MLB on Sling TV: Nationals at Dodgers on ESPN; regional action on Fox Sports Networks
(all times Eastern, starters subject to change)
Washington Nationals (Strasburg 10-0, 2.90) at Chicago Cubs (Kershaw 10-1, 1.58) 10pm ET on ESPN
This is about as good a pitching matchup as one can ask for.
Stephen Strasburg, once one of the most ballyhooed pitching prospects of his generation, looks to finally be living up to the promise after six seasons of tantalizing talent interrupted by injuries and innings limits. In addition to being the last undefeated starter in the Majors, he’s 3rd in strikeouts (118), 2nd in SO/9IP (11.4), 4th in SO/BB 4.92, 7th in innings pitched (93), and in no start has he allowed more than 4 runs. On Wednesday, he had one of the better starts of the year against the vaunted Cubbies, holding them to just 1 run on 6 hits and walk over 7 innings, while striking out 8 in a 5-4 Nats win.
Unfortunately for Strasburg, he’s going up against one of the few guys who is unquestionably his better, as Clayton Kershaw’s 19 SO/BB ratio and his .657 WHIP for this year would be all-time records. And over his last 9 starts, he’s really turned it on, pitching 71 innings, striking out 93 and walking just 4, while allowing 9 runs – that is bananas. On Wednesday, the Diamondbacks got to him for 2 runs on 5 hits over 7 ⅓, during which he K’ed 11 and walked just 1. That’s what constitutes “getting to” Kershaw these days.
And here’s the action from the FOX Sports regional networks across the land…
Arizona Diamondbacks (Miller 1-6, 7.09) at Philadelphia Phillies (Hellickson 4-5, 4.46) 1:05pm ET on FOX Sports Arizona
Colorado Rockies (De La Rosa 3-4, 7.61) at Miami Marlins (Clemens NA) 7:10pm ET on FOX Sports Florida
Seattle Mariners (Karns 5-2, 4.06) at Detroit Tigers (Pelfrey 1-7, 4.79) 7:10pm ET on FOX Sports Detroit
Tampa Bay Rays (Smyly 2-7, 4.75) at Cleveland Indians (Tomlin 8-1, 3.27) 7:10pm ET on Fox Sports Sun & SportsTime Ohio
Baltimore Orioles (Gausman 0-4, 4.14) at Texas Rangers (Holland 5-5, 5.14) 8:05pm ET on FOX Sports Southwest
St. Louis Cardinals (Garcia 4-6, 3.93) at Chicago Cubs (Lackey 7-2, 2.66) 8:05pm ET on FOX Sports Midwest
Los Angeles Angels (Chacin 3-4, 5.00) at Houston Astros (Fister 7-3, 3.26) 8:10pm ET on FOX Sports West
All stats courtesy of ESPN and Baseball Reference