Coming off the heels of right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Samurai Japan's dominant 13-0 victory over Chinese Taipei overnight (featuring Shohei Ohtani going 3-for-4 with a grand slam), we're headed into a busy day in WBC pool play. Seven more games are on the schedule today, with highlights including Team USA's first game against Team Brazil and a strong pitching matchup between Puerto Rico and Colombia.
The game is scheduled for 7:08pm local time, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2.49 ERA) on the bump opposite Freddy Peralta (2.70 ERA). Yamamoto dominated the Reds in the Wild Card series with two runs (zero earned) and nine strikeouts across 6 2/3 innings of work, but he didn't fare quite as well against the Phillies in the NLDS as he surrendered three runs in four innings of work.
Silver Boot series kicks off with huge implications: The American League west is the tightest division in the majors. The Mariners took over the top spot this weekend and currently sit one game clear of the Astros. That leaves Houston in possession of the final A.L. Wild Card spot but the Rangers are just two games behind them. The Rangers are in Houston for three games starting tonight for a series that should play a huge role in the A.L. playoff picture.
Rookie Luis Morales has - so far - known only success. In six appearances (five starts) he has a 1.59. ERA / 3.10 FIP and 30 strikeouts in 28.1 innings. He's also walked 11. But with just 5 runs allowed so far has been, essentially, cruising. Which is not what most rookies do. Let's hope the Red Sox can figure him out. Surely hitting coach Pete Fatse spent the weekend planning for this. Garrett Crochet meanwhile is coming off one of the worst starts of his career.
Since August 12th however, the Mariners are 7-14 in their last 21 games, have 3.5 games back of Houston in the AL West and now look up and find four different teams breathing down their neck for the last AL Wild Card spot. Seattle enters Friday night holding just a 1.5 game lead over the Texas Rangers and a 2.0 game lead over the Kansas Cith Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays.
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins take on the Chicago White Sox after losing three games in a row. Minnesota is 35-35 at home and 62-77 overall. The Twins have a 14-23 record in games decided by one run. Chicago is 22-46 in road games and 52-88 overall. The White Sox have gone 36-10 in games when they scored at least five runs. The teams match up Thursday for the 13th time this season. The White Sox lead the season series 7-5.
