3 Picks: Dice-K meets the Big Unit

Saturday, June 9: James Shields (5-0)(TB) vs. Dontrelle Willis (7-4)(FLA)

I'm deeply intrigued by this match-up. James Shields is one of the great stories of this season and an incredibly lucky pick-up for my fantasy team. Dontrelle Willis is an old favorite of mine.
(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)
James Shields: 7.0IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 9SO, 1HR - W

Dontrelle Willis: 7.0IP, 8H, 4R, 4ER, 4BB, 5SO, 0HR - L

I was watching this one online as this was probably one of the most interesting match-ups of the season. James Shields is having an amazing year and he pitches a 9 strikeout game with no walks for the win while Dontrelle matched him inning for inning - even if he struggled with the base on balls. This was probably the only time Shields will be starting in Miami this year. So where were the fans? It doesn't seem right that this game was so lightly attended. (I had the same feeling last night at the O's game when there were so few on hand to see Jeff Francis.) Perhaps there isn't a proper fan base in Florida...

Sunday, June 10: Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-4)(BOS) vs. Randy Johnson (3-2)(ARI)

This is another great interleague match-up as Dice-K meets the Big Unit for the first, and potentially final, time.(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)
Daisuke Matsuzaka: 6.0IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 4BB, 9SO, 0HR - L

Randy Johnson: 6.0IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 9SO, 0HR - W
Jailen Peguero: 1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - H
Tony Pena: 1.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 2SO, 0HR - H

Both starters racked up 9 strikeouts in 6 innings of work. But history has recorded the Big Unit as the victor in this particular match-up. Holding down that Red Sox offense is no easy feat and that big 43-year-old lefty from Walnut Creek still has plenty of gas.

Monday, June 11: Cha Seung Baek (3-2)(SEA) vs. Paul Byrd (6-2)(CLE)

With only 5 games on the schedule for this day I'm reverting to my Seattle instincts and taking an interest in this pairing.(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)
Cha Seung Baek: 5.1IP, 9H, 5R, 5ER, 1BB, 4SO, 0HR - ND
Sean Green: 0.1IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1SO, 0HR - H
George Sherrill: 1.1IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 1SO, 0HR - H
Brandon Morrow: 2.0IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 4BB, 1SO, 0HR - BS, W

Paul Byrd: 4.0IP, 11H, 7R, 7ER, 0BB, 0SO, 3HR - ND
Joe Borowski: 1.0IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - L

One of the more quirky aspects of the way baseball scoring works is that someone like Brandon Morrow can get the blown save and yet pick up a win on a terrible performance with 4 walks, 3 hits and an earned run in just two innings pitched. (Congratulations Morrow). Both starters pitched poorly and were lucky to escape with only the no decision. It was a sloppy win for the M's. But they'll take it as they squeeze these make-up game pit-stops in Cleveland over the course of the season to make up for that 4-game snow cancellation from April.