THT Daily: Twins edge closer
by Dave StudemanSeptember 19, 2009
Major League News for September 19
Player News
Yesterday’s Results
Today’s Games
Standings
You can always find the most recent THT Daily at http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/content/thtdaily/
Player News
Player Headlines are courtesy of RotoworldIn his first relief appearance of the season, Chad Billingsley allowed two runs over 1 2/3 innings in a loss to the Giants on Friday night.
It was his first appearance since September 13. And it wasn't pretty. Billingsley gave up four hits -- including a home run to Aaron Rowand -- while walking two and failing to strike out a batter. Joe Torre yanked him after 47 pitches with the bases loaded. As of now, he's still expected to start against the Nationals next week.
Ichiro Suzuki stunned Mariano Rivera and the Yankees with a walk-off two-run homer on Friday night.
Rivera blew away Jack Hannahan and Mike Carp to open the frame, but Mike Sweeney kept the inning alive with a double to set up Ichiro's game-winning two-run blast. Friday marked the second straight night that Ichiro has won a game on a walk-off hit. It was only the second time that Rivera has blown a save all season long -- the other way back on April 24. Ichiro finished the night 4-for-5 with two RBI.
Jarrod Washburn (knee) will pay a visit to noted orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Washburn has already been scratched from his scheduled Sunday start and won't pick up a baseball until he's cleared by Yocum. The lefty is 1-3 with a 7.33 ERA since joining the Tigers at the trade deadline.
Brian Duensing tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings in a 3-0 win over the first-place Tigers on Friday night.
Duensing allowed just four hits and retired six consecutive batters twice. The 26-year-old southpaw is 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA as a starting pitcher this season. More importantly, the win moved the Twins to within three games of the first-place Tigers.
Chipper Jones returned to the Braves' starting lineup Friday.
Jones missed four straight starts this week with a strained left groin. He took batting practice Friday afternoon with the rest of the team and reported no problems. The vet is batting just .133 in his last 83 at-bats.
Andy Pettitte reported no problems with his shoulder after a bullpen session Friday and is on schedule to start Monday against the Angels.
Pettitte was skipped earlier this week with what the Yankees called a "fatigued" left shoulder. He's 13-6 on the year with a 4.14 ERA.
Zack Greinke showed only a welt Friday morning after being hit on the elbow during Thursday's game, but is still in danger of missing a start.
"We're hopeful to know [Saturday], but we don't know when he's going to pitch again," manager Trey Hillman said Friday. "It could be on his regular fifth day." And it might not. Greinke is currently scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Red Sox, but it probably makes sense to push him back a day or two.
Lance Berkman (back) returned to the Astros' lineup Friday.
Berkman had't played since Tuesday due to lingering discomfort in his lower back, but took early batting practice Friday and deemed himself ready to go. "I feel good," said Big Puma. "I really do."
J.A. Happ was pulled after three innings Friday with an undisclosed injury.
The Phillies are saying he was yanked for "precautionary reasons," but keep in mind that Happ was scratched from two consecutive starts before Friday's outing. If he tweaked his oblique, there's a chance he could miss significant time. The rookie had allowed one run over three innings to the Braves.
Yesterday’s Results
For the full scoop regarding yesterday's games, read "And That Happened" at Shysterball.American League BOS 3 BAL 1 (Recap and Boxscore) TB 11 TOR 4 (Recap and Boxscore) KC 11 CHA 0 (Recap and Boxscore) MIN 3 DET 0 (Recap and Boxscore) OAK 2 CLE 1 (Recap and Boxscore) SEA 3 NYA 2 (Recap and Boxscore) LAA 2 TEX 0 (Recap and Boxscore) National League PHI 9 ATL 4 (Recap and Boxscore) WAS 6 NYN 5 (Recap and Boxscore) FLA 4 CIN 3 (Recap and Boxscore) MIL 3 HOU 2 (Recap and Boxscore) PIT 5 SD 1 (Recap and Boxscore) STL 3 CHN 2 (Recap and Boxscore) ARI 7 COL 5 (Recap and Boxscore) SF 8 LAN 4 (Recap and Boxscore)Check out Fangraphs' scoreboard to see all the games in action.
Today’s Games
Indians (61-86) @ Athletics (69-78), 4:05pm
Jeremy Sowers (26, LHP) vs. Gio Gonzalez (23, LHP)
Tigers (78-69) @ Twins (75-72), 4:10pm
Justin Verlander (26, RHP) vs. Carl Pavano (33, RHP)
Royals (60-87) @ WhiteSox (72-76), 7:05pm
Dusty Hughes (27, LHP) vs. Jake Peavy (28, RHP)
RedSox (87-59) @ Orioles (60-87), 7:05pm
Jon Lester (25, LHP) vs. David Hernandez (24, RHP)
Angels (88-59) @ Rangers (80-66), 7:05pm
Jered Weaver (26, RHP) vs. Scott Feldman (26, RHP)
Blue Jays (66-81) @ Rays (75-73), 7:08pm
Ricky Romero (24, LHP) vs. Matt Garza (25, RHP)
Yankees (94-54) @ Mariners (77-71), 10:10pm
C.C. Sabathia (28, LHP) vs. Doug Fister (25, RHP)
Padres (66-82) @ Pirates (56-89), 12:35pm
Clayton Richard (25, LHP) vs. Ross Ohlendorf (26, RHP)
Nationals (51-96) @ Mets (63-85), 1:10pm
John Lannan (24, LHP) vs. Tim Redding (31, RHP)
Giants (80-67) @ Dodgers (88-60), 4:10pm
Brad Penny (31, RHP) vs. Jon Garland (29, RHP)
Cubs (75-71) @ Cardinals (86-62), 4:10pm
Ryan Dempster (32, RHP) vs. Chris Carpenter (34, RHP)
Phillies (86-60) @ Braves (78-69), 7:00pm
Pedro Martinez (37, RHP) vs. Javier Vazquez (32, RHP)
Astros (70-77) @ Brewers (72-75), 7:05pm
Brian Moehler (37, RHP) vs. Jeff Suppan (34, RHP)
Marlins (79-69) @ Reds (68-80), 7:10pm
Ricky Nolasco (26, RHP) vs. Bronson Arroyo (32, RHP)
Rockies (83-65) @ D'backs (65-83), 8:10pm
Jason Hammel (26, RHP) vs. Max Scherzer (24, RHP)
Standings
The graphics next to each team are called "sparklines.” They depict each team’s performance over the last month. Each "up" bar is a victory and a "down" bar is a loss. There are horizontal lines for home games and red bars represent games decided by two runs or less. "PWins" is short for Projected Wins, based on each team’s Run Differential, and is often a better measure of a team’s true strength. Other team graphs and stats can be found on our Team Page.American League East Pwins Diff NYA 94 54 .635 0.0 88 6BOS 87 59 .596 6.0 86 1
TB 75 73 .507 19.0 79 -4
TOR 66 81 .449 27.5 74 -8
BAL 60 87 .408 33.5 63 -3
American League Central DET 78 69 .531 0.0 73 5
MIN 75 72 .510 3.0 75 0
CHA 72 76 .486 6.5 72 0
CLE 61 86 .415 17.0 67 -6
KC 60 87 .408 18.0 62 -2
American League West LAA 88 59 .599 0.0 83 5
TEX 80 66 .548 7.5 78 2
SEA 77 71 .520 11.5 68 9
OAK 69 78 .469 19.0 73 -4
National League East Pwins Diff PHI 86 60 .589 0.0 84 2
FLA 79 69 .534 8.0 75 4
ATL 78 69 .531 8.5 81 -3
NYN 63 85 .426 24.0 65 -2
WAS 51 96 .347 35.5 59 -8
National League Central STL 86 62 .581 0.0 83 3
CHN 75 71 .514 10.0 76 -1
MIL 72 75 .490 13.5 71 1
HOU 70 77 .476 15.5 65 5
CIN 68 80 .459 18.0 64 4
PIT 56 89 .386 28.5 61 -5
National League West LAN 88 60 .595 0.0 90 -2
COL 83 65 .561 5.0 82 1
SF 80 67 .544 7.5 79 1
SD 66 82 .446 22.0 59 7
ARI 65 83 .439 23.0 69 -4
Wildcard Standings American League BOS 87 59 .596 0.0 TEX 80 66 .548 7.0 SEA 77 71 .520 11.0 MIN 75 72 .510 12.5 TB 75 73 .507 13.0 National League COL 83 65 .561 0.0 SF 80 67 .544 2.5 FLA 79 69 .534 4.0 ATL 78 69 .531 4.5 CHN 75 71 .514 7.0
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