G44: Brewers at Red Sox, PPD

After a rain delay of about 1:45, tonight's game was postponed. Extra Bases says it

will be played tomorrow in the second game of a split doubleheader (separate admission). First game at 3:55 p.m, second game at 8:35 p.m. If you've got tickets for last night's game, they are good for the night game.

The Mets/Yankees game was also rained out.

***

Jeff Suppan (4.63, 92 ERA+) / Daisuke Matsuzaka (2.45, 174 ERA+)

Michael Silverman takes a look at Matsuzaka's performance. While Dice's ERA and opponents' batting average and slugging percentage are much improved from last season -- 2.45 (5th in the AL), .170 (2nd) and .220 (2nd), respectively -- his strikeout-to-walk ratio has dropped, as has his innings pitched and K/9.

Dice has more walks (30) than hits allowed (28) while posting a 6-0 record. Jayson Stark informs us that

The only starting pitcher since 1900 to finish at least six games over .500 in a season with more walks than hits, according to the Complete Baseball Encyclopedia: Tommy Byrne of the 1949 Yankees (15-7 despite an insane 179-125 walk-hit ratio).

The only starting pitchers in the last 50 years who were even one game over .500 while allowing more walks than hits (with as many starts as Dice-K):

Nolan Ryan    1977 (19-16, 204 BB, 198 H)
Randy Johnson 1991 (13-10, 152 BB, 151 H)
Bobby Witt    1986 (11- 9, 143 BB, 130 H)
Ken Wright    1973 ( 6- 5,  82 BB,  60 H)

***

              W   L   PCT   GB
Devil Rays   24  17  .585   --- 
Red Sox      24  19  .558   1.0 
Orioles      21  19  .525   2.5 
Blue Jays    21  22  .488   4.0
Yankees      20  22  .476   4.5

Mets (Santana) at Yankees (Rasner), 7 PM
&
Rays (Sonnanstine) at Cardinals (Looper), 8:15 PM