Best and Worst against RHP
By Kevin Rogers
With one month in the books of the 2010 baseball season, several teams are starting to trend either positively or negatively in various situations. We'll take a look at which clubs have performed great and not-so-great against right-handed starting pitchers, and if this will keep up in the long run.
Good:
Tampa Bay Rays (13-3)
The Rays own not only the best record in baseball, but the top mark on this list. Tampa Bay ranks third in batting average against right-handed pitchers (.280), while Carl Crawford (.377) and Evan Longoria (.333) have each feasted versus righties. The Rays are a league-best 9-1 on the highway, including a perfect 6-0 ledger against right-handed starters. Only twice in this stretch have been the Rays been favored by more than $1.40 on the road, with both games coming against the dreadful Orioles.
The Rays head out on the road for a nine-game trip through the AL West that starts in Seattle on Tuesday. Tampa Bay will miss Felix Hernandez in this series, as King Felix pitched against the Rangers this past Saturday. The Rays will be favored in at least five of the first six games on this trip that takes Tampa Bay to Oakland on Friday. In fact, the Rays will see four straight southpaws before facing Ben Sheets on Saturday afternoon.
New York Yankees (10-4)
It's obvious that the Bronx Bombers would be near the top of any offensive category, but the Yanks have taken care of business with 67% of their victories against righties. The Yanks are averaging 5.2 runs a contest in these 14 games, but aren't getting much help from two of their big bats as Mark Teixiera (.121) and Alex Rodriguez (.246) have struggled versus right-handers.
The Bombers have plenty of opportunities to face righties this week, starting with a pair of matchups against the Orioles (Monday - Jeremy Guthrie, Wednesday - David Hernandez). The Yanks head to Fenway Park this weekend and will see Josh Beckett on Friday night followed by a Saturday afternoon matchup against Clay Buchholz.
St. Louis Cardinals (15-5)
The Redbirds have cleaned up on their latest homestand, winning six of seven against the Braves and Reds. Since getting shut out by Barry Zito and the Giants, 2-0 on April 24, the Cards are 7-1 the last eight games, all coming against right-handed starters. St. Louis ranks in the middle of baseball in batting average versus righties, but the Cards have scored at least six runs on nine occasions against right-handers.
The Cardinals play four of the next six games against righty starters, including three of four against the Phillies. The Redbirds see Joe Blanton (Monday), Kyle Kendrick (Wednesday), and Roy Halladay (Thursday) before a weekend set in Pittsburgh. St. Louis heads west to then battle the Pirates, as the Cards will face righty Jeff Karstens on Saturday after seeing southpaw Zach Duke on Friday.
Philadelphia Phillies (12-6)
The most powerful offense in the National League has had its ups and downs since losing lead-off man Jimmy Rollins to a right calf strain. The Phillies are 7-9 overall since the former MVP went down, but are averaging 4.9 runs a game the last 11 against right-handed starters. Granted, the Phillies scored six runs at San Francisco after Tim Lincecum held the NL Champs to one run in eight innings of work. Philadelphia has tallied just two runs in the last three games against left-handed starters, while losing each time.
The Phillies will get a healthy dose of righties after facing rookie southpaw Jamie Garcia on Monday. St. Louis will trot out Adam Wainwright (Tuesday), Brad Penny (Wednesday), and Kyle Lohse (Thursday) the final three games at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia welcomes in Atlanta this weekend with Derek Lowe (Friday) and Jair Jurrjens (Saturday) on the mound, as the Phillies look to put together some consistency through the month of May.
Bad:
Houston Astros (6-13)
It never helps any team to start 0-8 out of the chute, but the Astros did have a valid excuse. Houston faced Lincecum, Zito, and Matt Cain in the opening series against the Giants, followed by Philadelphia and the brilliance of Halladay. The Astros went on a 6-2 run against righties, but have currently dropped six straight, including three each to the Reds and Braves. Houston tallied just 12 runs in this six-game funk, while putting up just four runs at Atlanta.
The Astros will be seeing plenty of righties this week, including all four in a home set against the D-Backs. Cesar Valdez will be called up from Triple-A to start on Monday at Minute Maid Park for Arizona, followed by Ian Kennedy (Tuesday), Rodrigo Lopez (Wednesday), and Dan Haren (Thursday). The Padres invade Houston this weekend, starting with Mat Latos on Friday, followed by veteran Jon Garland on Saturday.
Baltimore Orioles (6-12)
Similarly to the Astros, the Orioles began the season slowly, affecting all their numbers. Baltimore started the season 1-11 against right-handed starters, but is performing better in this situation by winning five of the last six. The O's love facing Red Sox pitching, as Baltimore put up 33 runs in the previous five games against Boston.
The Orioles head to the Bronx for a three-game set with the Yankees, but see only one right-hander in A.J. Burnett on Tuesday. It doesn't get easier for Baltimore as it heads to Minnesota on Thursday, facing Carl Pavano in the series opener and Scott Baker on Saturday.
Boston Red Sox (6-11)
Is it too early to say the Sox are in trouble? Not yet, but Boston has nine of its wins against Kansas City, Texas, Baltimore, and Toronto. Terry Francona's team is 1-4 the last five against right-handed starters, and hasn't faced elite pitchers by any stretch (D. Hernandez twice, Kevin Millwood, and Brad Bergesen). Boston has burned many backers in this span by being listed as a $1.50 favorite or higher in the four losses to Baltimore.
This week will no doubt test the Sox as they face the Angels and Yankees. Boston will see a pair of right-handers when the Halos invade Fenway Park with Ervin Santana (Tuesday) and Joel Pineiro (Wednesday), followed by Javier Vazquez (Friday) and Phil Hughes (Saturday) this weekend in New York.
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