MLB: Ranking top SP combos for AL contenders
By Ed Carroll
1. Oakland Athletics – LHP Jon Lester and RHP Sonny Gray
So if Detroit’s combo is 1b, Oakland’s combo is 1a, and that’s one reason it would be a shame if they’d miss the playoffs. Jon Lester was acquired by Oakland in a blockbuster deal this July, sending outfielder Yoenis Cespesdes to Boston, and though Oakland didn’t necessarily need a dominant lefty ace such as Lester, he’s certainly lived up to his end of the bargain for the A’s.
Lester hasn’t pitched fewer innings than six since being acquired by Oakland, and on the year he has a 2.52 ERA in 199.2 innings pitched, good for a 5.6 fWAR. The icing on the cake for Lester is his playoff experience: 2.11 ERA in his 13 games from the 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2013 postseasons.
Oakland, like Kansas City, could go with a few different options for its number two starter, including another lefty in Scott Kazmir and another midseason trade acquisition in Jeff Samardzija, but I’m predicting Oakland will tab Gray, its opening day starter, for a potential game two, if the Athletics can make it. Gray was the team’s top pick in 2011, and is having another excellent season in 2014, with a 3.18 ERA in 198 innings pitched.
Gray has struck out 162 hitters this year, and has been worth 2.8 fWAR in his 30 starts. The main concern with Gray is this is sort of uncharted territory for him in terms of innings, and it’s his first full season. Gray started two games in the playoffs for Oakland last year and was terrific, with a 2.08 ERA in 13 innings, though he has a record of 0-1.