As I sit here enjoying my first homemade smoothie (okay, at least I was when I wrote this around 4:30) after buying a blender in an effort to eat a little healthier, the A’s begin their final road series of the season in Seattle with a chance to finish at .500. With a record of 75-81 they’ll have to win their last six and it starts off with a tough one: Trevor Cahill vs. Felix Hernandez.
Unless the A’s use him on Sunday this will be Cahill’s final outing of the season and to his credit he’s had a strong finish. As rough a season as he did have while gaining valuable MLB experience, his last few starts are a positive to build from and take into 2010. Against Seattle Cahill is 0-2 in three starts but he’s only allowed four earned runs in 19 innings.
King Felix is arguably in the Cy Young hunt in the most dominant season of his young career so far. The only time he faced the A’s back in his second start of the season, he allowed five runs in five innings. He stands a good chance of finishing with 18 or 19 wins but his numbers have been great across the board and he passed 200 strikeouts for the first time in a season in his last start. In the month of September he’s 4-0 with a 1.15 ERA, as well.
That’s ending on a strong note, but my favorite for the Cy remains Zack Greinke. He’s been amazing all season but is having an even better September than Hernandez. Justin Verlander and C.C. Sabathia will get some votes and even though Sabathia’s the least deserving of those four, you never know how it’ll go when he plays for the Yankees.
Tonight is also the night when dead animals are being grilled up over at Chez Nico. If you’re not already there it’s probably too late.