Blue Jays 3 - White Sox 2
- Brandon Morrow pitched 6 innings and allowed 2 earned runs with 7 strikeouts. Of course it came with 5 walks. Over his last three starts (21 innings), he gave up 2 earned runs with 24 strikeouts and 10 walks. He ends the season with a frustrating 4.72 ERA.
- Philip Humber struck out a season high 9 batters over 6.2 innings of 1-run ball. He walked 4 with 2 hits, in the no-decision. He finishes the season having pitched 163 innings with 116 strikeouts and 41 walks.
- Chris Sale blew a 1-run lead in the 9th on 2 hits and 3 walks. Did I mention he only got one out? He's projected to be a starter next season for the club. Don Cooper should have a good skills to work with.
- Gordon Beckham went 2-4 with a homer. He finishes the season with a disappointing .230/.296/.337 batting line, 10 homers, and 44 RBI. I don't know who has seen their stock drop the most, Beckham, Alex Rios, or Adam Dunn.
- The Blue Jays finished with a .500 team record. That's better than I expected from them.
- W: Shawn Camp (6-3), L: Chris Sale (2-2), SV: Frank Francisco (17), BSV: Chris Sale (2)
- HR: Gordon Beckham (10)
Orioles 4 - Red Sox 3
- Jon Lester started this game with 6 innings of 2-run ball. He gave up 4 hits with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts. He'll finish up with an ERA under 3.50 (3.47) and 15 wins for the fourth straight season.
- Alfredo Simon allowed 3 earned runs over 4.1 innings, before the rain set in…
- The Red Sox had runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs in the 9th and got no runs… that's going come up later again.
- Jonathan Papelbon gave up 2 earned runs on 3 hits to blow the save and lose the game. Really, Carl Crawford must share in this as he had a Robert Andino liner come right at him, low and at his hip and he couldn't come up with it and Nolan Reimold scored the game winning run.
- Dustin Pedroia went 3-4 with a homer, 2 RBI, a run, and a walk. What can you say about the guy who just guts out every at-bat and never gives in?
- W: Jim Johnson (6-5), L: Jonathan Papelbon (4-1), BSV: Jonathan Papelbon (3)
- HR: Dustin Pedroia (21), J.J. Hardy (30)
- SB: Jacoby Ellsbury (39); CS: Mike Aviles (4)
Tigers 5 - Indians 4
- Rick Porcello allowed 3 earned runs over 6 innings on 5 hits and 2 walks. For all the fan fair when he was a prospect, this is the third season in a row that I've yet to see any real progress from him. His stuff just isn't that good. Still, he's only 22 years old and there's time for him to mature. He finishes the season with 182 innings pitched, 104 strikeouts, and 46 walks.
- Zach McAllister pitched 5 innings with 1 run allowed (0 earned) with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk. At Triple-A this season he pitched 154.2 innings with a 3.32 ERA, 128 strikeouts, and 31 walks.
- Victor Martinez went 3-3 with a RBI and run. He finishes with a .330/.380/.470 batting line over 595 plate appearances. His 12 homers were his lowest total since '03.
- Miguel Cabrera went 2-4 with a run. His .344/.448/.586 batting line with 30 homers is MVP like.
- W: Ryan Perry (2-0), L: Vinnie Pestano (1-2), SV: Jose Valverde (49)
- HR: Jhonny Peralta (21)
- SB: Jason Kipnis (5)
Rays 8 - Yankees 7
- Where do you start?
- David Price gave the Rays 4 innings of 6 run ball (5 earned) on 6 hits and 3 walks. Two of the hits he gave up were homers, one a grand slam to Mark Teixeira.
- Delin Betances got the start and went 2 scoreless innings, before the bullpen took over.
- Andruw Jones homered in the 5th inning to make this game 7-0 Yankees. It stayed that way, until the 8th inning.
- Boone Logan and Luis Ayala tag-teamed in the 8th inning to give up 6 runs, the biggest of which was a 3-run homer by Evan Longoria.
- Corey Wade served up a Dan Johnson pinch-hit homer to tie things up in the 9th… Dan Freaking Johnson.
- In the top of the 12th the Yankees had runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs and they failed to score a run.
- In the bottom of the 12th, Scott Proctor faced his 13th batter, Evan Longoria and I'm pretty sure you know what happened… a ball that lined over the left field wall, down the line for the walk-off win and a trip to the playoffs.
- W: Jake McGee (5-2), L: Scott Proctor (2-6)
- HR: Mark Teixeira (38, 39), Andruw Jones (13), Evan Longoria (30, 31), Dan Johnson (2)
- SB: Curtis Granderson (25), Eduardo Nunez (22), Chris Dickerson (4), Desmond Jennings (20), B.J. Upton (36), Elliot Johnson (6)
Rangers 3 - Angels 1
- Matt Harrison pitched 6 innings of 1-run ball with 4 strikeouts. For all of his ups-and-downs this season, he has allowed 3 earned runs or less in 6 straight starts now. He finishes with a 3.39 ERA over 185.2 innings with 126 strikeouts and 57 walks.
- Garrett Richards held the Rangers to 1 run over 5 innings with 2 hits, 3 walks, and 1 strikeout. Over 143.0 innings at Double-A he had a 3.15 ERA.
- Mike Napoli went 2-3 with two homers, 3 RBI, 2 runs, and a walk. He now has 30 homers to go with a .320/.414/.631 batting line. That's pret-ty, pret-ty, pretty good. Against the Angels that has to hurt for their fans.
- Ian Kinsler went 0-2 with 2 walks and a caught stealing. He finishes 32/30 for the second time in his career (2009).
- W: Mike Adams (5-4), L: Jordan Walden (5-5), SV: Neftali Feliz (32)
- HR: Mike Napoli (29, 30)
- SB: Elvis Andrus (37); CS: Ian Kinsler (4)
Twins 1 - Royals 0
- Carl Pavano twirled a complete game, shutout on 5 hits, no walks, and 3 strikeouts. He was pretty darn effective at home this season with a 3.01 ERA over 107.2 innings. That's much, much better than his 5.51 road ERA.
- Bruce Chen was no slouch as he pitched 8 shutout innings on 8 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts. There was chatter that he might be traded to the Red Sox, in the event they made to a 1-game playoff with the Rays. His 3.77 ERA is his best since '04 when he only started 4 games.
- Mike Moustakas went 2-3 with a triple and stolen base. He produced a .263/.309/.367 batting line over 365 plate appearances.
- W: Carl Pavano (9-13), L: Blake Wood (5-3)
- SB: Mike Moustakas (2); CS: Jarrod Dyson (1)
A's 2 - Mariners 0
- Gio Gonzalez struck out 11 batters over 8 shutout innings for his 16th win. He allowed only 2 hits with 3 walks. Despite his rough July and August, he finishes with a 3.12 ERA, which is a shade better than his 3.23 ERA from last season.
- Anthony Vasquez allowed 2 earned runs over 2 innings, before the bullpen went to work. Over 53.1 innings at Triple-A this season he had 32 strikeouts and 18 walks.
- Jai Miller provided all of the offense with a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning. At Triple-A he had 32 homers and 15 stolen bases over 475 plate appearances with a .276/.368/.588 batting line.
- W: Gio Gonzalez (16-12), L: Anthony Vasquez (1-6), SV: Andrew Bailey (24)
- HR: Jai Miller (1)
Mets 3 - Reds 0
- Miguel Batista tossed a complete game, shutout on 2 hits, 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. It was his first start in over two weeks. At 40 years old, I'm surprised he's still on a team's roster.
- Edinson Volquez didn't walk anyone in the first inning… success! He went on to pitch 7 innings total with 3 earned runs on 6 hits and 1 walk. In his four starts since coming back up, he pitched 23.2 innings with 13 earned runs, 19 strikeouts, and 10 walks.
- Jose Reyes got a bunt single down and then promptly left the game with a .337/.384/.493 batting line. His batting average won the NL batting title, which is nice, but he only played 126 games and really, isn't OBP a better crown to hold, seeing as how the goal is to preserve outs and get on base?
- Joey Votto went 0-3 with a walk. The defending NL MVP had a .416 OBP with a .531 slugging percentage over 161 games… can you ask for anything more?
- W: Miguel Batista (5-2), L: Edinson Volquez (5-7)
- HR: Miguel Batista (1)
Rockies 6 - Giants 3
- Drew Pomeranz won his second game, after he pitched 5.2 innings and allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits. He didn't walk anyone as he struck out 3 batters. Don't focus on the MLB results, rather look at his 119 strikeouts to 38 walks over 101 innings in the minors this season between High-A and Double-A with the Indians and Rockies.
- Eric Surkamp was roughed up for 4 earned runs over 4.2 innings, in his 2nd loss. He struck out 3 batters with 2 walks. Over 142.1 innings at Double-A he had 165 strikeouts with 44 walks.
- Kevin Kouzmanoff went 3-5 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI, and 2 runs. He finishes the season with a .255/.315/.398 batting line.
- Eric Young Jr. went 2-5 with a triple, run, and stolen base. He finishes with 23 stolen bases in the second half of the season. If he was ever given or able to earn a full season of playing time, the sky is the limit for his stolen base total.
- W: Drew Pomeranz (2-1), L: Eric Surkamp (2-2), SV: Rafael Betancourt (8)
- SB: Eric Young Jr. (27), Mark Ellis (14), Andres Torres (18, 19); CS: Mark Ellis (5)
Nationals 3 - Marlins 1
- Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 batters over six 1-hit innings with 2 walks. He ended up pitching 24 innings with 24 strikeouts and 2 walks. An innings cap seems like the only thing that will temper his value next season.
- Chris Volstad pitched 6 innings with 2 earned runs for his 13th loss. He decreased his walk rate to 2.69 BB/9, a career low, but it didn't translate into a lower ERA. I've almost given up on him as a league average starter.
- Gaby Sanchez went 2-3 with a double and RBI. He finishes the season with a .266/.352/.427 batting line. Not exactly the batting skills you want from your 1B.
- Ian Desmond went 1-3 with 2 RBI and a walk. He never really made the jump I thought he would from last season's skills. There's still time though, he turns 26 next season. He finishes with a .253/.298/.358 batting line.
- W: Stephen Strasburg (1-1), L: Chris Volstad (5-13), SV: Drew Storen (43)
- CS: Roger Bernadina (3)
Phillies 4 - Braves 3
- Tim Hudson held the Phillies to 2 earned runs over 6.1 innings. He gave up 6 hits with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts, in the no-decision. He finishes the season with a 3.22 ERA over 215 innings with 158 strikeouts and 56 walks. His strikeout to walk ratio was a career best 2.82 K/BB.
- Joe Blanton went 2 innings and allowed 1 earned run on 3 hits and no walks with 4 strikeouts. Cole Hamels came in next and pitched 3 innings with 2 earned runs allowed. The thought was to get them both some work, before the playoffs started.
- Craig Kimbrel blew a 1-run lead in the 9th inning and the Braves playoffs hopes quickly followed. He was just over-worked and fell apart in the month of September with a 4.76 ERA.
- Hunter Pence went 2-4 with a RBI, run, 3 walks, and he gunned down Dan Uggla at home. Pretty full game for the former Astro.
- Kris Medlen got 4 outs, this after making only one appearance this season as he makes his way back from TJ surgery.
- W: Justin De Fratus (1-0), L: Scott Linebrink (4-4), SV: David Herndon (1), BSV: Craig Kimbrel (8)
- HR: Dan Uggla (36)
- SB: Chase Utley (14), Michael Bourn (60, 61); CS: Michael Bourn (14)
Cardinals 8 - Astros 0
- Chris Carpenter slammed the door shut on any possibility of the Cards not being at least being involved in a 1-game playoff. He pitched a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts, 2 hits, and 1 walk. His 3.45 ERA might not show it, but this one of Carpenters best seasons of his career. He struck out 191 batters with 55 walks over 237.1 innings.
- Brett Myers was up to his old tricks as he gave up 7 runs (6 earned) over 5 innings for his 14th loss. A somewhat surprising performance after he gave up a total of 6 earned runs over his last 6 starts.
- Albert Pujols went 1-5 with a RBI and run. He finishes with a .299/.366/.541 batting line and 99 RBI. It's his first season without 100 RBI and a .300 batting average.
- W: Chris Carpenter (11-9), L: Brett Myers (7-14)
- HR: Allen Craig (11)
Brewers 7 - Pirates 3
- Zack Greinke allowed 2 earned runs over 6 innings for his 16th win. I'm not an expert at calculating xFIP, but I'm pretty sure he set a personal best in the stat as he came in with it being 2.56. His insane Cy Young season it was 3.09, for those wondering.
- Jeff Locke gave up 5 earned runs over 4 innings on 5 hits and 2 walks. If you're wondering, Jeff who? He had a 4.03 ERA over 125 innings at Double-A this season. So, yeah, Jeff who?
- Corey Hart went 1-4 with a homer, 2 RBI, 2 runs, and a stolen base. He goes into the playoffs with 26 homers and 7 stolen bases with a .285/.356/.510 batting line.
- Andrew McCutchen went 0-3 with a strikeout and finishes with a .259/.364/.456 batting line. Going into this game he was batting .219/.333/.397 in the 2nd half.
- W: Zack Greinke (16-6), L: Jeff Locke (0-3)
- HR: Corey Hart (26), Jonathan Lucroy (12), Carlos Gomez (8)
- SB: Corey Hart (7), Ryan Braun (33), Jonathan Lucroy (2)
Padres 9 - Cubs 2
- Wade LeBlanc received his 5th win, after he pitched 7 innings and allowed 2 earned runs. Not surprisingly his home ERA was 3.86 coming in, which is much lower than his road ERA (5.86)
- Ryan Dempster was back to his Dumpster ways as he allowed 9 earned runs over 5.2 innings. Like LeBlanc, he had a significant home/road ERA split of 3.83/.5.51.
- Will Venable went 1-4 with a grand slam and a walk. The power is nice, but he did steal 26 bases this season.
- Nick Hundley went 2-5 with a double, homer, 3 RBI, and a run. In how many lineups could a catcher hit .288/.347/.477 and bat third?
- W: Wade LeBlanc (5-6), L: Ryan Dempster (10-14)
- HR: Will Venable (9), Nick Hundley (9)
- SB: Cameron Maybin (40); CS: Lou Montanez (1)
Dodgers 7 - Diamondbacks 5
- Ted Lilly finished the NL slate with 7 shutout innings on 3 hits and a walk. He struck out 5 batters as he won his 12th game. Coming into this game his last four xFIPs: 4.08, 3.90, 3.95, & 4.03.
- Joe Saunders was knocked around for 5 earned runs over 6 innings on 9 hits. He ends with a 3.69 ERA and is someone I'm going to interested to see pitch in the playoffs (if he even gets to).
- Matt Kemp hit yet another homer, this one a 2-run shot. He ends the season with 39 homers and 40 stolen bases. He was that close to a 40/40 season. He'll likely end up the MVP and deservedly so.
- W: Ted Lilly (12-14), L: Joe Saunders (12-13), SV: Kenley Jansen (5)
- HR: Matt Kemp (39), James Loney (12), Cole Gillespie (1), Henry Blanco (8)
- SB: Dee Gordon (24), Willie Bloomquist (20), Aaron Hill (21); CS: Ted Lilly (1)