Tuesday's Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking
Adam Wainwright (18-7, 2.59 ERA), St. Louis Cardinals
The righthander leads the major leagues in wins and likely has four starts to get the two victories he needs for 20. If he continues to pitch the way he has over the last five-plus weeks, he will only need two.
The Cardinals have won the last seven games started by Wainwright, who is 6-0 with a 1.93 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in that span and appears to be getting better, even though he already has established a career high in innings.
After Wainwright's streak of 13 quality starts ended, he bounced right back by holding the Brewers without a run in their park over seven innings. He is on the short list of candidates for the National League Cy Young Award.
"It would be cool," he told the team's web site. "It would be awesome to win that. ... Whether I win it or not, I still feel pretty good about my season."
John Lackey (10-7, 3.53), Los Angeles Angels
The veteran righthander appears to be on a much better track in preparing for the postseason than he was a year ago.
Beginning Aug. 31, 2008, the Angels lost six of the last seven games that Lackey started, including both of his postseason appearances vs. Boston. Lackey was 1-4 with a 6.12 ERA.
Beginning with a start Aug. 30 of this season, Lackey is 2-0 with a 0.35 ERA and a streak of 17 scoreless innings. The Angels have won all three starts.
Returning
Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-5, 8.23), Boston Red Sox
There are many people excited about the Japanese righthander's return to Boston's rotation. Red Sox Nation, of course. And countless American League hitters.
After receiving Cy Young Award consideration in 2008, Matsuzaka reported to spring training overweight and out of shape. He developed shoulder issues and was 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA, an unfathomable 2.63 WHIP and zero quality starts in eight outings before going on the 60-day disabled list.
Matsuzaka is 1-1 in three all-time starts vs. the Angels, including a five-inning win in last year's postseason.
Slumping
Zach Duke (10-14, 3.97), Pittsburgh Pirates
Is the lefthander tired? He has surpassed last season's innings total with four starts remaining but appears to be running out of gas.
Duke is 0-3 with a 12.46 ERA in his last three starts. His WHIP is an astronomical 2.85 - that's nearly a baserunner for every retired batter, folks - and he has surrendered five homers.
Duke has allowed 13 first-inning runs in his last three starts.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Colorado (82-63) at San Francisco (78-66)
The Rockies look to move a step closer to wrapping up the N.L. wild-card berth when they send ace Ubaldo Jimenez (13-10, 3.32 ERA) to the mound against the Giants’ Barry Zito (9-12, 3.99) at AT&T Park.
Colorado has followed up an eight-game winning streak with three straight losses – two in San Diego over the weekend and last night’s 9-1 setback to the Giants. The Rockies are in additional funks of 1-6 on the road, 0-4 on the highway against lefty starters and 0-6 versus winning teams, though they have won four in a row on Tuesday.
San Francisco remains 3½ games behind Colorado in the wild-card race, having lost five of its last eight, including four of six to N.L. West opponents at home. The Giants do hold a slim 9-7 lead in the season series against the Rockies, including five straight wins at home. In fact, the host has won seven straight and nine of 10 in this rivalry.
Jimenez delivered his 12th consecutive quality start on Sept. 7 at home against Cincinnati, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings, getting a no-decision as Colorado won 4-3. Jimenez has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 21 of his last 25 starts, giving up two earned or less in 15 of those contests. Colorado is 7-1 in Jimenez’s last eight starts overall, but they’ve lost 10 of his 15 road efforts this year, where the right-hander is 5-6 with a 3.42 ERA.
Jimenez has faced the Giants four times this season – including twice in the last three weeks – going 2-2 with a 2.48 ERA, but 0-2 with a 3.21 ERA at AT&T Park. For his career, he’s 3-3 with a 2.43 ERA in nine starts against the Giants (1-2, 3.55 ERA in San Francisco), never allowing more than three runs in any of those nine contests.
Zito suffered a 4-2 home loss to the Padres on Wednesday, allowing three runs in five innings. The veteran southpaw has pitched very well in the second half of the season, going 4-3 with a 2.34 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break, allowing three runs or fewer in every start. With Wednesday’s loss to San Diego, Zito is now 5-5 with a 3.80 ERA in 14 home starts this year (4-1, 2.61 ERA last five at home).
With Zito on the mound, the Giants are on runs of 7-3 overall, 4-1 on Tuesday, 4-1 against teams with a winning record and 4-1 when he faces Colorado at home (2-0 this year at home). In fact, Zito has owned the Rockies, going 3-2 with a 1.92 ERA in 10 lifetime starts. In three outings this year against the Rockies, the former Cy Young winner has allowed just two runs (one earned) in 21 1/3 innings (0.42 ERA)
Colorado carries “under” trends of 6-2 overall, 7-3 on the highway, 8-4 versus N.L. West rivals, 10-4-1 on Tuesday, 45-22 overall behind Jimenez, 5-2 when Jimenez throws on the road, 4-1 when he pitches on Tuesday and 5-1 when he faces divisional foes. The over is 6-2 in San Francisco’s last eight at home, but with Zito pitching, the Giants are on “under” runs of 5-1 overall, 4-1 at home and 20-8 in Game 2 of a series.
In this rivalry, the “under” is on runs of 6-2 in San Francisco, 6-2-1 when Zito faces the Rockies (4-0 last four at home) and 7-2 when Jimenez takes on the Giants.
ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN FRANCISCO and UNDER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
L.A. Angels (86-57) at Boston (84-58)
A potential divisional-round playoff preview is set for Fenway Park, where Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-2, 9.88 ERA) is scheduled to pitch in the big leagues for the first time in nearly three months when he and the Red Sox match up against the Angels and John Lackey (10-7, 3.53).
After capping a 5-1 homestand with a 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Sunday, the Angels went to New York for a makeup game against the Yankees and fell 5-3, allowing the winning runs to score in the bottom of the eighth inning. Los Angeles is still 8-3 in its last 11 and is on further runs of 57-28 overall, 27-13 on the road, 20-8 in series openers, 47-24 against the A.L. East and 6-2 versus right-handed starters.
Boston took Monday off after an impressive three-game weekend sweep of the Rays in which the pitching staff surrendered just two runs. The Red Sox have won five straight – all during their current homestand – and are on additional upticks of 49-19 at Fenway, 41-19 in series openers, 43-14 after an off day and 36-17 on Tuesday, but Terry Francona’s squad has lost seven of its last 10 to A.L. West foes.
The Angels have taken four of six against Boston this season, all in Anaheim, and they’re 13-5 in the last 18 meetings overall and 6-2 in the last eight at Fenway. However, three of those five losses (including two in Boston) came in last year’s first-round, best-of-5 playoff series, which the Red Sox won in four games.
Lackey has delivered back-to-back complete games, including Thursday’s 3-0 shutout win over Seattle in which he scattered five hits and one walk while striking out seven. The veteran right-hander is 2-0 with a 0.35 ERA in his last three starts (all L.A. victories), giving up just 16 hits and three walks while whiffing 17 in 26 innings. Lackey is 4-2 with a 3.77 ERA in 12 road starts, with the Angels going 5-2 in his last seven on the highway.
Los Angeles is also 4-1 in Lackey’s last five against the A.L. East, but they’ve lost 11 of his last 15 outings against winning teams and four straight behind the big man on Tuesday. Also, L.A. is 3-13 in Lackey’s 16 career starts against the Red Sox (playoffs included), going 2-8 at Fenway Park. Last year, the Texas native faced the Red Sox four times, going 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA in two regular season starts (one home, one road) but 0-1 with a 2.63 ERA in two playoff outings (one home, one road, with the Angels losing both). He’s 3-6 with a 5.54 ERA in 13 regular-season games against the BoSox.
This has been a nightmare season for Matsuzaka, who has battled shoulder pain and ineffectiveness all year. He’s made nine starts – the last being an 8-2 home loss to Atlanta on June 19 – and hasn’t made it through six innings in any game. He’s 0-2 with a 9.88 ERA in his last three trips to the mound, and he’s 0-4 with an 8.55 ERA in four home starts.
The Sox are still 33-13 in Matsuzaka’s last 46 starts overall and 9-4 in his last 13 against A.L. West opponents. He’s faced the Angels three times (including in Game 2 of last year’s ALDS), allowing 12 runs in 14 2/3 innings (7.36 ERA), with Boston going 2-1.
With Lackey pitching, the Angels are on “under” runs of 5-2 overall, 4-1-1 on the road, 6-2-2 on Tuesday and 4-1 when he faces Boston. Similarly, the under is 4-1-1 in Dice-K’s last six starts overall, 8-2-1 in his last 11 at home and 10-3-1 in his last 14 on Tuesday.
L.A. is riding “under” streaks of 15-3-1 overall, 6-0 on the road, 11-1-1 against right-handed starters and 5-0 on Tuesday, but the over is 36-18-4 in the Halos’ last 58 against the A.L. East. Conversely, the over is 16-7 in Boston’s last 23 at Fenway Park, 12-1 in its last 13 series openers, 5-2 in its last seven against the A.L. West and 4-1 in its last five on Tuesday.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. ANGELS and UNDER
Gametimepicks.com
Top-Of-Heap
By SportsPic
The Bronx Bombers sporting not only the best record in the majors (93-52) but one of the best home records (51-22) at 'The New Yankee Stadium' host Toronto Blue Jays for a mini two-game set. Yankees 11-5 this season vs Toronto including 5-2 as host in the series open things up with Chad Gaudin (5-10, 4.81) taking the ball. Gaudin acquired fom Padres has yet to record a victory wearing a Yankee uniform but the righty has seen New York post a 5-2 TSR over his 3 starts, 4 relief appearance. Toronto Blue Birds with nothing left but to play out the season counter with Roy Halladay (14-9, 3.03). Doc picking up his seventh complete game of the campaign and his second in a row in a 4-1 loss to the Twins last time out enters the contest with a 17-7 TSR vs Yankees the past seven seasons. Jays have opened -$1.30 favorites despite being 1-7 their last eight as a road favorite of -$1.10 to -$1.50 and a putrid 4-11 the past fifteen with their ace hurler touching toe to rubber.
Playoff preview in Boston
By Brobury Sports
The Boston Red Sox welcome the L.A. Angels to Fenway Park tonight in a likely playoff preview.
Boston has had L.A.’s number in the postseason, eliminating them the last two years. The regular season has been a different story as the Angels have gone 4-2 against them this year and 12-3 the last two seasons combined.
With Boston honing in on the AL Wild Card and L.A. leading the AL West, there’s a great chance they’ll meet in an opening round playoff series.
Boston (84-58) is 43-14 after an off-day like tonight and have the best home record in the majors at 50-21. The Red Sox have swept their last three series at home and are the best hitting home team in the majors.
Los Angeles (86-57) comes into this game after a 5-3 loss at the Yankees on Monday night. That was a make-up game which means L.A. hasn’t had a day-off since September 3rd and won’t until the 24th.
The Angels were 8-2 before heading to Yankee Stadium, and their 2.23 ERA is MLB’s best in September by far. That has helped the Under go 11-0-1 in their last 12 games.
Daisuike Matsuzaka (Boston) vs. John Lackey (L.A. Angels)
Matsuzaka (1-5, 8.23 ERA) has taken a long odyssey to get to this start. He had a horrible season start after suffering the effects of the World Baseball Classic and Boston finally sent him to the disabled list with ‘shoulder issues’.
This is his first MLB start since June 19th and Boston hopes he looks like the pitcher who won 33 games from 2007-2008. If so, he will likely be the 4th starter in the rotation if they make the playoffs. Boston is 33-13 in Matsuzaka’s last 46 starts despite his struggles this year.
Lackey (10-7, 3.53 ERA) has been tremendous in his last three starts, giving up one run in 26 innings. He ranks 10th overall in AL ERA, but the Angels are just 3-13 in his last 16 starts against Boston. The Angels are also just 2-8 in his last 10 Fenway starts.
Can Lackey turn it around Tuesday night in Beantown?
Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Tuesday, Sept. 15
L.A. Angels at Boston (7:10 p.m.EDT). Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka, on the disabled list since June 21 with a mild shoulder strain, is scheduled to start against the Red Sox's potential first-round opponent. The Angels send 10-game winner John Lackey to the mound.
STARS
Monday
-Tim Lincecum, Giants, struck out 11 over seven strong innings in his return from a balky back to help San Francisco gain ground in the NL wild-card race with a 9-1 victory over Colorado.
-Brett Tomko, Athletics, pitched a five-hitter for his 100th major league win as Oakland routed Texas 9-0. It was Tomko's second career shutout and 13th complete game. He beat Scott Feldman, snapping the right-hander's seven-game winning streak.
-Mariano Rivera, Yankees, reached 40 saves for the first time in four years and the seventh time in his career by closing out New York's 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
-Matt Holliday, Cardinals, drove in three runs to top 100 RBIs for the third time in his career, leading St. Louis to an 11-6 victory over Florida.
-Derrek Lee, Cubs, homered for the seventh time in 10 games to help Chicago beat Milwaukee 2-0.
BAD BREAK
Minnesota slugger Justin Morneau will miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his lower back. The 2006 AL MVP hurt himself on a headfirst slide into first base Friday, but he's been playing with pain much longer than that. He's not supposed to do anything but rest for the next three months, but the injury doesn't require surgery. He said he's "99 percent'' sure he'll be at full strength for spring training. Despite a severe second-half slump, Morneau has 30 homers and 100 RBIs. The Twins also think third baseman Joe Crede is done for the year because of a back problem that flared up this summer.
EUREKA!
Tampa Bay ended its 11-game losing streak, getting 15 hits and an effective pitching performance by David Price to beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-4. The Rays avoided becoming the first World Series team in history to lose 12 in a row the following year. Rookie Reid Brignac had a career-high four hits - his first big league homer, two doubles and a single - and B.J. Upton also connected for Tampa Bay. Held to eight runs in their previous seven games, the Rays equaled that amount by the fifth inning.
BIG UNIT IN THE BULLPEN
Randy Johnson was encouraged with his performance in a simulated game and hopes to return to pitch out of the bullpen for San Francisco during the stretch run. The 45-year-old lefty threw 53 pitches, including warmups, before the Giants hosted Colorado. The Big Unit, who reached 300 wins earlier this season, was on the mound at AT&T Park for the first time since injuring his pitching shoulder more than two months ago.
A LITTLE RELIEF
Detroit reliever Fernando Rodney had his three-game suspension reduced to two games. Rodney was punished for heaving a ball toward the stands after he hung on for a shaky save at Tampa Bay on Sept. 4. The ball landed in the press box at Tropicana Field. Rodney appealed and the penalty was cut. The right-hander has 32 saves in 33 chances for the AL Central leaders.
CLUTCH HOMERS
Pinch-hitter Aubrey Huff belted a tying, three-run homer through the raindrops in the ninth and Detroit beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 in 10 innings. Huff, who connected off Jason Frasor, was obtained from Baltimore on Aug. 17 for a minor league pitcher. ... Michael Cuddyer's three-run homer off Chris Perez rescued the Twins in the eighth inning, tying the score before Minnesota went on to a 6-3 victory over Cleveland.
STEADY AT BOTH ENDS
Ryan Dempster pitched eight sharp innings for the Chicago Cubs in a 2-0 victory over Milwaukee, joining John Smoltz as the only pitchers to follow three 20-save seasons with two 10-win seasons as a starter. Dempster (10-8) allowed four hits, walked one and struck out four.
GLAD TO BE BACK
Pinch-hitter Jay Bruce had a go-ahead single in his return from the disabled list, sending Cincinnati to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros. Making his first appearance in more than two months, Bruce bounced a two-run single through the right side to give the Reds a 2-1 lead in the seventh inning. Bruce, who broke his wrist making a diving catch against the New York Mets on July 11, stayed in the game and made a sliding catch of Miguel Tejada's liner leading off the ninth.
INJURED INDIANS
Cleveland placed center fielder Grady Sizemore and reliever Joe Smith on the 15-day disabled list. Smith has a sprained left knee and didn't travel with the team to Minnesota, but manager Eric Wedge said he's optimistic Smith can pitch again before the season is over. Smith's DL stint is retroactive to Sept. 1. Sizemore had arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow last week and the three-time All-Star is scheduled for lower abdominal surgery Wednesday, so the DL move was merely procedural. Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff also said minor league pitcher Jason Knapp will have surgery to repair a pre-existing condition in his right shoulder. Knapp was acquired from Philadelphia in the Cliff Lee trade in July.
SPEAKING
"Sleep is more tranquil, food tastes better and I like my dog a whole lot more.'' - Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon after his team snapped an 11-game losing streak with an 8-4 victory at Baltimore.