Saturday, August 11: Dan Haren (13-3)(OAK) vs. Justin Verlander (11-4)(DET)
The Tigers turn to Verlander to keep them in the AL Wild Card race. With the Yankees taking the lead in that race they'll need to make a good push down the stretch.
Athletics 2, Tigers 5
(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)Athletics player of the game: (LF) Shannon Stewart - WPA +.133
2/4, 0R, 0HR, 1RBI, 1BB, 0SO
Athletics lowest contributor: (2B) Mark Ellis - WPA -.231
0/4, 0R, 0HR, 0RBI, 0BB, 2SO
Tigers player of the game: (RF) Magglio Ordonez - WPA +.262
3/4, 1R, 1HR, 2RBI, 0BB, 0SO
Tigers lowest contributor: (SP) Justin Verlander - WPA -.086
6.0IP, 7H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 7SO, 0HR
Justin Verlander: 6.0IP, 7H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 7SO, 0HR - W
Bobby Seay: 0.1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1SO, 0HR - H
Aquilino Lopez: 0.2IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1SO, 0HR - H
Fernando Rodney: 1.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2SO, 0HR - H
Todd Jones: 1.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - SV
It's impressive that the Tigers player with the lowest WPA is the pitcher that comes away with the win. It speaks to some suspicions about how WPA is attributed to pitching as well as the kind of game the team as a whole was having at the plate. With the Tigers, Yankees and Mariners all winning their contests today the Wild Card race continues to be a mad dash to the finish. Though at least the Tigers and Mariners can expect to be factors in their respective division races. The Yankees... not so much.
Sunday, August 12: AJ Burnett (5-6)(TOR) vs. Brian Bannister (8-6)(KC)
By a strange twist of fortune AJ Burnett is the pitcher I drafted for my fantasy team back in March and now Brian Bannister is the one pitching for my Oriole Blue Wave. Burnett really hasn't been the pitcher the Blue Jays expected. And I wonder if it's more than the injuries behind his under performance.
Blue Jays 4, Royals 1
(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)Blue Jays player of the game: (SP) AJ Burnett - WPA +.299
7.1IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 5SO, 1HR
Blue Jays lowest contributor: (CF) Vernon Wells - WPA -.089
0/4, 0R, 0HR, 1RBI, 0BB, 1SO
Royals player of the game: (3B) Alex Gordon - WPA +.030
1/2, 1R, 1HR, 1RBI, 1BB, 0SO
Royals lowest contributor: (SP) Brian Bannister - WPA -.103
4.2IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 1SO, 0HR
Brian Wolfe: 0.1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - H
Scott Downs: 0.1IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0SO, 0HR - H
Jeremy Accardo: 1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1SO, 0HR - SV
Brian Bannister: 4.2IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 1SO, 0HR - L
If I didn't have a good lead at the top of my fantasy league I might get upset about a rough start like this from Brian Bannister. But my inner Blue Jay fan is pleased to see AJ producing after such a long stint on the DL. It's too late to get Toronto back into the race, but there needs to be concerted effort to keep Burnett healthy for their run next year. Accardo is filling in the void left by BJ Ryan nicely. It could be a long time before Toronto is firing on all J's - blue or otherwise.
Monday, August 13: Johan Santana (12-9)(MIN) vs. Felix Hernandez (8-6)(SEA)
El Presidente takes on the King. I'll admit it, the M's being in the Wild Card race (and with the division title not out of reach) has me a little excited. Taking on last year's AL Cy Young award winning pitcher will be a good test for the King.
Twins 3, Mariners 4
(Win Probability graphing by Fangraphs)Twins player of the game: (C) Joe Mauer - WPA +.267
3/4, 0R, 0HR, 2RBI, 0BB, 0SO
Twins lowest contributor: (RP) Matt Guerrier - WPA -.240
1.0IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 0SO, 1HR
Mariners player of the game: (1B) Richie Sexson - WPA +.480
2/4, 1R, 1HR, 3RBI, 0BB, 2SO
Mariners lowest contributor: (RF) Jose Guillen - WPA -.149
0/4, 1R, 0HR, 0RBI, 0BB, 1SO
Matt Guerrier: 1.0IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 0SO, 1HR - L
Felix Hernandez: 6.0IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 6SO, 0HR - ND
John Parrish: 0.1IP, 1H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 0SO, 0HR - H
Sean Green: 1.2IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1SO, 0HR - BS
JJ Putz: 1.0IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1SO, 0HR - W
Now if that doesn't make this old Mariners fan tingle... King Felix out-pitched the best pitcher in baseball and the M's came away with a victory - albeit an ugly one. No decisions for either starter, a blown save and the win is credited to the closer. But it keeps Seattle in the hunt for a post season berth.
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