Pitching Matchups; Game of the Day 5/3/11

10:35am
Portland Sea Dogs (Alex Wilson 3-1, 4.26)
vs. Trenton Thunder (Steve Garrison 0-3, 7.11)

12:05pm
Toledo Mud Hens (Duane Below 2-1, 3.63)
vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (Felix Doubront 0-0, 0.00)

6:35pm
Richmond Flying Squirrels (Justin Fitzgerald 2-1, 1.45)
vs. New Britain Rock Cats (Bobby Lanigan 1-2, 3.98)

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Chad Beck 2-0, 2.25)
vs. Reading Phillies (Chris Kissock 1-2, 5.40)

Game of the Day - Fisher Cats vs. RPhils - New Hampshire got off on the right foot with a 5-0 shutout of Reading last night, pulling them to within 2 games of the RPhils in the Eastern Division. With three games left to play in this series, this one becomes pivitol for the Cats, who can find themselves back on top before the weekend. But let's take things one game at a time here. New Hampshire starter Chad Beck is coming off of his worst start of the season when he allowed 4 earned runs on 4 hits and 3 walks against New Britain last Thursday. He got a no decision in that outing and the team is hoping that was just a slight bump and that Beck will return to his form from his prior two starts where he went 2-0, tossed 15 innings, allowed only 1 earned run and 2 walks. Chris Kossick gets the nod for the first place Phillies. He had a rocky few starts to kick off the season, allowing 13 earned runs in 14 2/3 innings over three starts. In Kissock's last outing he went 7 strong against Erie, allowing just three hits and no runs for his first win on the year. Fun stat from this matchup, Reading leads the Eastern League with 27 home runs in 24 games and New Hampshire is tenth with only 11 home runs in 22 games.

Side note prediction (2-1) - Thanks to a PawSox win, I'm riding a two game prediction streak here, so let's keep the "mo" rolling by forecasting that Felix Doubront will pick up his first win of the season.

Remember you can leave your predictions below. There are no limits to the things you can guess on, so fire away.