Posted:
#1
As of now, the Rays are slight favorites at -113.
Erasmo Ramirez takes the mound for the Rays tonight, and he comes under the "What have you done for me lately?" dept. In Ramirez's case, the answer is "plenty". Nevermind that sub-2 ERA over his last three starts. Chi Chi Gonzalez of the Rangers, for example, has posted far superior surface stats, but his are the result of bald luck, not skills. What's different about Ramirez's seemingly new-found skills? The first thing that jumps out is his swinging K rate of 15% over the past three outings. That's Scherzer territory, folks. Moreover, Ramirez had been the victim of a very low strand rate of just 58% this season, and as that has headed north, his expected ERA (xERA) has gone downward, and now sits at 1.5 runs (!) below his surface ERA. And always possessed with good command, he's also allowed just 2 BBs since May 30.
Of course, the knock on Erasmo is that he's basically a 5 IP guy. But with the likes of Jepsen, Boxberger, and McGee behind him, I look for a solid Rays outing.
Washington's Gio Gonzalez is no stranger to bad luck, either, as his xERA sits at a full run below the surface ERA. For Gio, too, the culprit has been a horrible strand rate. Especially given that his velocity has remained at a constant 92 MPH all season, his future looks much better than his past.
That said, I still like the Rays and their pitching tonight.
Erasmo Ramirez takes the mound for the Rays tonight, and he comes under the "What have you done for me lately?" dept. In Ramirez's case, the answer is "plenty". Nevermind that sub-2 ERA over his last three starts. Chi Chi Gonzalez of the Rangers, for example, has posted far superior surface stats, but his are the result of bald luck, not skills. What's different about Ramirez's seemingly new-found skills? The first thing that jumps out is his swinging K rate of 15% over the past three outings. That's Scherzer territory, folks. Moreover, Ramirez had been the victim of a very low strand rate of just 58% this season, and as that has headed north, his expected ERA (xERA) has gone downward, and now sits at 1.5 runs (!) below his surface ERA. And always possessed with good command, he's also allowed just 2 BBs since May 30.
Of course, the knock on Erasmo is that he's basically a 5 IP guy. But with the likes of Jepsen, Boxberger, and McGee behind him, I look for a solid Rays outing.
Washington's Gio Gonzalez is no stranger to bad luck, either, as his xERA sits at a full run below the surface ERA. For Gio, too, the culprit has been a horrible strand rate. Especially given that his velocity has remained at a constant 92 MPH all season, his future looks much better than his past.
That said, I still like the Rays and their pitching tonight.
0
Hot Forum Topics
