Sunday's Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Slumping
Anibal Sanchez, Florida Marlins (12-12, 3.62 ERA)
The Marlins right-hander has dropped three starts in a row posting an ERA north of 6.00 over 17 innings of work. Sanchez didn’t perform badly in his last start, allowing three runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings versus Atlanta. However, a lack of run support kept him in the loss column.
Ryan Rowland-Smith, Seattle Mariners (1-10, 6.90 ERA)
After struggling as a starter, Rowland-Smith was relegated to the bullpen. But after the team shut down ace Felix Hernandez, the lefty was given the ball in the season finale. I mean, what can go wrong? Rowland-Smith is 0-1 with a massive 13.19 ERA in his last three appearances as a starter. He didn’t allow a run in 1 2/3 innings of work out of the bullpen last Wednesday.
Mat Latos, San Diego Padres (14-9, 2.92 ERA)
The fate of the Padres is in Latos' shaky hands Sunday. The team’s ace has struggled in the second half of the season and hasn’t won a start since September 7. He’s 0-4 since but is coming off a solid start in which he gave up just two runs on seven hits in just under six innings of work versus the Cubs. Latos is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA against the Giants for his career.
Debuting
Justin Germano, Cleveland Indians (0-2, 2.16 ERA)
While none of Sunday’s starters qualify as “streaking," the Tribe’s pitching move should get the attention of bettors. Cleveland will start righty Justin Germano, who has pitched in 22 games as a reliever, due to Wednesday’s double-header. Germano made 23 starts for the Padres in 2008, posting a 7-10 record, and has made seven Triple-A starts this season. He is only expected to go three innings versus the White Sox.
3 Teams, 2 NL Playoff Spots up for Grabs
Three teams, two NL playoff spots open, one day left in the regular season. A look at the NL West and wild-card scenarios as the San Francisco Giants (91-69), San Diego Padres (90-71) and Atlanta Braves (90-71) head into Sunday's games:
If the Giants beat the Padres on Sunday, San Francisco is the NL West champion. If the Giants win and Atlanta beats Philadelphia, the Braves win the wild card.
If the Giants win and the Braves lose, San Diego and Atlanta tie for the wild card. There would be a one-game tiebreaker Monday in Atlanta for the wild card.
If the Padres win and the Braves lose, San Diego wins the NL West and San Francisco gets the wild card. The Braves would be eliminated. The Padres get the division title because they won the season series against the Giants.
If the Padres win and the Braves win, San Diego, San Francisco and Atlanta all finish 91-71. The Giants and Padres would play a one-game tiebreaker for the NL West title Monday night in San Diego. The loser would then go to Atlanta for a one-game playoff for the wild card on Tuesday night (the Braves would host either the Padres or Giants because Atlanta won the season series against both teams).