But since acquiring veteran catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the Astros last month, every night has been throwback night in Texas.
Rodriguez, who was only supposed to take the role of a backup catcher/team leader (think Tom Berenger in Major League), has found the fountain of youth in his return to Arlington.
Heading into Friday, the former AL MVP is hitting .286 with five doubles and one home run through his first 10 games with the Rangers. He’s caught six out of the last seven games, as of the opener against the Orioles.
“Absolutely. I love to play and I’ll be ready,” Rodriguez told the Associated Press. “You know me, I’ve been doing it for 19 years. I’m going to continue doing it.”
Pudge’s biggest impact has been behind the plate. On top of mentoring the Rangers young pitchers, he helped spark those arms in recent games. Texas swept the Blue Jays in three games earlier this week, with the pitching staff allowing just eight total runs.
“He’s going to help all of our young guys, our young catchers, help our pitchers to get another vantage point, how to work guys,” right-hander Kevin Millwood told reporters. “It’s probably going to make us all better.”
Pick: Texas -148
Detroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays (-165, 9)
Jim Leyland has his Tigers by the toe.
The surly manager has timed his team’s play perfectly and has them peaking at the right time. Detroit swept the Cleveland Indians this week, securing its lead in the American League Central. Heading into Friday’s opener with the Rays, the Tigers have a five game cushion over the Twins.
But Leyland hasn’t allowed them to get too cozy at top the standings. According to The Detroit News, the manager doesn’t want his players thinking about the standings or getting fat and happy after a tree-game sweep.
"I don't like comments like that," Leyland told reporters. "Just go play the game. Don't start talking about anything. I want them feeling good about themselves, but by that I mean continuing to concentrate, competing as hard as you can and not doing a lot of talking."
Saturday's streaking and slumping starting pitchers
Streaking
Joe Blanton, Philadelphia Phillies
Blanton is following suit in the Phillies rotation. Along with Hamels, Lee and a revitalized Pedro Martinez, Blanton has Philadelphia rolling toward another solid September.
He has given up three or fewer runs in 12 straight starts and owns a 2.54 ERA and 1.09 WHIP since the break. In his most recent start, Blanton went seven innings against the Braves, giving up one run on three hits. That was his 10th quality start in a row.
Randy Wolf, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers bullpen should send Wolf a card and some flowers for blowing a win in the left-hander's most recent outing. Unfortunately, Hallmark has yet to tap into the “Sorry we pissed away your awesome arm” demographic.
Wolf put in his fifth straight quality start, allowing just two runs through six innings while striking out seven batters. That letdown handed Wolf a no-decision and spoiled his four-game winning streak. It also snubbed the starter of his 100th career victory.
Since the All-Star break, Wolf is 5-3 with a 2.90 ERA and 55 strikeouts.
Slumping
Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays
Cecil’s final start of 2009 couldn’t come quick enough. The youngster has been shelled in his past two starts, allowing 12 earned runs in just over eight innings of work.
Cecil was supposed to be shut down for the year last week, but manager Cito Gaston granted the southpaw a chance to redeem himself and end the year on a high note. Despite allowing seven runs in five innings his last time out, Cecil still earned a "W" against the Rangers thanks to the 18 runs Toronto put on the board.
Don’t expect the Jays to match that output this weekend. Toronto’s recent efforts have locals pining for the start of the hockey season. And if you’re a Maple Leafs fan, you know things in the Rogers Centre must be bad.
Mat Latos, San Diego Padres
Latos is another young arm getting his final start of 2009. The Padres right-hander was looking good early in his most recent trip to the bump, but was lit up for four runs in the fourth inning against the Marlins, giving Latos his third loss in his past four starts.
Latos showed promise in a seven-inning shutout effort versus the Braves on Aug. 25. But that performance has been bookended by nightmarish showings. In his last three games, Latos posts a 5.79 ERA.
The three nationally televised afternoon games on FOX will certainly not get as much run as college football, but each matchup does involve the road team in playoff contention, while the home team is trying to play the role of spoiler. Two teams that were expected to have their records flipped around before the season began meet up in Milwaukee.
Giants at Brewers (4:05 PM EST)
San Francisco continues its road trip, after dropping two of three at Philadelphia. The Giants sit one game back of the Rockies in the NL Wild Card race after rallying past Milwaukee on Friday, 3-2. The Brewers, meanwhile, are in the midst of a disappointing season following a Wild Card berth last season.
Matt Cain (12-4, 2.50 ERA) has been as consistent as any pitcher in baseball this season, as San Francisco is 19-8 in the right-hander's 27 starts. The road is a toss-up when backing Cain, with the Giants going 7-6 in his 13 outings away from AT&T Park. This will be Cain's third start against the Brewers this season, beating Milwaukee at home in April, then losing at Miller Park in June.
Yovani Gallardo (12-10, 3.56 ERA) continues to have an up-and-down season as Milwaukee's ace, going 2-3 in six August decisions. The Brewers have won each of Gallardo's last four home outings, but the only team in playoff contention Milwaukee beat was Atlanta on July 25. Gallardo is 2-0 against San Francisco this season, allowing three earned runs in 14.1 innings pitched.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants has listed the Brewers as a $1.25 home favorites, with the total set at 7 ½ (Bet $1.20 to win $1.00 on the 'over').
Red Sox at White Sox (4:05 PM EST)
Boston is still atop the AL Wild Card standings, following a crucial series victory at Tampa Bay earlier in the week. The White Sox are back at home after a 3-8 road trip, but it did end with victories over the Twins and Cubs. Chicago bounced Boston on Friday, 12-2, while knocking out 20 hits.
Tim Wakefield (11-3, 3.97 ERA) will get the start on Saturday, after receiving a cortisone shot for his back on Monday. The veteran knuckleballer makes only his second start since the All-Star Break. The lone outing Wakefield has made since July was against Chicago on August 26, a no-decision in a 3-2 victory. Wakefield looked strong, allowing six hits and one earned run in seven innings.
Gavin Floyd (10-9, 3.97 ERA) has been a solid play at home this season, with the ChiSox winning nine of his 12 starts at U.S. Cellular Field. The 'under' has hit a steady rate on the South Side for Floyd as well, nailing it in nine of 12 opportunities. Run support has been a problem for Floyd recently, with the Sox tallying a measly four runs in his last three starts, all losses.
The White Sox are listed as a $1.20 home favorites, while the total is set at 9, according to LVSC.
Rangers at Orioles (4:05 PM EST)
Texas is still within distance of catching Boston in the AL Wild Card race, as the Rangers are in a stretch of 12 games taking on the Orioles, Indians, Mariners, and A's. Meanwhile, Baltimore is in the midst of a gauntlet that takes them through the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays for 12 games following the Texas series.
Kevin Millwood (10-8, 3.61 ERA) has been solid at home, but a questionable play away from Arlington. The veteran righty sports a 3-6 road mark, with an ERA of 4.44, while allowing 14 home runs. August was not a kind month to Millwood, with Texas going 1-4 in his starts, while not lasting past the sixth inning once. Texas has won seven straight starts made by Millwood against Baltimore dating back to 2006. The 'under' looks good for Millwood as well, hitting in all six of his day outings, and nine of 13 on the road.
Lefty Brian Matusz (3-2, 5.28 ERA) is coming off his best start on this level, shutting down Cleveland in a 5-2 victory. Matusz gave up four hits and one run in seven innings of work, while striking out a career-high eight.
LVSC has listed the Rangers as a $1.35 road 'chalk,' with the total listed at 9 ½ (Bet $1.20 to win $1.00 on the 'over').
MLB weekend cheat sheet
By MARC LAWRENCE - They say the harder you work, the luckier you get
It’s suddenly September and with it comes MLB call-ups as rosters expand to 40. It’s also the beginning of the stretch drive for playoff positioning in the pennant races.
With that, take a look into the top four series on tap this weekend. Remember, all results are within the series and all pitcher records are "team starts" (the team’s record in games in which the pitcher starts) versus this opponent.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia Phillies at Houston Astros
Most Recent Series Result: Phillies 5-3 last eight games
Most Recent Series Result at the Site: Astros 10-6 last 16 games home
Key Day/Month Stat: Phillies 15-3 Saturdays away
Best Arm in the Series: Phillies’ Hamels 5-0, 4.42 ERA career team starts
Worst Arm in the Series: Astros’ Rodriguez 0-1, 7.20 ERA career
San Francisco Giants at Milwaukee Brewers
Most Recent Series Result: Brewers 9-3 last 12 games (4-3 this season)
Most Recent Series Result at the Site: Brewers 16-4 last 20 games home (2-1 this season)
Hot lines: Saturday MLB 9/5
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