With a limited schedule on today's MLB slate due to weather conditions and a doubleheader in Kansas City, baseball fans should still expect some compelling pitching matchups worthy of attention on April 24.
The Colorado Rockies-Kansas City Royals doubleheader features German Marquez taking the mound for Colorado after yesterday's rainout. Marquez faces significant pressure to deliver quality innings and protect Colorado's struggling bullpen, which ranks as the league's worst. His last outing was notably brief, lasting just two-thirds of an inning. While Kansas City's offense isn't currently among baseball's elite, Marquez could still be forced to throw 90+ pitches regardless of effectiveness, making this a challenging assignment in Kansas City's spacious ballpark.
Meanwhile, the Pirates-Angels matchup presents an intriguing situation with Tyler Anderson. Despite allowing remarkably few hits over his recent starts (just five hits across his last three appearances), Anderson's expected metrics suggest his performance has benefited substantially from good fortune. With a .157 BABIP, he's performing well above his typical numbers. Worth noting: Anderson has reached 18 outs only once in four starts this season and is coming off a season-high 96 pitches in his previous outing.
Perhaps most compelling is Jacob deGrom's start as the Rangers face the Athletics. The elite right-hander appears to have regained his health after completing 21 outs in his previous start while issuing just one walk. Coming off a 96-pitch outing (his highest pitch count this season), deGrom looks to be approaching his dominant form. His exceptional command has historically resulted in approximately 0.25 walks per inning when healthy. Adding to deGrom's advantage is Oakland's lineup, which ranks 25th in baseball with just an 8.1% walk percentage.
According to analysis from Statbet, pitching performance metrics like walk rate and innings pitched consistency are crucial factors when evaluating probable outcomes in baseball matchups, particularly in parks with dimensions that favor specific pitching styles.
With challenging weather conditions potentially impacting today's games, these pitching performances will be especially worth monitoring as teams navigate a compressed schedule.
