Game 94: Rangers vs. White Sox

I thought I would start today with the series matchups:

• Game 1: Gavin Floyd (10-4) vs. Luis Mendoza (1-3) - Quick Pick: White Sox
• Game 2: Kevin Millwood (6-4) vs. John Danks (6-4) - Quick Pick: Rangers
• Game 3: Matt Harrison (1-0) vs. José Contreras (7-6) - Quick Pick: Rangers

Ah... I do not know if you noticed, but yesterday there were five games that went into extra innings, all going 11 innings, and 4 out of 5 games were won by the visiting team. Weird.

For the Dot Race, red will win.

The right-hander, Gavin Floyd, is 6-1 with a 3.55 ERA over his last eight starts. He pitched 7 1-3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and fanning six in a 6-1 victory over Oakland on Saturday. And before this stretch, Floyd pitched a complete game loss to the Angels in which he gave up three runs on three hits and four walks and a HR. In his last four starts, he has pitched 6 innings or more twice.

Floyd has one career start against the Rangers and didn't grab a decision after pitching 6 innings and handing out three runs. The Rangers hit him for a .261 batting average, but the league is hitting .207 off of him this season.

Rangers to Watch:

• Ian Kinsler: 1-3 with a HR and 1 RBI
• Michael Young: 1-3
• Marlon Byrd: 1-3
• Frank Catalanotto: 1-2 with 1 walk

Luis Mendoza has never faced the ChiSox, so this is breaking new ground for him tonight. Of course, his career consists of 8 starts in his 14 games, and a career record of 2-3 with 1 save. This season, he sports a 7.54 ERA in 22.2 innings in 5 starts and 3 relief appearances. Everybody mistakes his pitches for batting practice. At least that is what you think when you see his .337 BAA. The Rangers have only won two of the games he's pitched in and three of the games he's been apart of have been blowouts that the opponent won. He's given up 11 unearned runs. He's also walked 11, struck out 10, and given up 6 long balls this season.

Wow, this game is a huge mismatch. If you play "Beat the Streak", today would have been a good call for a ChiSox hitter, even with Kinsler and Young blowing it out at the plate.

Forecast: I do not know if I should really be doing this series... my house is devided when it comes to the ChiSox and the Rangers. I guess today's prediction will please my wife. ChiSox take this one in an UGLY game... score: 8-3.

Home Plate