Dave Cokin
Friday Bonus Play 8:10 PM
MLB (925) LOS ANGELES ANGELS at (926) KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Take: (925) LOS ANGELES ANGELS -105
There’s no way in the world I saw this coming. Matt Shoemaker emerging as a quality big league starter was absolutely never a consideration I thought remotely likely. There simply wasn’t anything in the Shoemaker resume to expect what has taken place. In fact, I thought it was a cool deal last season when the Halos brought Shoemaker up for what I assumed was just a cameo for a solid organizational guy with a limited ceiling.
The key to Shoemaker’s breakout appears to be a terrific split-changeup that is really messing with the hitters. That, and the fact he’s literally throwing seven different pitch types with a velocity range from 76.6 to 91.3. Shoemakers will never blow hitters away with his stuff. But he’s once again proof that changing speeds and locating what’s thrown is what pitching is all about, and right now he’s one of the best stories of the season.
As long as Shoemaker keeps this up, the buy sign stays in place. He very well might not be a fluke who’s due for an unpleasant correction. This surge is not about getting lucky. The numbers Shoemakers is posting are legit, and he’s not a guy I have any desire to try and beat right now.
Jason Vargas is no pushover. Vargas is a quality start machine right now. I do think there could be some regression coming for the lefty, but nothing spectacular. However, when playing the comparison game vs. Shoemaker, the Halos hurler is simply the better pitcher right at the moment.
Team aspects also favor the road team tonight. The Royals had the red hot run and moved past the Tigers in the AL Central, and then the alarm clock rang and that dream ended. KC is back in the offensive cooler, and what is supposed to be one of the more dominate pens in the game has been anything but that lately. The Angels are hitting it pretty hard these days, and I don’t have a real problem with their bullpen assuming Mike Sciocsia stops handing the baseball to struggling Ernesto Frieri. I feel safe in stating that yesterday’s bad outing by Frieri that resulted in Joe Smith having to save what looked like an easy win means we won’t be seeing the ex-Angels closer in any meaningful situation for the foreseeable future.
This is all about jumping on a pitcher with a roll intact and a hot team that is playing some really good baseball right now. That’s sure not the Royals, as they’ve regressed since the surprising surge. I like the Angels to maintain the momentum with a series opening win tonight.
Friday Bonus Play 8:10 PM
MLB (925) LOS ANGELES ANGELS at (926) KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Take: (925) LOS ANGELES ANGELS -105
There’s no way in the world I saw this coming. Matt Shoemaker emerging as a quality big league starter was absolutely never a consideration I thought remotely likely. There simply wasn’t anything in the Shoemaker resume to expect what has taken place. In fact, I thought it was a cool deal last season when the Halos brought Shoemaker up for what I assumed was just a cameo for a solid organizational guy with a limited ceiling.
The key to Shoemaker’s breakout appears to be a terrific split-changeup that is really messing with the hitters. That, and the fact he’s literally throwing seven different pitch types with a velocity range from 76.6 to 91.3. Shoemakers will never blow hitters away with his stuff. But he’s once again proof that changing speeds and locating what’s thrown is what pitching is all about, and right now he’s one of the best stories of the season.
As long as Shoemaker keeps this up, the buy sign stays in place. He very well might not be a fluke who’s due for an unpleasant correction. This surge is not about getting lucky. The numbers Shoemakers is posting are legit, and he’s not a guy I have any desire to try and beat right now.
Jason Vargas is no pushover. Vargas is a quality start machine right now. I do think there could be some regression coming for the lefty, but nothing spectacular. However, when playing the comparison game vs. Shoemaker, the Halos hurler is simply the better pitcher right at the moment.
Team aspects also favor the road team tonight. The Royals had the red hot run and moved past the Tigers in the AL Central, and then the alarm clock rang and that dream ended. KC is back in the offensive cooler, and what is supposed to be one of the more dominate pens in the game has been anything but that lately. The Angels are hitting it pretty hard these days, and I don’t have a real problem with their bullpen assuming Mike Sciocsia stops handing the baseball to struggling Ernesto Frieri. I feel safe in stating that yesterday’s bad outing by Frieri that resulted in Joe Smith having to save what looked like an easy win means we won’t be seeing the ex-Angels closer in any meaningful situation for the foreseeable future.
This is all about jumping on a pitcher with a roll intact and a hot team that is playing some really good baseball right now. That’s sure not the Royals, as they’ve regressed since the surprising surge. I like the Angels to maintain the momentum with a series opening win tonight.
Jim Feist
MLB Comp Pick for Friday June 27, 2014: 7:05 PM EST
(915) CHICAGO WHITE SOX VS (916) TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Take: (915) CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Reason: Your free pick for Friday, June 27th, 2014, comes in baseball as Chicago and the Blue Jays meet in Toronto. Toronto is a great hitter's park and the White Sox are in town with an improved offense, 7th in baseball in runs scored, 8th in slugging. Lefty John Danks goes here, with the team 3-1 his last four starts. For the season he has allowed fewer hits than innings pitched. Toronto is a big favorite, but 39-year old R.A. Dickey goes here with a 606 record and a 4.04 ERA. The team is 0-2 his last two starts and he's walked 42 in 98 innings for the year. The Blue Jays are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a losing record and the last three years Dickey has a 5.73 ERA against the White Sox. Chicago is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings, including 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Toronto. Play the White Sox!
MLB Comp Pick for Friday June 27, 2014: 7:05 PM EST
(915) CHICAGO WHITE SOX VS (916) TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Take: (915) CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Reason: Your free pick for Friday, June 27th, 2014, comes in baseball as Chicago and the Blue Jays meet in Toronto. Toronto is a great hitter's park and the White Sox are in town with an improved offense, 7th in baseball in runs scored, 8th in slugging. Lefty John Danks goes here, with the team 3-1 his last four starts. For the season he has allowed fewer hits than innings pitched. Toronto is a big favorite, but 39-year old R.A. Dickey goes here with a 606 record and a 4.04 ERA. The team is 0-2 his last two starts and he's walked 42 in 98 innings for the year. The Blue Jays are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a losing record and the last three years Dickey has a 5.73 ERA against the White Sox. Chicago is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings, including 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Toronto. Play the White Sox!
Stephen Nover
Miami vs. Oakland
Oakland Athletics -148
The Marlins haven't been the same since losing Jose Fernandez for the season. They lost their home field edge and made the decision to rebuilt for next year once Fernandez went down.
This is evident in the Marlins losing 11 of their last 16 at home and pitching Anthony DeSclafani, who I don't believe is ready for the majors yet. DeSclafani will be making his fifth big league start. He pitched well in his first outing, but is 0-2 during his last three starts with a 9.39 ERA.
DeSclafani is going to be asked to go deep into this game, too, because the Marlins' bullpen has serious fatigue issues after Thursday's 14-inning marathon loss to the Phillies in which five relievers saw action. Miami relievers have already pitched 86 2/3 innings this month.
DeSclafani faces the A's, who have the best record in baseball, are 24-15 on the road and average a league-best 5.1 runs per game. The Marlins, by contrast, have averaged only three runs per game during their last 16 home contests.
The Marlins are going to have to deal with Jesse Chavez, who has a 1.43 ERA in his last three starts and has a 2.71 ERA on the season. The A's also have a rested bullpen after being idle on Thursday.
Oakland has won eight of its last 11 and has a 70 percent winning percentage the past 60 times when favored.
Miami vs. Oakland
Oakland Athletics -148
The Marlins haven't been the same since losing Jose Fernandez for the season. They lost their home field edge and made the decision to rebuilt for next year once Fernandez went down.
This is evident in the Marlins losing 11 of their last 16 at home and pitching Anthony DeSclafani, who I don't believe is ready for the majors yet. DeSclafani will be making his fifth big league start. He pitched well in his first outing, but is 0-2 during his last three starts with a 9.39 ERA.
DeSclafani is going to be asked to go deep into this game, too, because the Marlins' bullpen has serious fatigue issues after Thursday's 14-inning marathon loss to the Phillies in which five relievers saw action. Miami relievers have already pitched 86 2/3 innings this month.
DeSclafani faces the A's, who have the best record in baseball, are 24-15 on the road and average a league-best 5.1 runs per game. The Marlins, by contrast, have averaged only three runs per game during their last 16 home contests.
The Marlins are going to have to deal with Jesse Chavez, who has a 1.43 ERA in his last three starts and has a 2.71 ERA on the season. The A's also have a rested bullpen after being idle on Thursday.
Oakland has won eight of its last 11 and has a 70 percent winning percentage the past 60 times when favored.
