Note: We are currently dealing with a malicious virus on Baseball Do (dot) (com)...here is tonight's game 3 pregame preview, in a safe, virus-free, temporary blog site.
Just over a week ago, the Texas Rangers (42-27) were begging
to get out of Cali and back home pronto.
Now, after securing their fourth-straight series win and looking to push
their winning streak to six, the Rangers have a fresh outlook on California.
I’ll take “California Dreamin’” over West Coast Screamin’
any old day in Rangers Nation.
Scott Feldman collected his first win of the season in last
night’s 7-3 win over the San Diego Padres…and if that wasn’t enough, he put on
a hitting display as well—collecting the first RBI of his career.
But masked by the perfect temperatures and five-game winning
streak, there was some trouble afoot.
First baseman Mitch Moreland strained his left hamstring
while attempting to beat out a bases loaded double play ground ball during the
second inning.
He’s scheduled for an MRI today, but as of now, his status
is listed as day-to-day. I’d be
surprised if he doesn’t require some time on the disabled
list.
You never want a player injured, but the reality is, it
happens. And although Moreland is the team’s best first baseman, the Rangers will have no problems sliding in someone if Moreland misses time—Michael Young
gets the start tonight.
On the hill for the Texas Rangers, it’s RHP Yu
Darvish (8-4, 3.57 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 9.8 K/9). The Yu looks to complete
the sweep of San Diego tonight, as he opposes RHP Anthony
Bass (2-7, 4.88 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 7.9 K/9).
Tonight’s starting lineups:
San Diego Padres (24-45)
RF Will Venable
CF Cameron Maybin
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| Headley's batting .556 against the Rangers. |
3B Chase Headley
1B Yonder Alonso
SS Everth Cabrera
C John Baker
2B Alex Amarista
P Anthony Bass
Darvish
The Yu is coming off of one of his best starts this
season. He went eight innings,
scattering seven hits and walked just two. Darvish tied a career-high with 11
strikeouts in the Rangers 6-2 win over the Houston Astros.
On the road, Darvish is 2-4 with a 3.98 ERA. At home, he has
yet to lose (6-0, 3.15). Petco Park was just what Feldman needed to earn his
first win of the year, so maybe some of that San Diego magic can help out The
Yu too.
Right-handed batters hit: .203/.331/.364 with 5 HRs off of
Darvish, whereas left-handers go: .259/.352/.365 with just two home runs.
Darvish’s eight innings in his last start were the
second-most he’s pitched, and the first time he’d eight-plus since April 24
at home against the New York Yankees.
When Darvish can spot his fastball, he can use his
elite-level repertoire of pitches to beat any team, anywhere. However, Darvish’s
ridiculously high 5.1 BB/9 ratio indicates that his worst enemy is himself.
 |
| Hami was 2-for-5 last night with 2 RBI |
Texas Rangers (42-27)
2B Ian Kinsler
1B Michael Young
CF Josh Hamilton
3B Adrian Beltre
RF Nelson Cruz
LF David Murphy
C Yorvit Torrealba (.312, 4 HRs at Petco Park)
SS Alberto Gonzalez (.195 BA, 1 HR at Petco)
P Yu Darvish
*Both Torrealba (2010) and Gonzalez (2011) used to play for
the San Diego Padres. Tonight will mark
the first time Yu Darvish will bat as a big leaguer.
Bass
24-year-old Anthony Bass was a fifth-round selection by the
Padres during the 2008 Draft.
Bass hasn’t won a game since the middle of May in
Washington, D.C. against the Nationals.
He has a home ERA of 3.62 and is 1-2 at Petco Park this season. On the road, he has struggled mightily with
just one win (1-5) and a ghastly 6.00 ERA.
Right-handed batters and left-handed ones produce almost the
exact same numbers off of Bass. RHB:
.250/.325/.400 with four home runs, and LHB: .250/.328/.433 with—you guessed
it—four home runs.
What gets Bass into trouble is his occasional lack of
command, hence his 3.6 BB/9.
Prediction time:
As we all know by now, when Yu Darvish gets ahead of
batters, he’s almost unhittable. When he hit his rough patch this season, he
was over-thinking and struggling with command of his fastball.
He was excellent in his last start, and Petco Park is
repressive enough on an offense that Darvish can get away with a few mistakes
here and there. As long as he comes right after the Padres, I feel he’ll coast
to his ninth win of the year.
Hamilton and company will continue to beat-up Padres
pitchers and the Rangers win tonight.
