Game Day: Saturday, May 23rd
🎧"Saturday! Saturday... Saturday... Saturday. Saturday. Saturday night's all right"🎧
I think this day of the week is named after Sir Elton John from the planet Saturn. They knighted that twinkie in England. He put out some good tunes. A bucket full of hit singles. Huge head. He looks like a living, breathing Austin Powers bobblehead. "Saturday" was a great tune at one time. Elton has lost some of his luster and so have his records.
The Who, another all-time great English band, put out a record a few years back titled, "This Music Must Die", and I didn't understand it much at the time but I am beginning to think they are on to something. I mostly listen to instrumentals these days.
Baseball is on today in most cities around the country. Let's check-in on the goings on this Saturday. It is a beautiful day in Illinois.
Rays Bring the Rain
I am befuddled by the Rays' winning ways. They don't play good defense, they don't hit for power. Pitching has been real good but not great. They hit for contact and run the bases. It's a team that is winning with unity and good fortune. They definitely have some good chemistry on that club and it's dispelling all the stats nerds and all the naysayers.
I had them at #12 in my latest Power Rankings and quite honestly felt like I was being generous in placing Tampa that highly but I am a stats guy. I don't watch games day in and day out. I follow the boxscores and the play by play on the Superfan Sports App. I listen to games on the radio. I use the data to arrive at my conclusions.
This weekend was an opportunity to see what the Rays were made of. They won the only game that is likely to be played and will escape New York unscathed.
Rays are currently 34-15 on the season, 19 games above .500. It's an impressive beginning for a team that was mostly counted out, I'd say even by their own management. They certainly had plans to trade a player or two at this year's trade deadline but that is looking to be more and more unlikely as we enter June. Rays play their next 18 games against teams that are under .500 and in most regards mediocre. I guess if the numbers are losing their efficacy records don't really mean all that much but it's a soft schedule in some regard and the Rays' are likely to keep winning games because of it.
Is it the Rays' year? A team can win 107 games in the regular season and fall short of the World Series. The Giants pulled that feat off not so long ago if my memory serves me correctly. The year was 2021 and they were defeated by the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.
Brewers Brush Freddy Back
Logan Henderson was working inside to the Dodger's lefty last night. He challenged all their big bats with impressive command. He was inside all night on the lefties. That's difficult to do for a right-handed pitcher. Henderson only allowed two hits through 5.0 scoreless innings of work.
Dodger's starter, Justin Wrobleski was exposed to some degree. He hung three sliders in the first. Two singles and a home run ball to Brewers' catcher William Contreras. Wrobleski managed 5.0 innings but gave up five earned runs on the night. The Brewers had a 5-0 lead into the seventh inning and their bullpen locked it down. A 5-1 win for the home-team.
They'll play Game Two this evening. A Saturday night game between the Brewers and the Dodgers from American Family Field in Milwaukee, WI. It is a 6:15 PM CDT start. This is MLB's biggest and brightest game tonight despite what is a rather flat pitching matchup. It's Roki Sasaki (2-3) vs. Robert Gasser (0-0) for the Brewers. Sasaki has flashed some this season and Gasser has always had the "potential" moniker attached to his playing card. Brewers are currently at (+100) with the bookies. It's a tough bet to make. I don't see a big edge but it's a fair shake and a good 50/50 propostion for a gambler.
Paging Dr. Wheeler
The Guardians have been one of the best teams in the AL and the book makers still have this game heavily priced (-200) in favor of Zack Wheeler (3-0) and the Phillies.
I have the Phillies (25-26) at #5 in my Power Rankings. The Guards (31-22) at #6 this week. The rankings aren't based on their records entirely. A big reason I have the Phillies ranked so highly is the man on the mound this afternoon.
Wheeler returned from thoracic outlet surgery at the end of April and has been riding a wheelie for a month now. His 1.99 ERA puts him amongst the top10 starters in baseball.
Cleveland gets a checkup today from Dr. Wheeler. I like the long odds on the Phillies this afternoon with Slade Cecconi (3-4) on the mound for the Guardians. The "Great Schwarbino" is in the lineup as is Bryce Harper who doesn't tolerate ridiculous nicknames.
It's a 3:05 PM CDT start from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. I think that storm system is out of the area. Hopefully this game gets played this afternoon.
Ballgame Blitz
Mets and Marlins at 3:05 PM CDT from Loan Depot Park in Miami, FL. Freddy Peralta (3-3) gets the ball against Max Meyer (4-0). The Marlins have hit as poorly as the Mets this season. Marlins won Game One, 2-1, in a pitcher's duel. Peralta can even the series with a strong start this afternoon. Mets are road dogs at (+105) and are hungry for a win. Game starts as soon as Steve gets his trunks on. Should be around 3:05 PM CDT.
"Lucky" Lucas Giolito (1-0) takes on JT Ginn (2-2) in Game Two of the A's and Padres series from PETCO Park in San Diego, CA. The Padres won the first game of the series, 7-3, and can secure the series with a victory tonight against the Northern Californian renegades. Morejon, Rodriguez and Adam all pitched on Friday out of the Padres' bullpen. JT Ginn has been real good this season and Giolito is a ham until he proves otherwise. Books have this game as a 50/50, A's going off at (-110). I like the A's tonight. They'll play under the lights. First pitch at 8:40 PM CDT.
"If DeGrom can't set 'em down, Eovaldi can!" That's the cheer from the Rangers' new pom squad. They have a pom pom squad now. It was Burger's brilliant idea. Nathan Eovaldi (5-4) vs. Walbert Urena (1-4) tonight from the "Big A" in Anaheim, CA. Walbert hasn't pitched as well as his ERA might suggest. Texas is interesting at (-145). Eovaldi can shut the Angels down tonight. 9:05 PM CDT first pitch.
That's it for Game Day. I'll be back with a pick later this afternoon. I am on a losing streak and am resigned to it in some regard. I feel rather loose, however, and might put a parlay on tonight. I definitely have to dig in some and time is running short but if a pair of late games pop, I'll package them up for a payday.