 p.m. | Fox Sports Ohio, Fox Sports Wisconsin | Milwaukee struggles desperately to keep stride with Cardinals and Pirates. | |
7:10 p.m. | MASN, WPIX | Doug Fister and Zack Wheeler in a "better names or better pitchers" duel. | |
7:15 p.m. | Rockies at Cardinals | Fox Sports Midwest | With Wacha missing Sunday, the Cardinals will need a solid performance from Shelby Miller to say up in the NL Central race |
7:40 p.m. | Twins at White Sox | Fox Sports North, WGN | With a win, the White Sox can all but secure their place in fourth. |
8:10 p.m. | Padres at Arizona | FS1 | Tyson Ross continues to do a great deal of damage with very little help. |
9:05 p.m. | Astros at Angels | Fox Sports West | The very best part of the AL West hosts the very newest part |
9:05 p.m. | Comcast Sports Bay Area, SportsNet LA, MLB Network | These two teams don't like each other | |
9:10 p.m. | Athletics at Mariners | Comcast Sports California, ROOT Seattle, MLB Network | King Felix is pitching at Safeco, which, like Jed Bartlett in his last debate, is quite a sight to see. |
- -- Nathan Bishop from Lookout Landing on the moment he became a Mariners lifer.
-- The coming and Goins' of the Blue Jays' Ryan.
-- And the odds and ends of the Red Sox rotation.
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