MLB Gas Cans Of The Day For Wednesday, Aug. 24
Opposing offenses are in great spots
Matthew Horner - Aug 24, 2022, 12:42pm EDTSeattle Mariners vs. Anibal Sanchez (6.43 ERA), Nationals
Sanchez has become a staple in these articles, appearing almost every week since he came back from an injury that saw him sit for most of the season. The Seattle Mariners are a team to watch, and one of my dark horse teams to actually compete for a World Series berth. The team hasn't won anything in a very long time, and I think they are being a little bit undervalued with the confidence they have been playing with in the second half of the season. They should be able to take advantage of the poor pitching that will be on the mound tonight for Washington.
To his credit, Sanchez did pitch very well in his last start. He pitched five innings against San Diego, allowing one run on one hit and two walks. He struck out four batters, but did not factor in the decision. It was easily his best start of the season, surrendering just one hit, which was a fourth-inning solo homer. He still doesn't have a start this season in which he hasn't surrendered a home run or given up fewer than two walks, but Sanchez has been somewhat better as of late. It's been a rough season for him overall, sporting an ugly 6.43 ERA, but he's at least been able to chew up some innings, going five or more in six of his seven appearances this year.
Boston Red Sox vs. Jose Berrios (5.39 ERA), Blue Jays
It has been a very frustrating year for both of these teams. Boston entered the season with optimism that they could ride the coattails of a great 2021 into 2022, but that simply has not been the case. The Red Sox find themselves in last place in the AL East division, and even tried to sell half their roster at the trade deadline with no success. Toronto has been equally as disappointing, as they are a team that had top-five World Series odds before the season began. Their offense has been far worse than anyone could have imagined with how talented they are. The pitching has been bad, which we knew was the weakness of this team, and it has been very bad at times.
Jose Berrios is one of those guys that has been dreadful overall this season. In his last start, he earned the victory against the Yankees, striking out nine in 6.2 innings while allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, a walk and a hit batsman. It was his first good outing in August, as he allowed 13 runs and four homers in 7.2 innings over his previous two starts. He's still definitely a guy we want to target on a weekly basis.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Lucas Giolito (5.34 ERA), White Sox
Here's where I go against the grain and say that I think the White Sox could win this game. You may think I am a fool, and I very well could be with how terrible Giolito has been this season, but he has been better on the road than at home. Baltimore has Spenser Watkins out on the hill, and he hasn't been great at home this season. It is just something to consider, but I would completely understand if you want to fade Giolito into the sun.
In his last start, Giolito allowed seven earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and one walk across three innings to take the loss against the Astros. He was absolutely crushed in the outing, surrendering a total of four extra-base hits and was tagged with at least seven earned runs in a start for the third time this season. Entering that appearance, Giolito had allowed more than three earned runs only once in his last four outings. Despite that solid stretch, he has an ugly 5.34 ERA across 116.1 innings for the season.