MLB on Sling TV: Cardinals at Nationals, Dodgers at Mets, or Pirates at Rangers on FOX; Regional Action on Fox Regional Sports Networks
St. Louis Cardinals (Wainwright 4-3, 5.77) at Washington Nationals (Gonzalez 3-2, 2.87)
Adam Wainwright’s ERA has been trending downward over his last 7 starts after cresting at 8.27. Since then, he’s posted a 4.79 ERA over 41 ⅓ innings – still not great, but serviceable. In his last start he gave up 3 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks in 6 innings, helping the Cards to a 4-3 win over the Cubs.
Gio Gonzalez saw his ERA jump a full run after his last start, during which the Mets pounded him for 7 runs on 10 hits, 3 of them home runs, though he had 7 strikeouts and 0 walks. It’s likely to be an aberration, as he’d only given 3 homers in his previous 48 ⅓ innings.
Los Angeles Dodgers (Maeda 3-3, 3.29) at New York Mets (Syndergaard 5-2, 1.94)
After enjoying four brilliant outings to start his Major League career with a 0.36 ERA, and 23 strikeouts versus 5 walks in 25 ⅓ innings, Kenta Maeda has fallen back to Earth. Since then, however, he’s made 5 starts, lasting 26 ⅔ innings, with a 6.08 ERA with 25 K’s and 10 walks. Most recently, he surrendered 4 runs for the fourth time in 5 games, but the Dodgers held on to beat the Padres 9-5.
Noah Syndergaard has emerged as the ace of the Mets’ staff this year, and his last start was among his best, as he struck out 11, walked none, and gave up just 1 run on 6 hits over 7 innings, as the Mets beat the Brewers 3-1.
Pittsburgh Pirates (Nicasio 4-3, 4.46) at Texas Rangers (Darvish NA)
Juan Nicasio’s return to the starting rotation after a year in the Dodgers’ bullpen has not been smooth. He’s striking out more than a batter an inning, but his home run rate has popped from .4% last year to 3.3% this year. His last start was a microcosm of his 2016, as he struck out 6 in 5 innings, but he gave up 5 runs on 8 hits, including a homer, though 2 of those runs were unearned.
All hail the return of Yu Darvish! After three seasons as one of the best pitchers in baseball, Darvish lost all of 2015 to Tommy John surgery, and adding insult to injury was the revelation that his brother was embroiled in a Japan-based illegal gambling ring that took bets on Major League Baseball games. Darvish’s absence inspired the Ranger to trade for Cole Hamels in a deadline deal for a success playoff push. Now Darvish is ready to make his 2016 debut, giving Texas two of the better starters in the AL.
Watch the St. Louis Cardinals vs. the Washington Nationals, the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the New York Mets, or the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Texas Rangers, depending on where you live, at 7pm ET Saturday on FOX, by subscribing to the Best of Live TV Beta Multi-Stream package..
Don’t miss the action on your local FOX Sports Regional Networks with the Best of Live TV Beta Mutli-Stream package:
Chicago White Sox (Rodon 2-4, 4.47) at Kansas City Royals (Ventura 4-3, 4.81), 8:15pm ET on FOX Sports Kansas City
Detroit Tigers (TBA) at Oakland Athletics (Hahn 1-2, 4.07) , 4:05pm ET on FOX Sports Detroit
Baltimore Orioles (Jimenez 2-5, 6.04) at Cleveland Indians (Salazar 4-3, 2.32), 4:10pm ET on SportsTime Ohio
Cincinnati Reds (Simon 1-5, 10.16) at Milwaukee Brewers (Anderson 2-6, 5.33), 4:10pm ET on FOX Sports Cincinnati & FOX Sports Wisconsin
Miami Marlins (Chen 3-2, 4.61) at Atlanta Braves (Blair 0-3, 7.59), 4:10pm ET on FOX Sports Florida & FOX Sports Southeast
New York Yankees (Pineda 2-5, 6.34) at Tampa Bay Rays (Moore 1-3, 5.47), 4:10pm ET on Fox Sports Sun
Houston Astros (Keuchel 2-6, 5.92) at Los Angeles Angels (Weaver 4-3, 5.33), 10:05pm ET on FOX Sports West
Minnesota Twins (Hughes 1-7, 5.55) at Seattle Mariners (Miley 5-2, 4.50), 10:10pm ET on FOX Sports North
San Diego Padres (Vargas 0-2, 3.34) at Arizona Diamondbacks (Greinke 5-3, 4.59), 10:10pm ET on FOX Sports Arizona & FOX Sports San Diego
All stats courtesy of ESPN and Baseball Reference