Game Notes: Moore vs Buchanan

Chris Archer spun another gem in last night's series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays, but the Tampa Bay Rays failed to provide their starting pitcher with run support once again.

Tonight's game will be the ultimate battle of the wills as the offensively impaired Rays (their 3.59 runs per game ranks fifth lowest in baseball) will play the run-preventing-impaired Philadelphia Phillies (their 4.78 ERA ranks second highest in baseball).

Fortunately for the Rays, the Phillies have averaged the third fewest runs per game with 3.46. Yes, the Phillies are really that bad.

The Rays will send Matt Moore to the mound as he looks to find his form after returning from Tommy John surgery. In 14 innings of work along three starts this season, Moore has surrendered 11 earned runs on 20 hits and seven walks.

David Buchanan gets the start for the Phillies.

First pitch is at 7:05.

<!-- BEGIN WIDGET --><div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix"><h3>Today's Lineups</h3><div class="lineup"><table cellspacing="0" class="zebra"><thead><tr><th align="left">TAMPA BAY RAYS</th><th align="left">PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Grady Sizemore - RF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Cesar Hernandez - 2B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Logan Forsythe - 2B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Ben Revere - LF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Evan Longoria - 3B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Maikel Franco - 3B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">James Loney - 1B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Jeff Francoeur - RF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">David DeJesus - LF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Darin Ruf - 1B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Tim Beckham - SS</td><td class="td-first td-name">Freddy Galvis - SS</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Kevin Kiermaier - CF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Odubel Herrera - CF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Curt Casali - C</td><td class="td-first td-name">Cameron Rupp - C</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Matt Moore - LHP</td><td class="td-first td-name">David Buchanan - RHP</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><!-- END WIDGET -->

The Book on David Buchanan

The Philadelphia Phillies, winners of only 32 games, have the worst record in the major leagues this season. The uninspiring performances of pitchers such as David Buchanan are a big reason why.

Among starting pitchers who have tossed at least 20 innings this season (selective data mining, I know), David Buchanan has posted the second highest earned run average in the major leagues. Over the course of six starts and 29 ⅔ innings of work, the 26-year-old right hander has allowed 25 earned runs, surrendered 40 hits, and walked 15 batters.

According to Fangraphs, only 12% of balls put in play against Buchanan have been classified as softly hit. Meanwhile 52.8% of balls have been hit with a medium speed and 35.2% have been hit hard.

If ever there was a pitcher that the Rays might be able to score a few runs against, his name is David Buchanan.

Here's a look at his arsenal in 2015. Keep in mind that the sample size for the frequencies and tendencies is only six games.