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Re: 5-18-09
Drew Gordon
LA Angels at SEATTLE -110
I know what a lot of you are looking at John Lackey's superb numbers against the Mariners of late, winning 5 straight starts and posting a 1.21 ERA over that span, and immediately penciling him in as the winner, but not so fast! We saw with his last start - a weird 2-pitch effort against the Rangers - that Lackey is indeed rusty, and to expect the same pitcher tonight that produced that 1.21 ERA is a stretch at best... John Lackey still needs time, and that makes him vulnerable in this one.
Another reason he's vulnerable is the sputtering of this Angels offense, who've lost 3 straight and got shutout for the first time since August in Sunday's 3-0 loss. Rangers' Scott Feldman is a decent pitcher, but c'mon now, if they had trouble with him, they're going to have trouble with Washburn at Safeco, where he's been great thus far.
Speaking of Washburn, not only is he 2-0 with an excellent 2.25 ERA at home this season, but he's also got an axe to grind. You see, his worst start of the season came at Angel Stadium in late April, getting knocked around for 6 runs in 5 1/3 innings. However, we've already seen the difference when he pitches at Safeco against the Angels, rewind a couple weeks back from that ugly loss, and he shut down this Angels club for the win back on April 15th, allowing 2 runs over 6 innings! In other words, look for Washburn to get it done tonight.
Bottom line, give me the proven commodity at home over the returning ace with some questions, that's what it comes down to. When you factor in a sudden slump at the plate for the Angels, there's only one clear cut choice, and that's the Mariners at Safeco Monday night.
Take Seattle behind Washburn over the LA Angels and Lackey in this MLB match up.
2? SEATTLE
Drew Gordon
LA Angels at SEATTLE -110
I know what a lot of you are looking at John Lackey's superb numbers against the Mariners of late, winning 5 straight starts and posting a 1.21 ERA over that span, and immediately penciling him in as the winner, but not so fast! We saw with his last start - a weird 2-pitch effort against the Rangers - that Lackey is indeed rusty, and to expect the same pitcher tonight that produced that 1.21 ERA is a stretch at best... John Lackey still needs time, and that makes him vulnerable in this one.
Another reason he's vulnerable is the sputtering of this Angels offense, who've lost 3 straight and got shutout for the first time since August in Sunday's 3-0 loss. Rangers' Scott Feldman is a decent pitcher, but c'mon now, if they had trouble with him, they're going to have trouble with Washburn at Safeco, where he's been great thus far.
Speaking of Washburn, not only is he 2-0 with an excellent 2.25 ERA at home this season, but he's also got an axe to grind. You see, his worst start of the season came at Angel Stadium in late April, getting knocked around for 6 runs in 5 1/3 innings. However, we've already seen the difference when he pitches at Safeco against the Angels, rewind a couple weeks back from that ugly loss, and he shut down this Angels club for the win back on April 15th, allowing 2 runs over 6 innings! In other words, look for Washburn to get it done tonight.
Bottom line, give me the proven commodity at home over the returning ace with some questions, that's what it comes down to. When you factor in a sudden slump at the plate for the Angels, there's only one clear cut choice, and that's the Mariners at Safeco Monday night.
Take Seattle behind Washburn over the LA Angels and Lackey in this MLB match up.
2? SEATTLE
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