[SBRforum Staff]

Take Mariners +120 vs. Rangers

Game Time: 9/20/2006 8:05:00 PM

By: Al McMordie
http://www.phoenixsports.com

Look for Cha Seung Baek and the Mariners to get past the Robinson Tejeda and the Rangers tonight in Texas.

How can a starting pitcher have an ERA under 0.50 runs and his team have a losing record during that time? Ask Rangers right-handed starter Robinson Tejeda who, over his last three starts, has an ERA of 0.44 while Texas has a 1-2 record over that span, despite the fact that his record is 1-0 in those starts.

In some ways, this 3-game span is a mirror of Tejeda's entire season. Despite a 4-3 record for the year, the Rangers' record in Tejeda's 11 starts is a dismal 4-7.

Seattle right-handed starter Cha Seung Baek has no such discrepancy between his individual numbers and those of his team when he pitches. Baek has an excellent ERA of 3.90 on the season to go with an individual record of 3-1 and a team record of 4-1 in his five overall starts. Furthermore, Baek's season WHIP of 1.23 is more than 0.3 points lower than Tejeda's WHIP of 1.54. Baek's best start of the year came against the Rangers on September 8 when he shut them out over 7 innings en route to a 7-2 victory.

If Tejeda's overall record of 4-3 with 4.58 ERA and 1.54 WHIP seem unattractive, check out his statistics at home. When pitching at Ameriquest Field this season, Tejeda is 0-2 with a 8.27 ERA and 2.02 WHIP. Pretty ugly stuff. Take Seattle.

Play: Mariners +120

[bigboydan]

The Mariners I feel is most likely the right side of this game as well. It's not a game i'd personally bet on though.

[Illusion]

Tejeda has been razor sharp. Texas will hammer Seattle.