MLB Gas Can Alert For Thursday, August 4
Which offenses are primed for a big day?
Matthew Horner - Aug 4, 2022, 12:12pm EDTBoston Red Sox vs. Kris Bubic (5.45 ERA), Kansas City Royals
The Red Sox started off the year hot, but have cooled down over the last few months. They sit just barely above .500 and have been a very mediocre team for quite a while now. It's been such a downfall that they attempted to trade half their team at the trade deadline, but were unsuccessful with doing so. Now they are stuck with what they have, and while that isn't necessarily bad, they aren't really winning anything right now with this group. Still, the offense has some serious talent that can put up runs when they are on. This may be one of those games where they are set to go off.
Kris Bubic is set to take the mound for the Royals in this one. He didn't factor into the decision in his last start, an 11-5 loss to the Yankees, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over six innings of work. It was his third straight quality start and fourth in his last eight outings, showing signs of a turnaround. Bubic's numbers on the season remain pretty bad, but since rejoining the Royals' rotation at the beginning of June, Bubic has a 3.84 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 51:28 K:BB through 61 innings.
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Zach Thompson (5.09 ERA), Pittsburgh Pirates
The Brewers are always a gamble when it comes to putting up runs, as you saw when they took on Bryse Wilson the other day and only managed to secure three runs against him. So, be very careful here with taking them for a team total over or outright win. Watching them this season has been embarrassing at times, and it's really funny since they have a 57-46 record. Their pitching has carried them so far, as it as for the past several years. Still, it is just very hard not to back them against Pittsburgh and some of their terrible starters, so I have to include them here.
Zach Thompson has been awful recently. In his last start against the Phillies, he allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits and no walks while striking out four across 5.2 innings of work to take the loss. Thompson has allowed 14 earned runs across his last two starts, spanning 11 innings, which has skyrocketed his ERA to 5.09 for the season. If there is a pitcher that the Brewers can take advantage of, it might be Thompson.
San Diego Padres vs. Kyle Freeland (4.63 ERA), Colorado Rockies
The Padres made perhaps the biggest splash of the last half-decade when they acquired superstar Juan Soto, and picked up All-Star Josh Bell from the Nats in the process. This is an offense that was already pretty lethal, with Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. when healthy. This gives San Diego one of the best lineups in the league, and they can put up runs in a hurry, especially against poor pitching. That is just what they will get here in Thursday's matchup.
Kyle Freeland has not been good for a majority of the season. Although, in his last game against the Dodgers, he allowed three runs on six hits and hit one batter while striking out six and walking none in six innings of work. He also earned the win. This was his second straight quality start and win, and he's turned in eight quality starts this year. For the season, Freeland owns a 4.63 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 82:33 K:BB across 114.2 innings in 20 starts.
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