LHP: Good and Bad
By Kevin Rogers
The baseball season is moving right along with the first round of interleague series starting on Friday. There are many teams that are developing certain traits against particular types of pitching, and this week we'll focus on six clubs that have skewed positively or negatively against left-handed starting pitchers. One of the three best teams versus southpaw starters is a surprise on this list that sits atop their division out west.
Good:
San Diego Padres (7-2)
The Padres have turned many heads this season with their impressive start, while leading the competitive NL West. San Diego has done much of its damage against southpaws, racking up a 4-2 mark as an underdog. Bud Black's squad isn't afraid of facing lefties on the road, either, with a 4-1 ledger.
San Diego has beaten Jonathan Sanchez twice and Barry Zito, as the Padres are 6-0 this season against the Giants. The Padres were shut down by Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers on Saturday, 4-1 as short home underdogs. The most interesting part behind San Diego's success in this category is the Padres are hitting just .226 as a team, including a .235 average from Adrian Gonzalez and a .186 average from Chase Headley.
The Padres will get to face their fair share of left-handers this week, beginning with Sanchez and the Giants on Tuesday. San Diego gets a rematch with Kershaw at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, followed by a pair of lefties this weekend. The Padres head to Seattle for the start of interleague against Cliff Lee on Friday and Ryan Rowland-Smith on Saturday, which will no doubt be two 'under' opportunities.
Minnesota Twins (8-3)
The Twins jumped out of the gate and have been slowed down when they face their arch-nemesis, the Yankees. Minnesota has performed well against southpaws, going 4-1 as a favorite and profiting as an underdog at 4-2.
As opposed to the Padres, two of Minnesota's top hitters excel against left-handed pitching. Joe Mauer is hitting at a .378 clip, while Justin Morneau is batting .365 versus southpaw pitching. Four other regulars in the lineup are hitting above .260 against lefties (Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, Delmon Young, and Orlando Hudson), which has helped these team be successful in this spot.
Minnesota faces three southpaws this week in three different cities. The Twins will see Dana Eveland in Toronto on Monday, followed by Red Sox' southpaw Jon Lester on Friday. The first interleague opponent for the Twins is Milwaukee, who invades Target Field this weekend. Minnesota takes on the struggling Doug Davis on Friday night, who owns an ERA of 7.56 in seven starts.
Detroit Tigers (6-3)
This lineup may not impress many past Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez, but the Tigers keep finding ways to win thanks to young players stepping up. Detroit has beaten three quality left-handers over the last two weeks by knocking off Lester, CC Sabathia, and Scott Kazmir all at Comerica Park.
Cabrera is torching left-handed pitching this season with a .393 average, while Johnny Damon is hitting .333 against southpaws. The Tigers have won four of five at home versus lefty starters, while going 3-1 as an underdog in this spot.
Detroit will see only two southpaws this week, facing a pair of difficult left-handers. The Tigers host the White Sox for two games starting Monday, and will try to beat John Danks on Tuesday. The Tigers head out west on Wednesday to battle Oakland, as Dallas Braden takes the mound to try and slow down this Tigers offense.
Bad:
Los Angeles Dodgers (4-7)
The Dodgers are one of the hottest teams in baseball by winning seven straight games following a slow start. However, if you have bet on the Dodgers against left-handed starting pitchers, you would be digging out of a deep hole. Los Angeles is down 6.9 units, including home losses to Doug Davis, Chris Narveson, and Brian Burres as substantial 'chalk.'
Many of the Dodgers position players aren't necessarily struggling against left-handers, but Los Angeles played nine straight games versus right-handed starters, which has resulted in an 8-1 mark prior to Sunday's 1-0 win at San Diego. Andre Ethier (.378), Matt Kemp (.278), and James Loney (.275) have paced the Dodgers in this category, but the power outage against lefties is interesting to note. Los Angeles has hit 31 homers against right-handed pitching, but just three long balls versus southpaws.
The Dodgers face only one left-hander this week, taking on Wandy Rodriguez and the Astros at Chavez Ravine. Los Angeles will be a huge favorite in that game, but if the Dodgers are listed as reasonable 'chalk' the rest of the week against right-handed pitchers, Joe Torre's team is definitely worth a look.
Milwaukee Brewers (4-7)
Not much is going right for Ken Macha's team, who owns the worst home record in baseball. Facing left-handed starters is another hurdle for this team to jump, even though the Brew Crew is batting .260 against southpaws.
The Brewers are 3-5 as a home favorite in this situation, including three losses as $1.40 or higher 'chalk.' Ryan Braun is hitting a solid .378 against lefties, but Prince Fielder is batting just .213 with 15 strikeouts. The 'over' is cashing a nice rate recently in five of the last six versus southpaw starters.
Milwaukee will see just two left-handers this week, both at PNC Park against the Pirates. The Brewers face Brian Burres on Wednesday followed by Paul Maholm on Thursday. The Pirates beat the Brewers when Maholm started back on April 28 in extra-innings, as Pittsburgh cashed as $1.40 underdogs.
Chicago Cubs (4-8)
The Cubs have certainly been an enigma this season with the demotion of Carlos Zambrano to the bullpen, while Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez have struggled mightily at the plate. Chicago hasn't fared much better against southpaws, dropping a pair of home games as 'chalk' of nearly $2.00 in the weekend series against Pittsburgh lefties.
Lee (.179) and Ramirez (.175) are not contributing in a positive way in the middle of the Chicago lineup, but Marlon Byrd (.467) and Alfonso Soriano (.368) have pulled their collective weight against southpaw pitching. The Cubs have lost four games this season as a favorite of at least $1.80 versus lefties, so that's something to keep an eye out for as the season continues.
Chicago will face ex-Cub Jamie Moyer on Wednesday when it faces Philadelphia, followed by a matchup against young lefty Derek Holland and the Rangers on Friday.
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