MLB Aces Of The Day For Friday, August 19
Expect these guys to dominate opposing offenses
Matthew Horner - Aug 19, 2022, 11:41am EDTLance McCullers Jr. (0.00 ERA), Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves
McCullers has started just one game in 2022, and he dominated the Oakland Athletics. Now, I realize that is a small sample size against a poor opponent, believe me. You can rip on it all you want, but I think we have a low-scoring game here between these two teams on Friday. Although it is listed right now as "undecided", I have Kyle Wright starting for Atlanta here. He's been great lately, and I think he can silence the Houston offense for a bit as well. But I really like McCullers to have another great outing. He was rock solid in 2021 with a 3.16 ERA, but what was more impressive is how he pitched on the road. He had a 2.70 road ERA and a 7-2 record in 12 games started last season away from home.
McCullers showed a little bit of rust in his season debut, throwing just 47 of 81 pitches for strikes and walking four batters, but that is to be expected in his first game of the year off the IL. He still allowed only two hits and struck out five, and the outing resulted in a quality start and a win. If you don't like it, fade it, but I have always liked what I've seen from McCullers.
Shane McClanahan (2.28 ERA), Tampa Bay Rays vs. Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals have one of the worst offenses in baseball, and now they must take on one of the very best that the sport has to offer in the Rays' Shane McClanahan. With an 11-5 record this season and a 2.37 home ERA, we could be looking at a complete shutdown of a bad offense.
In his last start, he earned the win against the Orioles, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking three over six innings. In his previous two outings, McClanahan had allowed nine runs in 10.2 innings, breaking a 13-game quality start streak, but he got back on track against a good Baltimore offense. He still had three walks, and he has started to show some signs of regression from how dominant he was to begin the season. He finished July with a 2.07 ERA, but in two August appearances, McClanahan's ERA has been driven up to 2.28.
Martin Perez (2.79 ERA), Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins
We all know that the Twins can be completely hot & cold, and we never really know what we are going to get from them. Their pitcher in this one, Dylan Bundy, actually has a pretty good 2.83 home ERA compared to his overall 4.76 ERA, so we could be in for a low-scoring affair here. As for the Rangers, they will send out Martin Perez to the hill, a guy that has really turned it around this season and is playing some lights out baseball.
In his last start, he did not factor into the decision against the Mariners, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out seven and walking five over six innings. It was not his best outing, but kept the Rangers in the game. The five walks were a single-game season high for Perez, but he now has 15 quality starts on the year and has picked up four in his last five outings. He will take a 2.79 ERA into this one looking to dominate an inconsistent Minnesota offense.