STATSYSTEMS SPORTS AL PITCHING REPORT
SATURDAY, APRIL 19th 2014
INFORMATION WORTH BETTING ON EACH DAY
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#965 TORONTO @ #966 CLEVELAND - 1:05 PM
•Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle (3-0, 0.86 ERA, WHIP: ) - The most surprised person when it comes to Buehrle's fast start may be Buerhle himself. After baffling the Baltimore Orioles over seven innings in an 11-3 victory last time out, the 35-year-old southpaw told reporters of his fast start: "It means I'm getting really lucky and I'm fooling a lot of people. I don't know what's going on." It's a stark contrast to his first three outings of 2013, in which he allowed 14 runs over 16 innings with five walks and seven strikeouts.
•Indians RH Corey Kluber (1-1, 5.40 ERA, WHIP: ) - Kluber deserved a better fate in his last outing, limiting the White Sox to two runs on eight hits over 7 1/3 innings but winding up with a no-decision in a game Chicago went on to win 4-3. The 28-year-old Alabama native has had back-to-back strong performances after lasting just 3 1/3 frames in a season-opening loss to Oakland. The Blue Jays are the only team from the American League East that Kluber has yet to face in his career.
#967 LA ANGELS @ #968 DETROIT - 1:05 PM
•Angels LH C.J. Wilson (2-1, 3.92 ERA, WHIP: 1.161) - After a rocky season debut, Wilson has been outstanding his last two times out, allowing three runs over 15 innings in consecutive wins. He has racked up 24 strikeouts over his first three starts, including a season-high nine last time out against the New York Mets. Wilson hasn't fared too well against Detroit, going 2-2 with a 5.50 ERA in 11 games (five starts).
•Tigers RH Max Scherzer (0-1, 2.70 ERA, WHIP: 1.050) - Scherzer had his share of good luck during his Cy Young campaign a year ago, and he has paid for it so far in 2014. The Tigers have scored only one run with him on the mound in each of his three starts and he's still looking for his first victory. Scherzer is 2-1 with a 2.39 ERA in four starts against the Angels and he has held his own against stars Mike Trout (3-for-10, HR) and Albert Pujols (1-for-8).
#969 BALTIMORE @ #970 BOSTON - 1:35 PM
•Orioles RH Bud Norris (0-1, 3.75 ERA, WHIP: 1.417) - Norris was knocked around for five runs in as many innings at Detroit in his season debut but showed much better form in holding the Toronto Blue Jays scoreless over seven innings in his next start. The 29-year-old has not pitched since April 12 after a rainout during the week. Norris missed Boston the first time around but struck out seven while allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings at the Red Sox on Aug. 28 after joining the Orioles last season.
•Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (1-2, 6.75 ERA, WHIP: 1.772) - Doubront picked up his lone win at Baltimore on April 3, holding the Orioles to three runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings. The Venezuela native put together his longest outing at New York last Sunday but came out on the losing end after yielding three runs in 6 2/3 frames. Doubront is strong in his career against Baltimore slugger Adam Jones (2-for-19) but has had some trouble against left-handed hitters Chris Davis (8-for-18) and Markakis (6-for-13).
#971 MINNESOTA @ #972 KANSAS CITY - 2:10 PM
•Twins RH Kevin Correia (0-1, 5.30 ERA, WHIP: 1.285) - Correia is making his second straight start against the Royals. He brought a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning Sunday in Minnesota, gave up three runs but was saved from the loss when the Twins scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth to win 4-3 in the series finale. Correia is 0-3 in seven career starts against the Royals with a 5.03 ERA, the most starts he has made against a team without earning a victory.
•Royals LH Bruce Chen (0-1, 6.30 ERA, WHIP: 1.600) - Chen is also making his second straight start against the same club, but he wasn’t nearly as efficient as Correia his last time out while allowing six runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings in an April 11 game eventually won the by Twins 10-1. Saturday's appearance was moved back two days because Chen had a stiff back. As insurance in case Chen falters again, the Royals brought up long reliever Justin Marks from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday and placed Lorenzo Cain on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin.
#973 HOUSTON @ #974 OAKLAND - 4:05 PM
•Astros LH Brett Oberholtzer (0-3, 3.50 ERA, WHIP: 0.944) - Oberholtzer has been hurt by a lack of run support as Houston has scored four runs in his three starts, and was shut out 1-0 at Texas on Sunday when he yielded one run and five hits in seven innings while striking out seven. The 24-year-old Christiana, Del., native has a 0.94 WHIP with 15 strikeouts in 18 innings and a .206 batting average against this season. Oberholtzer lost his only start to the Athletics 2-1 on Sept. 7 in Oakland when he allowed one run in six innings.
•Athletics LH Scott Kazmir (2-0, 1.40 ERA, WHIP: 0.776) - Kazmir benefits from an extra day off because Oakland did not play Thursday after he departed Sunday's 3-0 victory at Seattle with nine strikeouts. The 30-year-old Houston native dealt with the injury during spring training and manager Bob Melvin doesn't believe it is serious. Kazmir is 12-9 since making one start in 2011 and missing all of 2012 with a shoulder injury, and began working his way back to the majors by pitching in independent ball. "He threw 95 (Sunday)," Melvin told reporters of Kazmir. "He was dominating. I know he's having a lot of fun, and he's fit in well on this club."
#975 NY YANKEES @ #976 TAMPA BAY - 7:10 PM
•Yankees RH Ivan Nova (2-1, 5.94 ERA, WHIP: 1.740) - Nova gave up nine runs on 16 hits and five walks in 9 1/3 innings over his first two starts of the season before rebounding in a big way against Boston at home on Sunday. He gave up two runs in 7 1/3 frames versus the Red Sox, lifting the Yankees to a hard-earned 3-2 triumph. The 27-year-old Nova is 6-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) against Tampa Bay but has a 4.56 ERA in five games at Tropicana Field.
•Rays RH Chris Archer (1-1, 4.50 ERA, WHIP: 1.500) - While Nova rebounded from a rough start to the season in his third start, Archer followed up two outstanding efforts with a rocky performance at Baltimore on Monday, surrendering a career-high seven runs and 12 hits in five innings of a 7-1 loss. Archer is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA in three career starts versus the Yankees. The Rays have won the last six home games started by Archer.
#977 CHI WHITE SOX @ #978 TEXAS - 8:05 PM
•White Sox LH Jose Quintana (1-0, 2.37 ERA, WHIP: 1.158) - Quintana has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his first three starts. He took a no-decision in his last outing against Cleveland despite giving up just one run and five hits in six innings. Quintana is 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two career starts against Texas.
•Rangers RH Colby Lewis (0-1, 6.75 ERA, WHIP: 1.501) - Lewis lost to Seattle on Monday in his first major-league start since injuring his arm 21 months ago. He gave up four runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings but didn’t walk anybody. Lewis is 3-3 with a 5.55 ERA in nine career appearances (seven starts) against Chicago.
#979 SEATTLE @ #980 MIAMI - 7:10 PM
•Mariners LH Roenis Elias (1-1, 2.16 ERA, WHIP: 1.020) - Elias has fared well in his first three major-league outings and has given up only 11 hits in 16 2/3 innings. He picked up his first win in his last outing when he gave up one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings against Texas. The 25-year-old Cuban has limited opposing hitters to a .196 average.
•Marlins RH Henderson Alvarez (0-2, 4.30 ERA, WHIP: 2.181) - Alvarez has been shaky so far while allowing 25 hits and seven walks in only 14 2/3 innings. He took a no-decision against Philadelphia in his last outing when he yielded three runs and 12 hits in six innings. Alvarez is 2-0 with a 4.00 ERA in three starts against Seattle, all coming when he was with the Toronto Blue Jays.
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