The season is drawing to a close and there aren’t many more chances for most teams to get the crowds into their ballparks.\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps that’s why all but four games are taking place at nighttime this working week?\u00c2\u00a0 Whatever the reason, it makes for a light schedule of early games for us to enjoy live during the British evening.\u00c2\u00a0 All times are in BST.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Monday 21 September<\/strong><\/p>\n There are no early games today.\u00c2\u00a0 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).<\/p>\n Tuesday 22 September<\/strong><\/p>\n 21.10. Phillies @ Marlins – Hamels (10-9), Johnson (15-4)<\/p>\n Tuesday is typically an ‘early game free zone’, but today a double-header between the Phillies and Marlins offers us a potential cracker.\u00c2\u00a0 The aces of the two pitching staffs are scheduled to meet in the first game, although sometimes pitchers can be\u00c2\u00a0switched to the other game\u00c2\u00a0quite late in the day for a double-header.\u00c2\u00a0 Let’s hope that’s not the case this time because Cole Hamels against Josh Johnson has the makings of an excellent game.<\/p>\n Wednesday 23 September<\/strong><\/p>\n 20.35. Yankees @ Angels – Burnett (11-9), Kazmir (9-8)<\/p>\n Once again we only have one early game to follow, yet it should be well worth watching.\u00c2\u00a0 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.\u00c2\u00a0 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).\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00c2\u00a0 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.\u00c2\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n Thursday 24 September<\/strong><\/p>\n 17.35. Reds @ Pirates – TBD, Morton (4-8) You know it’s a slow week when even ‘getaway’ Thursday only offers us two early games.\u00c2\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n We don’t know who will be pitching for Texas at time of writing, but the A’s will be going with Gio Gonzalez.\u00c2\u00a0 It’s certainly been a learning season for the lefty.\u00c2\u00a0 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.\u00c2\u00a0 However, more often than not he has been\u00c2\u00a0a source of frustration for A’s fans.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00c2\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n Friday 25 September<\/strong><\/p>\n It’s another slate of night games on Friday, including the first game of the latest Red Sox-Yankees series.\u00c2\u00a0 Elsewhere, the Braves are in Washington taking on the Nationals and the Dodgers are in Pittsburgh taking on the Pirates,\u00c2\u00a0 while the Marlins, Rockies, White Sox, Angels and Giants are hosting the Mets, Cardinals, Tigers, A’s and Cubs respectively.<\/p>\n
\n20.35. Rangers @ A’s – TBD, Gonzalez (5-6)<\/p>\n