MLB Stat Check 8/11 - 8/15
By Bodog
Our latest 10-spot of MLB betting stats and factoids goes out to Brandon Morrow of the Toronto Blue Jays, who came within one out of a no-hitter Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Morrow struck out 17 batters en route to a 1-0 victory. That one game sums up what has been a horrible season for the Seattle Mariners, Morrow’s previous employers. The M’s were supposed to be good this year, but the trade of Morrow for reliever Brandon League is just one of a string of front-office moves that blew up in Seattle’s face. We start this week with a stop at Safeco Field to check on the carnage.
1. Oakland at Seattle (Wednesday, 3:40 p.m.)
The Mariners are a perfect 2-0 under interim manager Darren Brown. The former minor-league pitcher led the AAA-Tacoma Rainiers to a 74-70 record and a PCL Pacific North Division title last year.
2. Florida at Washington (Wednesday, 7:05 p.m.)
The UNDER is 44-20-2 in Washington’s last 66 games against losing teams. The Marlins are 55-56 (0.49 units), and the opening MLB odds had the Nats favored slightly in this matchup at –112.
3. Arizona at Milwaukee (Thursday, 2:10 p.m.)
The Diamondbacks have won each of their last four starts against pitchers with a WHIP greater than 1.30. Milwaukee’s scheduled starter for Thursday is Randy Wolf (4.81 ERA, 1.50 WHIP).
4. Minnesota at Chicago White Sox (Thursday, 8:10 p.m., MLBN)
The OVER is 9-3-1 in Minnesota’s last 13 games against winning teams. The White Sox are one game behind the Twins in the American League Central at 63-50 (10.81 units).
5. Boston at Texas (Friday, 8:05 p.m., MLBN)
The Red Sox are 6-1 in their last seven away games against right-handed starters. Friday’s projected starter for Texas is Tommy Hunter (3.01 ERA, 1.19 WHIP).
6. San Diego at San Francisco (Friday, 10:15 p.m.)
The OVER is 13-1-1 in Giants southpaw Jonathan Sanchez’ last 15 appearances – including once in relief. Sanchez made it past six innings just twice in that span.
7. Chicago Cubs at St. Louis (Saturday, 4:10 p.m., FOX)
Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols has a 1.435 OPS in the month of August. Among qualified batters, only L.A. Angels OF Torii Hunter (1.521 OPS) has been hotter this month.
8. Milwaukee at Colorado (Saturday, 8:10 p.m., MLBN)
Coors Field has the highest park factor for runs in the majors at 1.244. The stadium has been in the Top 3 every year since 2004, despite the installation of a humidor in 2002 to keep baseballs soft and pliable in the mile-high altitude.
9. L.A. Dodgers at Atlanta (Sunday, 1:35 p.m., TBS)
Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal is reportedly going on the DL retroactively and won’t be eligible to play for the rest of the week. Jamey Carroll is 7-for-25 with four walks in Furcal’s absence.
10. Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets (Sunday, 8:05 p.m., ESPN)
Mets starter Mike Pelfrey (3.95 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) is the most profitable pitcher in the rotation, 5.87 units in the black on a team record of 14-9. Pelfrey is earning $500,000 this year on the back end of a four-year, $5.25-million contract.