Saturday's Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking
Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners (6-5, 3.01 ERA)
After struggling at the start of the year, the Mariners' ace is trying to head into the break on a high note. Hernandez is undefeated in his last five trips to the bump, posting a 3-0 record and giving up just seven runs over 42.2 innings of work. His most recent start lasted seven innings, in which he allowed two runs on six hits for a no decision in a 6-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
Gavin Floyd, Chicago White Sox (4-7, 4.43 ERA)
Floyd is another arm who got off to a slow start but has come around in his recent appearances. The ChiSox’s righty is 2-0 in his last four stars and has allowed only six earned runs over his last six trips to the mound. Floyd has won back-to-back starts for Chicago, recently giving up only one run on seven hits for a 9-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Slumping
Scott Kazmir, Los Angeles Angels (7-8, 5.98 ERA)
The Halos southpaw has dropped three starts in a row, serving up a total of 17 earned runs while lasting only 14.1 innings during that span. He has a strikeout-to-walk count of 9-to-9 over those three starts, most recently walking five batters and giving up seven runs – including three home runs – in a 9-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox Monday. Kazmir is blaming his lackluster slider for those poor showings.
Returning
Matt Harrison. Texas Rangers (1-1, 4.47 ERA)
Harrison gets a crack at the Rangers’ fifth starter spot this weekend. He was brought up from Triple-A Oklahoma City and has made six big-league starts this season. In his last minor league start, the left-hander gave up three earned runs on nine hits in just under five innings of work Monday. His most recent MLB appearance was two innings of relief in which Harrison gave up one hit and walked a batter on June 27.
Saturday's FOX Notes
By Chris David
As the pro baseball season heads into the All-Star break, we’re starting to see the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders. Saturday’s slate on FOX features two big battes between teams that have a great shot to be playing against one another this October. Let’s take a closer look at all the televised tilts, which are scheduled for 4:10 p.m. EDT.
Atlanta at N.Y. Mets
The Braves and Mets continue their rivalry from Citi Field this afternoon. New York has taken four of the first five battles against Atlanta this season, three coming at home. Even though the Mets have played better, all of the five affairs were decided by three runs or less and three of them by exactly one run. The ‘under’ cashed in all five as well. The Braves captured a 4-2 decision on Friday as they knocked back-to-back homeruns in the seventh inning. The ‘under’ cashed again and is now 6-0 in the six meetings this season between the pair.
Tim Hudson (8-4, 2.44 ERA) will take the hill for Atlanta and while he’s been a great find for the club this year, the club has dropped four of his last six starts, including three straight on the road over this span. Hudson hasn’t faced the Mets this season but he’s gone 10-5 with a 3.77 ERA in 16 starts over his career. Total players might want to make a note that the Braves have watched the ‘under’ go 5-0 in Hudson’s last five appearances.
The Mets will counter with Mike Pelfrey (10-3, 3.39 ERA), who lost his first decision at home on Monday to Cincinnati (6-8). Pelfrey was battered for nine hits and seven earned runs in the loss and that came after giving up 12 hits and four earned runs in his prior start to the Marlins. The right-hander has faced the Braves twice this season and he’s earned two wins (3-2, 1-0).
Hudson has been installed as a short road favorite (-115) and the total is listed at 7 ½ runs, shaded to the ‘under’ (-115).
Minnesota at Detroit
The Twins’ hold on the AL Central has quickly slipped away and all of the reasons point to a dismal road record (19-24). After taking two of three at Philadelphia, the Twins have gone 2-8 in their last 10 and they now trail the Tigers by three games for the division lead. Minnesota could have trouble closing the first-half of the season strong considering they play at Detroit, who owns an AL-best 31-12 home record. The Tigers have won six of seven at Comerica Park albeit against the Mariners and Orioles. Minnesota should have confidence for this series, considering it has taken six of the first 10 against Detroit this season, but they did lose two of the three at Comerica Park in late April and they suffered a 7-3 setback last night.
The Twins’ Nick Blackburn (7-6, 6.00 ERA) helped the team go 8-1 in his first nine starts but they’re 1-6 in his last seven appearances. During this skid, he’s played four games on the road and he’s been hammered for 32 hits and 23 earned runs over a little less than 12 innings. Ironically, Blackburn’s lone win in his last seven came against Detroit (11-4), plus he earned a 4-3 decision against the Tigers on May 4, but both of those victories were at Target Field.
Jeremy Bonderman (4-6, 4.81 ERA) looks to keep Detroit rolling along but that could be trouble since the right-hander is 4-6 with a 5.40 ERA in his career against Minnesota. In his one appearance against the Twins this season, he notched a 7-5 win on June 28, surrendering nine hits and four earned runs. Despite his up and down numbers, Bonderman is listed as a healthy favorite (-150). The total opened at 9 ½ runs.
Saturday’s Best and Worst Clubs
Atlanta has gone 10-3
The L.A. Angels have gone 10-3
San Diego is 9-4
Boston has gone 9-4
Tampa Bay has gone 9-4
Houston and Kansas City have both gone 2-11
Baltimore has gone 4-10
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