Game 73, Rays at Mariners
Logan Gilbert vs. Josh Fleming, 7:10pm
After winning the first two games of the series against the high-flying Rays, the M’s look to officially take the four-game set with a win tonight. Logan Gilbert, who’s looked calm, poised, and effective in recent games, takes the hill for the M’s.
Against him is Tampa’s swingman/spot starter Josh Fleming, a comparatively unheralded lefty who made his debut last season. Tampa’s got young SP prospects with tons of velocity (Shane Baz, Shane McClanahan) and SP prospects with tantalizing raw stuff (Brent Honeywell, Brendan McKay), but few have been as effective in their first taste of MLB as Fleming. The 2017 5th rounder rated as Tampa’s #30 prospect entering the year, then threw 32 1/3 innings of under-3 ERA baseball for the pennant winners.
He uses a sinker at around 91, a cutter, a curve, and a really nice sinking change. Pretty much everything he throws drops, and that allows him to post GB rates near 60%.
The story of last night’s game was Yusei Kikuchi’s great performance, the latest in a string of gems. Beyond that, though, he got some attention for his spin rates. Like many pitchers, especially those who’ve gained velo, his spin rates have been up in the early going. Last night, they cratered, with his FB down 150-200RPM on average. Did it matter? Ask the Rays.
Kikuchi had his lowest release point, and thus got some good arm side run (well, for him). But despite the drop in spin and arm angle, his vertical movement was…well, not unchanged, but down fractionally. Same with his slider and cutter.
1: Crawford, SS
2: Haniger, RF
3: France, 1B
4: Seager, 3B
5: Murphy, C
6: Bauers, DH
7: Moore, 2B
8: Fraley, CF
9: Long, LF
SP: Gilbert
If Kikuchi keeps this up, I’m feeling pretty good about his extension being picked up.
Also, feeling VERY good about JP… a GG SS with a .750 OPS in this league is just fine, thank you very much.
It’s weird, but hopeful seeing them figure it out. Now the hard part is up next…