If you have a few hours tonight, be sure to watch the game between the Angels and Mariners in Anaheim. No, not because the Angels are facing the 35-54 Seattle club, but rather because tonight features a stellar pitching duel between Jered Weaver and Felix Hernandez.
↵Neither Weaver nor Hernandez were named initially to the American League All-Star team, an egregious oversight for both. If the AL pitching staff had just five or six pitchers instead of 13, both should have been All-Stars. As it was, Weaver was named as a replacement All-Star, but was himself ineligible to pitch because he started on Sunday before the break.
↵Weaver and Hernandez are at or near the top in several pitching categories in the American League:
↵Strikeouts: Weaver 1st, Hernandez 2nd
ERA: Hernandez 7th, Weaver 11th
FIP: Weaver 4th, Hernandez 6th
xFIP: Weaver 2nd, Hernandez 5th
Innings: Hernandez 1st, Weaver 6th
Wins Above Replacement: Hernandez 4th, Weaver 5th
This is the third time Weaver and Hernandez have faced off this season, and Weaver has yet to allow an earned run. The Angels won both contests, on May 7 and May 29, the last game otherwise known as the Kendry Morales cart-off grand slam game.
↵No matter how you slice it, tonight in Anaheim will feature a classic pitching matchup. Just sit back, kick your feet up and enjoy.