6 "MUST KNOW" MLB Stats (4/18)

11.8 BB9

Who knows if this stat will even come into play with AJ Puk seemingly getting pushed back everyday this week and for good reason. Puk just cannot find the strike zone posting a ridiculous 11.8 BB9 through 3 starts this season. He is now slated to face the Cubs and the northsiders have to be licking their chops. The Cubs are one of the most patient teams in the league, walking at the 5th highest rate garnering 4 walks per game. As long as Puk is in the game, expect to see a lot of Cubs on base which should lead to a ton of runs.


3.3 HR9

Griffin Canning has shown plenty of upside over his time in the league, but his biggest issue continues to be his inability to keep the ball in the park. Well, this is an issue that has marred Canning's early season with the righty getting tattooed so far. His 3.3 HR9 is the 3rd highest mark among starting pitchers who has thrown at least 10 innings so far this year. The Rays are not the most powerful team in the league ranking just 18th in the league, but they should still be able to show good pop if they can make consistent contact against Canning.


2.45 ERA

Logan Webb has always been a much better pitcher at Oracle Park with a career 2.75 ERA. Even though Webb has been good against most teams at home, he has been even better when playing the Diamondbacks at home. Webb has 6 career starts against the Dbacks at home and has been brilliant, producing a 2.45 ERA and delivering 4 quality starts en route to 3 wins. Webb quieted a lot of early season critics with a dominant outing against the Rays last time out and should be able to build off that positive momentum with another gem.


9.40 ERA

Dating all the way back to 2009, Carlos Carrasco has never found success when starting against the Red Sox. Across 7 career starts, Carrasco has allowed 31 ERs leading to a prosperous 9.40 ERA and most of these struggles came when Carrasco was a much younger and more talented pitcher. I do not expect the 37 year old to have suddenly solved the Red Sox lineup so the BoSox will put up a crooked number on Thursday.


.323 average

Ryne Nelson has plenty of experience against the Giants having played against them 3 times in his rookie year. He has found decent success delivering two quality starts, but he does not have a good history against this iteration of the Giants. The current Giants active roster has a combined .323 average against Nelson. The young righty has not offered much optimism in his first couple starts of 2024 as he has allowed opponents to hit .298 against so far this year. With a poor track record and poor form, do not expect Ryne Nelson to dominate the Giants this time out.


.294 average

Kenta Maeda does not give up many free base hits, having previously led the league in WHIP. This Rangers squad has had his number though. They have posted a .294 average against the Japanese import and their young phenoms, Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford, have not even had a crack at him yet so that batting average could shoot up after this game. Maeda is also in poor form with a 6.00 ERA through 3 starts so I like this Rangers offense a lot on Thursday.

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