Oakland A's (18-14) Chance of Postseason Play (48.9%) at Cleveland Indians (14-14) Chance of Postseason Play (31.6%)
Series 11, Games 29, 30, 31and 32
Progressive Field, Cleveland: 1.086, Extreme hitters park.
Series 11, Games 29, 30, 31and 32
Progressive Field, Cleveland: 1.086, Extreme hitters park.
Monday , May 6 7:05 EDT (STO)
Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 7.13) vs. Jarrod Parker (1-4, 7.36)
A battle of the disappointments. Both pitchers were counted on to be contributors on contending teams this season and, so far, both have not lived up to the bill. Parker gathered his first win of the season Tuesday, yielding four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks, while recording four strikeouts over six innings, as the A's beat the hapless Angels. Parker was solid through six innings, but an offensive outburst by the A's in the bottom of the inning forced him to take warmup pitches in the pen just to stay sharp. After a leadoff walk, he was removed from the mound with his second quality start of the season in hand following 96 pitches (59 strikes). If the A's cannot rely on Parker this season, they probably will not win the division.
Tuesday, May 7 7:05 EDT (STO)
Zack McAllister (2-3 3.30) vs. Tommy Milone (L) (3-3, 3.69)
Milone gave up four runs on seven hits, including three homers, over seven innings in a lose against the Angels on Wednesday. On a positive note, Milone fanned 10 and did not walk a batter in the outing, improving his K:BB to 36:6 over his first six starts (39 innings), according to ESPN Stats and Info. The good command Milone is what has allowed him to be successful thus far in his career. He works with a high 80s fastball which on occasion can reach 90-91. He is able to place the ball inside and outside and uses the corners well. Despite his elite level command he doesn’t get a lot of ground balls and sees even his offering lower in the zone, when hit, able to be lifted. Milone has some deception working for him with his delivery. He hides the ball well and is able to easily repeat his simple albeit mechanical delivery. His deception allows his fastball to play up because it’s not seen until the very point of release and his ability to repeat allows him to hit his spots.
Zack McAllister (2-3 3.30) vs. Tommy Milone (L) (3-3, 3.69)
Milone gave up four runs on seven hits, including three homers, over seven innings in a lose against the Angels on Wednesday. On a positive note, Milone fanned 10 and did not walk a batter in the outing, improving his K:BB to 36:6 over his first six starts (39 innings), according to ESPN Stats and Info. The good command Milone is what has allowed him to be successful thus far in his career. He works with a high 80s fastball which on occasion can reach 90-91. He is able to place the ball inside and outside and uses the corners well. Despite his elite level command he doesn’t get a lot of ground balls and sees even his offering lower in the zone, when hit, able to be lifted. Milone has some deception working for him with his delivery. He hides the ball well and is able to easily repeat his simple albeit mechanical delivery. His deception allows his fastball to play up because it’s not seen until the very point of release and his ability to repeat allows him to hit his spots.
This will be a fantastic pitching match up.
Wednesday, May 8 7:05 EDT (STO)
Justin Masterson (4-2, 3.64) vs. A.J. Griffin (3-2, 3.79)
Griffin struggled a bit at the end of April, but got his May off on the right foot with a very good start against the Yankees on Friday. He threw seven innings of shutout baseball in a 2-0 win. He allowed six hits, walked one, and struck out four. Griffin is a big kid, but his fastball sits in the low 90s at its best. He matches it with a solid curveball and changeup and solid approach to his game. He has back of the rotation upside but does not a high ceiling.
Thursday May 9, 12:05 EDT (STO)
Scott Kazmir (1-1, 6.28) vs. Bartolo Colon (3-1, 3.62)
Colon gave up three runs over 5.1 innings and picked up his first loss of the season against the Yankees on Saturday. Colon still owns a respectable 3.62 ERA and has only walked one batter in 37.1 innings, but his last two starts have been really rocky. The former Indians ace is older but still somewhat effective.
Kazmir struck out seven batters over six innings to earn the victory in the 7-3 win over the Twins.
Prediction: A's win series 3-1.
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