Cecconi looks to start the 2H on a high note versus the A's

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Today's Overview/Schedule/Weather: We kick off the second half of the season with a full slate of games, starting with the Red Sox and Cubs at 2:20 pm ET. We were battling rain before the All-Star break, but hopefully, we have moved on from the bad weather and have a clean day of baseball. We have some aces pitching today, but still plenty of suspect pitching, leading to at least a handful of games with totals of nine runs or more.   

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Notable Starts:

Slade Cecconi finished the first half of the season with a strong start versus the Astros, where he allowed two runs over seven innings with nine strikeouts. He has looked good since June 5, allowing three earned runs or less in seven starts with a 2.72 ERA and 3.88 SIERA to go with 39 strikeouts and 13 walks over 39.2 innings pitched for a 15.8% K-BB. He takes on an A’s team hitting .235 over the past month with a 99 wRC+ while striking out 26.4% of the time. Cecconi carries a 1.2 overall rating and 1.6 strikeout rating as he looks to pick up where he left off. 

Lucas Giolito ended the first half on a high note, throwing six shutout innings with six strikeouts versus the Rockies. Over his final six starts of the first half, Giolito allowed three earned runs over 38.2 innings pitched for a 0.70 ERA and 3.60 SIERA to go with an 18.6% K-BB. Giolito heads into Wrigley to take on a Cubs team that is hitting .267 versus RHP over the past month with a .241 ISO and 136 wRC+. Giolito has a tough matchup to start the second half of the season, but his recent performance suggests he may be game. 

Spencer Strider has made 11 starts since returning from Tommy John surgery and has been looking a little better each start. He has allowed three earned runs or less in his last seven starts for a 3.16 ERA with 55 strikeouts over 42.2 innings pitched with 16 walks for a 22.5% K-BB. He looks to continue improving against a Yankees team that has hit .261 over the past month against RHP, with a 123 wRC+, while striking out 22.9% of the time. Strider will look to limit the walks and rack up the strikeouts in a must-see matchup on Friday. 

Charlie Morton struggled mightily to start the season, which eventually led to Morton being sent to the bullpen. He rejoined the rotation on May 26 and has been solid over eight starts since then. He has a 2.76 ERA and 3.54 SIERA over the eight starts with an 18.3% K-BB. Morton takes on a Rays team hitting .286 over the past month versus RHP with a 118 wRC+ while striking out less than 20% of the time. The Rays are quite the pesky opponent, but Morton will look to limit the damage once again. 

Nick Lodolo has had an up-and-down season, but he has found his groove lately. Over his last five starts, Lodolo has allowed seven runs over 27.2 innings pitched for a 2.26 ERA and 3.60 SIERA to go with 27 strikeouts and six walks for an 18.3% K-BB. He takes on a Mets team struggling versus LHP over the past month, hitting .207 with a 58 wRC+ while striking out 24.6% of the time. Lodolo will look to capitalize on a struggling offense to continue his recent success. 

Jesús Luzardo was one of the best pitchers in baseball before hitting the skids over the last month and a half. He finished the first half on a high note as he struck out seven Giants over seven shutout innings. He starts the second half with another nice matchup, taking on an Angels team hitting .236 versus LHP over the past month with a 103 wRC+ while striking out 27.1% of the time. Luzardo will look to limit the damage again while racking up plenty of strikeouts. 

 

Quick Pitches:

• Brandon Pfaadt has had a rocky season, but has allowed two earned runs or less in four of his last six starts for a 4.24 ERA and 3.48 SIERA with an 18.8% K-BB. Pfaadt will look to continue that success against a Cardinals team hitting .263 against RHP over the past month, with a 123 wRC+. 
• Reese Olson has made two starts since returning from the IL and has allowed three earned runs over 9.1 innings pitched with three walks and four strikeouts. He’ll look to build off those starts versus a Rangers team hitting .244 over the past month versus RHP with a 101 wRC+. 
• Brandon Walter bounced back nicely in his last start versus the Guardians, allowing two runs over six innings pitched with seven strikeouts. Walter has now allowed two earned runs or less in five of seven starts with a 23% K-BB, and he’ll look to continue that success versus the Mariners today. 
• Sean Manaea made his season debut this past weekend and allowed one run over 3.1 innings with seven strikeouts versus the Royals. He’ll look to extend his pitch count and build off that outing versus a Reds team hitting .249 versus LHP over the past month while striking out nearly 24% of the time. 
• Dylan Cease has not been able to avoid the big inning of late and has allowed 20 earned runs over his last five starts, but has struck out 33 over 27.2 innings pitched for an 18.5% K-BB. Cease will look to figure things out versus a Nats team hitting .255 over the past month versus RHP while striking out less than 20% of the time. 

 

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