MLB on Sling TV: Rangers at Cardinals on FS1; followed by regional action featuring Braves at Mets, Pirates at Cubs, and Tigers at Royals on FOX
Texas Rangers (Ramos 1-3, 4.88) at St. Louis Cardinals (Martinez 7-5, 3.46) 4:15pm ET on FS1
It should tell you something about the health of the Rangers’ rotation that spot starter Cesar Ramos is already making his fifth start of the season, just two short of his career high. But regardless of the role, Ramos has been bad this year, as his home run rate of 1.7/9IP has been more than double his career norm of .7 coming into the season, his strikeouts have fallen, his walks have spiked… His last start was his worst of 2016, as he lasted just 3 ⅔ innings against the A’s, giving up 8 runs on 8 hits and 5 walks, while fanning just 1.
After scuffling along as a league-average pitcher for seven weeks, Carlos Martinez has finally put it together. Over his last three starts he’s pitched 22 ⅓ innings, with a WHIP of just .938, a SO/BB ratio of 3.33 and an ERA of 1.61. Most recently he held the Pirates to 1 run over 8 ⅓, with 6 hits, 3 walks and 5 K’s – not great SO/BB numbers, but way better results than what he’d been getting. Martinez was a promising young fireballer last season, before he had to shut it down due a shoulder strain in late September, causing him to miss the playoffs. Maybe he needed some extra time to build up his arm strength? Or maybe he needed to set his house in order? Anyway, the Cards are gonna need him at 100% if they’re gonna make a run this year.
Atlanta Braves (Blair 0-4, 7.59) at New York Mets (Matz 7-3, 2.71) or Pittsburgh Pirates (Niese 6-3, 4.60) at Chicago Cubs (Lester 8-3, 1.89) or Detroit Tigers (Boyd 0-1, 4.91) at Kansas City Royals (Volquez 6-6, 3.90) 8:15pm ET on FOX
And here’s the action from the FOX Sports regional networks across the land…
New York Yankees (Pineda 3-7, 5.88) at Minnesota Twins (Nolasco 3-4, 5.12) 2:10pm ET on FOX Sports North & YES
Arizona Diamondbacks (Greinke 9-3, 3.75) at Philadelphia Phillies (Eickhoff 4-8, 3.40) 3:05pm ET on FOX Sports Arizona
Los Angeles Angels (Lincecum NA) at Oakland Athletics (Neal 0-1, 9.75) 4:05pm ET on FOX Sports West
Cincinnati Reds (Reed NA) at Houston Astros (Keuchel 3-9, 5.54) 4:10pm ET on FOX Sports Cincinnati
Colorado Rockies (Chatwood 8-4, 2.89) at Miami Marlins (Chen 4-2, 4.68) 4:10pm ET on FOX Sports Florida
San Francisco Giants (Peavy 3-6, 5.83) at Tampa Bay Rays (Moore 3-4, 5.05) 4:10pm ET on Fox Sports Sun
Chicago White Sox (Rondon 1-1, 1.57) at Cleveland Indians (Salazar 7-3, 2.19) 6:10pm ET on SportsTime Ohio
Washington Nationals (Scherzer 8-4, 3.40) at San Diego Padres (Rea 3-3, 5.37) 10:10pm ET on FOX Sports San Diego
Milwaukee Brewers (Anderson 4-6, 4.42) at Los Angeles Dodgers (Bolsinger 1-4, 5.76) 10:10pm ET on FOX Sports Wisconsin
All stats courtesy of ESPN and Baseball Reference
(All times Eastern, starters subject to change)