Game 149: Rangers at A's

Another Rangers vs the A's...
The Brandon McCarthy card for a Brand McCarthy start. How fitting.

Scouting Report:

Rangers: McCarthy makes his fifth start for the Rangers after missing 4 1/2 months because of severe forearm/elbow inflammation. After two quality starts, he lost in his last outing against the Red Sox, allowing six runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 7-2 defeat. Opponents are hitting .250 off him, .300 by left-handed hitters and .200 by right-handed hitters. They are 3-for-17 (.176) off him with runners in scoring position. He is 0-2 with a 9.39 ERA in four games, including two starts, against the Athletics in his career.

A's: Outman will make his first big league start. He has made two relief appearances since being called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Sept. 2.

Josh Outman has mostly been in the minors. He has two major league appearances, which gives him his current numbers of a 6.23 ERA and no record. In the minors, though, he has been very effective as a starter, going 33-18 with a 3.08 ERA in four seasons. He topped out in AA and hasn't played at AAA at all before being called up.

He gave up three runs and a HR to Miguel Cabrera (a two run shot). The other run came as a sacrifice fly to Brandon Inge.

McCarthy has four starts this season and the Rangers have grabbed a win in just one of those. McCarthy comes into this one with a 1-1 record and a 4.22 ERA. He is 0-2 in his career against Oakland, posting two starts in four games. He has pitched 7.2 innings (yes, that is two starts and two relief appearances) and has a 9.39 ERA against, issuing 8 runs with a HR on 10 hits. The A's hit him for a .303 batting average.

McCarthy has never had a winning record since his debut year (he went 3-2 in 2005), but his ERA has remained respectable. Batters are hitting him for a .250 this season and a .256 for his career. His career ERA is 4.55, so he is doing better than his norm. The current A's roster is 5-25 (.200 BA) with two doubles, no HRs and 5 RBIs.

Forecast: This one is a little tough to call, it is the first ML start for Outman and McCarthy has a bad history against Oakland. It could be a low scoring or a high scoring affair for both sides. I like McCarthy's chances since he tends to hold the current roster at bay. Outman could continue his ML woes, which is fairly likely since he didn't pitch AAA ball (but then again, neither did Harrison). I am going to take the Rangers on a hunch, score: 11-4.

Just an FYI, it is confirmed that I will be going to Saint Louis, so I will be scheduled everything up through Tuesday. Thanks and enjoy. Hopefully I am on target for the Rangers and Cowboys games.

Home Plate