Game 76: Texas at Washington

In honor of the post yesterday, I just thought it would be good to have the Rangers go up against Washington. I mean, they are going up against Washington, but the skipper is Washington, so...
And then there is this guy named "Mock"... Wow, the possibilities are endless with a name like Mock. I will restrain myself, though.

Mock has one career start in the Majors. That was a game on June 8th where he was hammered for 7 hits and issued 3 walks in 4.1 innings of work against San Francisco. In that game, he gave up 4 runs and left with the loss and a 8.31 ERA. He did throw 70 pitches over that stretch. Two batters grounded into a double play, which kind of makes sense since he put a lot of runners on. It just increases the opportunity to turn one. Opposition batted .412 and had an OBP of 50% and a slugging of .529... Wow... talk abut a rough introduction to the Majors.

Gabbard is nearing a total amount of innings that a full season in the rotation would bring. He has 29 starts, 154.1 innings, a 4.55 ERA and a 8-7 record for a career. His OBP is dropping and currently rests at .295... another thing that is dropping is his K/9, which last season was 6.09 and this year is 4.56 (and that is a substantial amount). In 81.1 innings last year, Gab had 41 walks (roughly one per two innings), and this year, it is higher. He has 32 in 47.1 innings, or three in four innings. Figure in the high batting average opponents have on him, and it really is a wonder why his ERA is only 4.94...

He has never pitched against Washington or any of their players.

In the last 10 starts for Gabbard, the Rangers are 6-4, but Gabbard is 0-3 in his last four starts.

Forecast: I noticed that Gabbard isn't all that good in Arlington. His ERA is higher at home, so it may benefit the Rangers to have him pitch more on the road. And today, Gabbard will benefit from being on the road. Rangers win this one in a landslide, 12-4.

Home Plate