I’m adding a second play to the card tonight in addition to the Royals and Rangers, which you can also find on Twitter as a play. This one is a little more recreational, as I’m looking forward to watching tonight, along with the Celtics/Bulls.
Drew Pomeranz against Dylan Bundy are two intriguing southern gentlemen, just as pitchers. Pit them against each other, with these offenses, at Camden Yards, and I think we have a fun baseball game on our hands tonight.
Free Pick
Drew Pomeranz
Bundy has been really good so far in April. You may have heard John Smoltz gushing about him a couple of days ago.
The young man from Oklahoma has gone at least six innings in all three of his starts and he’s ERA would be even lower had Buck Showalter not sent him out for a seventh inning two starts ago when he also faced Boston and Pomeranz.
That one was 2-1 after six and Bundy was approaching 100 pitches after having pitched around two errors in the first. He got an out then walked a guy and got the hook. That inherited runner came around to score the fourth run Bundy had allowed on the season.
He’s still only allowed four after going six scoreless at Toronto the last time out. He struck out six and walked only one in 99 economical pitches.
Pomeranz only went six in that 8-1 Boston win at Fenway last week. It was his first start of the year and he’d thrown 91 pitches to that point. He went over 100 last time, which was probably a mistake. Pom did get one out in the fifth but served up his second homer and left after giving up five runs in 4.1 innings, despite striking out 10.
That’s kind of Pom in a nutshell. He’s got this powerful arm but just doesn’t really have it all together yet. It’s hard to tell from the outside what exactly is lacking but something in his mechanics, or preparation, or game plan just isn’t there yet.
It took the Sox 10 innings to beat the Blue Jays yesterday afternoon but most of the bullpen still got a day off because it was Chris Sale‘s turn to pitch. He was fantastic again and, yet again, didn’t get a win. Craig Kimbrel blew the save then got the win by closing it out in the 10th. It took him 30 pitches to do so, though, so he may not be available for John Farrell tonight.
Bundy is tough but I think the Sox can hit him. They have their center fielder back, too. You just know Jackie Bradley Jr. will be ready to get down with his boys in the outfield tonight.
I think this one goes back and forth before Boston wins it in the eighth or ninth. Maybe Joe Kelly gets the win with a couple of good late innings.
Free Pick: Boston +100
al east • baltimore orioles • Boston Red Sox