World Series Game 6 Updates

Pitching options for Friday:

Jake
Lincecum Fri vs CHC Zambrano
Lester Fri @ NYY Sabathia
Martinez Fri @ Mil TBD

Avery
Hanson Sat @ WAS Mock
Wainwright Sat @ COL Jiminez
Chris Smith MTL @ nobody

Both Verlander and F Hernandez are pitching Thursday. It's likely that either would be available for Game 7. It's possible that Lester would come back on Wednesday for Jake and be his only Game 7 option.

UPDATE 8:05pm

Just did a quick check through the boxscores. Jake has home runs from Butler and Markakis and leads 21-12 on hitting alone. All of the hitters are in the lineup in early games except Molina for Avery. Lincucum pitches tonight for Jake. Tommy Hanson tomorrow for Avery.

UPDATE 9:00PM

Things are looking good for Jake. Billy Butler has hit his second home run and has 21 points. I've got Jake ahead 39-15 on hitting.

UPDATE 9:15pm

By the game in San Francisco is listed "Delayed - Ceremony"

UPDATE 9:20pm

The game in SF is underway. Lincecum fans two and gives up one hit in the top of the first.

Early games are starting to finish. I've got Jake ahead 41-20 on hitting. If Lincecum is on tonight, he will put Game 6 out of reach for Avery and wrap up an FNFT title for Jake.

RBI single by Youkalis - 3 points for the Moops.

UPDATE 9:35pm

1-2-3 for Lincecum in the 2nd. Benji Molina is not in the starting lineup for the Giants.

UPDATE 10:05pm

Avery's hitters are done (assuming Molina doesn't play). They finish with 26 points. Jake's hitters have 42, paced by Billy Butler's 22. Butler and Joe Mauer are still playing. The game is in the 8th inning.

Meanwhile, Tim Lincecum may be putting Game 6 away. He has given up two hits, one walk, and has three strikeouts through four shutout innings.

UPDATE 10:15pm

Five shutout innings - 5 Ks for Lincecum.

UPDATE 10:20pm

Alright - final update of the night. All of the hitters are done except for Molina who is not playing. Jake wins the hitting battle 42-26. Hoffman got 7 points as Avery's #3RP but no other relievers pitched so they are all still in play tomorrow. The big story though is Lincecum. He has given up a run in the top of the 6th and the Cubs lead 1-0 with Zambrano on the mound. As of this moment, Lincecum has 16 points, giving Jake a 32 point lead.

UPDATE Saturday 7:00am

32. That's the Moops magic number if they are to extend the FNFT World Series to a Game 7.

Jake has 58 points and can only get more from one of his relievers; either Mariano Rivera (NYY), George Sherrill (LAD), or Jason Frasor (TOR). Avery gets his starter Tommy Hanson, a reliever, and Benji Molina.

Here's how this will play out. Hanson starts in a 12:00 noon game in Washington. He obviously needs to pitch well or it's over. His last start was a 1-pointer, but his two previous starts were 27 and 26 point games. He's pitching against the worst team in baseball. The Braves have won four in a row and are clinging to playoff hopes. A game in the 20's by Hanson would make this very interesting.

Then at 3:00, the Giants start against the Cubs. Benji Molina was hit by a bat on his throwing hand on Thursday and is listed as questionable for the Cubs series. This is a blow to Avery's chances. Molina has 18 HRs this year and #19 would go a long way toward getting The Moops back in it.

Shortly after the Giants game starts, the Seattle-Toronto game will end and Jake will know if Jason Frasor, his #3 RP pitched.

The Red Sox-Yankees game starts at 3:00. Jake will be looking for a save from Mariano Rivera.

If we're still playing into the night, the Reds-Astros and Dodgers-Pirates both start at 6:00. Jake will be watching for George Sherrill in the Dodgers game if Rivera doesn't pitch. In the Astros game, Avery might be rooting for Jose Valverde to NOT pitch. If he doesn't The Moops will pick up 8 points from Andrew Bailey.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE 4:30pm

Hanson - 19 points. Jake leads 56-48.

Benji Molina is not in the starting line up for the Giants.

Jason Frasor gets a 14-point game for Jake, but it will be erased if either Rivera or Sherrill pitch.

As it stands right now, Jake is in the drivers seat but Avery is still not totally out of it. If Valverde does not pitch, Avery will get 8 points from his #2 RP, Bailey which would tie Jake's score. It would then come down to either Rivera or Sherrill pitching for Jake and getting negative points. Jake wins a tiebreaker based on Butler's game.

The Yankees-Red Sox game is scoreless in the 5th. Dodgers (Sherrill) and Astros (Valverde) start at 7:00.