CC Sabathia (2-7, 5.67 ERA) is on the mound against Mike Montgomery in game two in Seattle. Sabathia is coming off two straight losses in which he gave up 11 runs on 15 hits through just 8 1/3 innings. In his last start against the A’s he gave up two long balls.
Sabathia carries a 4.25 strikeout to walk ratio, the 10th lowest in the American League. His 1.79 walks per nine innings is ninth among AL starters, but he is tied for the league lead in losses.
Montgomery is making his MLB debut for the injured James Paxton. He was acquired from the Rays back in March and went 4-3 with a 3.74 ERA in nine starts for Seattle’s Triple-A affiliate.
Montgomery was one of the leagues top pitching prospects in his first few years in the Minors, being rated the 31st overall prospect in 2012 by MLB.com. He was traded by the Royals to the Rays as part of the James Shields/Wil Myers deal in December 2012 and was 10-5 with a 4.29 ERA in 25 starts for Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate last year.
Tidbits:
Lefties are hitting .149 off Sabathia this year.
Robinson Cano is 2-7 (.286) with a home run, two RBIs, a walk and a strikeout against his former teammate.
Mark Teixeira is tied for fourth place in homers this year with 15.
10:10 pm on Yes.
