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Kendall Graveman makes his sixth start of the spring sporting a starting staff leading 0.42 ERA, having conceded just one run and 10 hits in 21⅓ innings. You are going to learn he loves putting hitters in the ground. 58.3% of his minor league plate appearances ended in a ground ball.
Graveman is hardly a slouch working the count, either. He has struck out 11 batters while walking just four. Drew Pomeranz is the only member of the named rotation that has struck out more, with 25(!), and only Scott Kazmir has conceded as few free passes. Chatting with Ray Fosse during Thursday night's game, Graveman smiled when Fosse told him he noticed that Graveman seems to get upset whenever Graveman fails to throw strikes:
His performance late last year with the Blue Jays and his spring starts have made him a popular preseason choice for American League Rookie of the Year. Two out of five experts at CBS Sports predicted him the winner.
First pitch is at 7:15, with the game televised on CSN Bay Area. The game is also available for free and without blackout restrictions on MLB.TV during its free spring preview.
The Giants are again batting the pitcher tonight, so we'll have to spot them a run I guess. A's and Giants, coming up!
