Baseball is already under way this Wednesday afternoon, but there’s still plenty of action this evening. Notably, two players will be making debuts for different reasons.
Jameson Taillon will be making his major league debut for the Pirates at PNC Park against the Mets, opposing Noah Syndergaard. Taillon missed the 2014-15 seasons due to Tommy John surgery, but has pitched quite well at Triple-A Indianapolis in 10 starts this season, meriting the call-up. Even while he was injured, Talilon rated high on prospect rankings, including #26 overall going into last season by Baseball Prospectus. That Taillon will be facing Syndergaard, whose fastball regularly hits triple digits and whose change-up is the speed of other pitchers’ fastballs, will only make it more exciting.
James Shields will be making his White Sox debut at U.S. Cellular Field tonight against the Nationals, opposing Max Scherzer. The Sox acquired Shields from the Padres this past Saturday in exchange for Erik Johnson and Fernando Tatis, Jr. Though Chris Sale and Jose Quintana have been excellent, the White Sox haven’t won a game either pitcher started since May 19. Behind them, Carlos Rodon, Mat Latos, and Miguel Gonzalez have been some degree of mediocre. Though Shields himself was struggling with the Padres, posting a 4.28 ERA in 11 starts, about one-third of the earned runs he’s allowed (10 of 32) on the season came in his May 31 start against the Mariners. He should, in the long run, serve as a useful upgrade in the starting rotation.
Wednesday’s action...
Kansas City Royals (Edinson Volquez) @ Baltmiore Orioles (Chris Tillman), 7:05 PM EDT
Los Angeles Angels (Jered Weaver) @ New York Yankees (Nathan Eovaldi), 7:05 PM EDT
New York Mets (Noah Syndergaard) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (Jameson Taillon), 7:05 PM EDT
St. Louis Cardinals (Jaime Garcia) @ Cincinnati Reds (Alfredo Simon), 7:10 PM EDT
Houston Astros (Doug Fister) @ Texas Rangers (Yu Darvish), 8:05 PM EDT
Miami Marlins (Wei-Yin Chen) @ Minnesota Twins (Ricky Nolasco), 8:10 PM EDT
Oakland Athletics (Jesse Hahn) @ Milwaukee Brewers (Chase Anderson), 8:10 PM EDT
Washington Nationals (Max Scherzer) @ Chicago White Sox (James Shields), 8:10 PM EDT
Cleveland Indians (Carlos Carrasco) @ Seattle Mariners (Taijuan Walker), 10:10 PM EDT
Colorado Rockies (Chris Rusin) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (Kenta Maeda), 10:10 PM EDT
Boston Red Sox (David Price) @ San Francisco Giants (Madison Bumgarner), 10:15 PM EDT
