The season is drawing to a close and there aren’t many more chances for most teams to get the crowds into their ballparks.  Perhaps that’s why all but four games are taking place at nighttime this working week?  Whatever the reason, it makes for a light schedule of early games for us to enjoy live during the British evening.  All times are in BST. 

Monday 21 September

There are no early games today.  Later on we have a start by top prospect Chris Tillman for the Orioles against the Blue Jays (00.07) and the first game of a series between the Yankees and Angels (03.05).

Tuesday 22 September

21.10. Phillies @ Marlins – Hamels (10-9), Johnson (15-4)

Tuesday is typically an ‘early game free zone’, but today a double-header between the Phillies and Marlins offers us a potential cracker.  The aces of the two pitching staffs are scheduled to meet in the first game, although sometimes pitchers can be switched to the other game quite late in the day for a double-header.  Let’s hope that’s not the case this time because Cole Hamels against Josh Johnson has the makings of an excellent game.

Wednesday 23 September

20.35. Yankees @ Angels – Burnett (11-9), Kazmir (9-8)

Once again we only have one early game to follow, yet it should be well worth watching.  Both the Yankees and Angels are virtually assured of a playoff place, in fact that Yankees may well have clinched their spot by the time this game rolls around, but this series is an excellent chance for one team to lay down a marker for any future confrontation.  Recent history favours the Angels as they have have dumped the Yankees out of the postseason on the last two occasions they have met at the ALDS stage (2002 and 2005). 

As for the two probable pitchers, A.J. Burnett found a bit of form last time out against the Mariners after a less-than-impressive sequence of starts.  The Yankees’ confidence in their number two starter would increase greatly if he can string together a couple of strong outings to end the regular season.  The Angels added Scott Kazmir from the Rays to strengthen their rotation, partly with the postseason in mind, and he’s repaid them so far with four effective starts.

Thursday 24 September

17.35. Reds @ Pirates – TBD, Morton (4-8)
20.35. Rangers @ A’s – TBD, Gonzalez (5-6)

You know it’s a slow week when even ‘getaway’ Thursday only offers us two early games.  Reds-Pirates is probably one reserved for fans of those respective teams, while the game from the AL West does at least involve a team in the Rangers that has challenged for a postseason place until the Angels and Red Sox pulled away from them recently.

We don’t know who will be pitching for Texas at time of writing, but the A’s will be going with Gio Gonzalez.  It’s certainly been a learning season for the lefty.  There have been flashes of promise, such as the back-to-back wins in August against the Rangers and Orioles when he pitched 12.2 scoreless innings combined.  However, more often than not he has been a source of frustration for A’s fans. 

In fifteen starts, Gonzalez has only made it through seven innings once and he hasn’t been able to complete four innings in his two most recent outings.  On top of that, Gio has a maddening tendency to glare at the umpire at every ball-strike call that he feels has gone against him, which is hardly likely to encourage the umpire to be more generous towards him with the next borderline pitch.

Friday 25 September

It’s another slate of night games on Friday, including the first game of the latest Red Sox-Yankees series.  Elsewhere, the Braves are in Washington taking on the Nationals and the Dodgers are in Pittsburgh taking on the Pirates,  while the Marlins, Rockies, White Sox, Angels and Giants are hosting the Mets, Cardinals, Tigers, A’s and Cubs respectively.

All the above games can be followed via various resources on MLB.com (Gameday, Gameday Audio and MLB.tv), while ESPN America’s MLB schedule can be found here.