Wednesday's Streaking And Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking
Josh Johnson, Florida Marlins (6-2, 2.10 ERA)
The Marlins ace has been nearly untouchable in recent outings, allowing only two runs over his last five trips to the mound. Johnson has posted three shutout efforts in that span and is coming off a one-run, seven-hit showing against the Milwaukee Brewers last Thursday. The last time he faced the Phillies, Johnson was out-pitched by Philadelphia ace Roy Halladay, who had to throw a perfect game to beat Florida’s right hander. These two studs face off again Wednesday.
Johan Santana, New York Mets (4-2, 2.76 ERA)
The Mets veteran arm has been stellar in recent starts and hasn’t allowed a run in the past 15 innings of work. But those shutout efforts haven’t equaled victories for Santana, who was dealt a no decision in each of his last two games. Going back to his last five starts, the tricky southpaw has given up only three earned runs over 36.2 innings, posting 22 strikeouts but just one win in that stretch.
Slumping
Zach Duke, Pittsburgh Pirates (3-6, 5.43 ERA)
The Bucs' lefty hasn’t won a start since May 18 and has been roughed up since, serving three home runs in his most recent outing – a 6-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Duke has allowed 13 runs on 22 hits in his last two trips to the mound and might not snap this slump against the Nationals Wednesday. Duke is 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA in four career starts against Washington.
Kyle Davies, Kansas City Royals (4-4, 5.49 ERA)
Davies lasted just four innings in his last start, allowing six runs on eight hits while walking two batters. The outing before that, the Royals righty was knocked around for five runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. He is 4-5 with a 4.80 ERA in nine career starts versus Minnesota but will be taking the mound at brand new Target Field for the first time.
Wednesday Tips
By Kevin Rogers
The Wednesday baseball card showcases quality pitching matchups, with three of the early games pitting teams that are both above .500. Elsewhere, an expected pitcher's duel takes place in Philadelphia trying to duplicate the scene of a perfect game from 11 days ago.
Marlins at Phillies - 7:05 PM EST
The last time Roy Halladay faced Florida, he tossed the 20th perfect game in Major League baseball history. Halladay outdueled Josh Johnson in a 1-0 affair, with the lone run scored being an unearned run on a Cameron Maybin error. These two aces take the mound at Citizens Bank Park, as both teams look to create some consistency at the plate.
Halladay (8-3, 2.03 ERA) has lived up to the billing since being dealt to Philadelphia in December from Toronto. For the exception of two bad starts, Halladay has delivered quality starts in 10 of 12 outings, allowing two earned runs or less in 10 trips to the mound. The former Cy Young Award winner struck out 11 in the perfect game at Florida on May 29, the fifth complete game this season for Halladay.
For the exception of Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez, Johnson (6-2, 2.10 ERA) has been the hottest pitcher in the National League of late. The Marlins' ace has allowed one earned run in his last four starts, a span of 27 innings (3-1). Johnson hasn't had much luck against the Phillies, besides being on the wrong end of Halladay's perfect game. Florida is 1-4 in Johnson's previous five starts against the Phillies, dating back to 2009. However, the Fish are 3-1 in Johnson's last four outings at Citizens Bank Park.
The road team is 4-2 in six meetings this season, with five of the games finishing 'under' the total. In the last 19 matchups, the away club has claimed 14 meetings, including an 8-2 mark by Florida.
Padres at Mets - 7:10 PM EST
Another matchup of a veteran ace against a young fireballer takes place at Citi Field as Johan Santana and Mat Latos toe the rubber. The Padres have won seven of the last 10 meetings since 2009, including two of three this season.
The Mets own a 22-9 home record, as New York is 5-1 in Santana's (4-2, 2.76 ERA) six starts at Citi Field. The ace has made just one home start in his last five trips to the mound, picking up a win as an underdog against CC Sabathia and the Yankees. Santana last took the mound at Petco Park against the Padres, tossing seven scoreless innings and scattering five hits. The southpaw didn't figure in the decision as Francisco Rodriguez blew the save in the ninth inning and the Mets ultimately lost, 5-1 in extra-innings.
Latos (5-4, 3.26 ERA) will be tested against another top-end starter in Santana, as the San Diego righty has been opposed by Halladay, Johnson, and Felix Hernandez this season on the road. The 22-year old has allowed four hits or less in five of his last six starts, including road victories at Seattle, San Francisco, and Houston. Latos beat the Mets last August at home, 3-1, yielding four hits and one earned run in six innings of work.
After starting the season at 10-1 in Game 2's, the Padres are just 3-5 the last eight Game 2's of a series. The Mets have cashed the 'under' in five of the previous six home contests.
Giants at Reds - 7:10 PM EST
Two teams that are looking to make the move among the National League's best continue their series at the Great American Ballpark. San Francisco took the opener on Monday with a 6-5 victory, the third straight one-run game in this series.
After seeing Barry Zito and Matt Cain in the first two games of this series, the Reds will face Giants' lefty Jonathan Sanchez (4-4, 2.63 ERA) on Wednesday. Sanchez played his college ball in Columbus at Ohio Dominican University where he pitched four no-hitters at the NAIA level. The southpaw has already racked up a no-no on this level when he tossed a no-hitter against San Diego last July. Sanchez picked up his first road win of the season his last time out at Pittsburgh, allowing four unearned runs in 6.1 innings of a 6-4 victory.
The Reds counter with Aaron Harang (4-5, 5.43 ERA), who has struggled to be consistent this season. Harang has compiled only one quality start in his last five outings, while allowing four earned runs in four innings of a 4-2 loss at Washington his last start. The righty has been afforded solid run support at home, receiving at least seven runs in three of his last four outings in Cincinnati (3-1). The Reds beat the Giants twice in Harang's two starts last season, delivering seven innings each in a pair of underdog wins.
The Reds are 7-4 to the 'over' their last 11 home games, while the Giants have put together four straight 'overs' on the road following three consecutive 'unders' on the highway.
Blue Jays at Rays - 7:10 PM EST
Tampa Bay's lead in the AL East has shrunk to 4 ½ games over fourth-place Toronto (with New York and Boston in between), as the two teams continue their set at Tropicana Field. The Rays are 4-2 this season against the Jays, including a pair of wins in Toronto in the final innings.
David Price (8-2, 2.29 ERA) is living up to the billing as an ace with a fantastic start to the season. The southpaw shut down Toronto his last time out, scattering nine hits and two unearned runs in eight innings of a 7-3 victory. The Rays are 5-0 in Price's five career starts against the Jays, while allowing four runs combined in four of the victories. Two of Price's losses at home have come as substantial favorites, falling to the Royals and White Sox as $2.20 'chalk' or higher.
Shaun Marcum (5-2, 2.77 ERA) was on the losing end of that 7-3 loss to Price and the Rays back on June 2, despite going 8.1 innings and tossing 112 pitches. That defeat snapped a six-game winning streak by Toronto when Marcum starts dating back to the start of May. The righty's numbers on the road have been solid (2-0, 3.03 ERA), with the Jays going 4-1 in Marcum's starts on the highway.
The Jays have had their share of struggles against left-handed pitchers, batting .198 this season, but are 4-4 the last eight games versus southpaw starters.
vegasinsider.com
Diamond Trends - Wednesday
By Vince Akins
Angels at Athletics – The Angels are 0-5 since May 03, 2010 on the road when they are off a loss in which they never led for a net profit of $500 when playing against. The Athletics are 6-0 since April 14, 2009 at home after a win in which they drew 1 or fewer walks and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $645.
Cubs at Brewers – The Cubs are 0-6 since August 12, 2009 after a loss in which they were tied at the end of 6 innings and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $805 when playing against. The Cubs are 6-0 since April 08, 2010 after a loss in which they had a higher team-left-on-base than their opponent as a dog for a net profit of $710.
Braves at Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks are 0-5 since April 17, 2010 after a loss in which their opponent left 18+ men on base and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $540 when playing against.
Cardinals at Dodgers – The Dodgers are 6-0 since October 08, 2009 vs a team that has lost at least their last three games and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $650. The Cardinals are 5-0 since May 20, 2010 after a loss and it is the last game of the series for a net profit of $515
Red Sox at Indians – The Red Sox are 6-0 since April 27, 2010 after a one run win for a net profit of $600. The Indians are 0-9 since April 12, 2010 at home when they are off a loss in which they held the lead for a net profit of $935 when playing against.
Padres at Mets – The Padres are 5-0 since September 08, 2009 on the road after a loss in which they had 6 or fewer hits and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $675. The Padres are 6-0 since April 06, 2010 after a loss in which they drew 1 or fewer walks and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $745.
Pirates at Nationals – The Nationals are 0-8 since April 18, 2010 vs a team that has lost at least their last two games and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $800 when playing against. The Nationals are 0-6 since April 18, 2010 after a win in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits for a net profit of $600 when playing against.
Yankees at Orioles – The Orioles are 0-8 since April 07, 2010 after a loss in which they allowed 12+ hits and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $800 when playing against.
Marlins at Phillies – The Marlins are 5-0 since May 27, 2009 on the road after a loss in which their opponent left 18+ men on base and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $675
Mariners at Rangers – The Mariners are 0-5 since May 06, 2010 after a loss in which they had 6 or fewer hits and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $535 when playing against.
Blue Jays at Rays – The Blue Jays are 0-7 since May 21, 2009 on the road after a loss in which they were shut out in the first 6 innings and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $780 when playing against. The Rays are 0-6 since April 08, 2010 at home after a win in which they left 18+ men on base for a net profit of $1000 when playing against.
Astros at Rockies – The Astros are 3-0 since May 11, 2010 on the road when they are off a win in which they came back from a deficit for a net profit of $625.
Royals at Twins – The Twins are 8-0 since April 17, 2010 at home after a win in which they allowed 1 or fewer walks for a net profit of $800. The Twins are 7-0 since April 17, 2010 at home after a win in which they allowed 1 or fewer walks and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $700.
Tigers at White Sox – The Tigers are 0-5 since April 07, 2010 on the road after scoring 6+ runs for a net profit of $560 when playing against.