MLB Weekend Cheat Sheet
By Marc Lawrence
Going head-to-head with NFL, the 2009 MLB season inches closer to the finish line this weekend as the pennant races continue to heat up.
This week we present the top four series this weekend. Remember, all results are within the series and all pitcher records are ‘team starts’ (the team’s record in games in which the pitcher starts) versus this opponent.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Atlanta Braves at St. Louis Cardinals
Most Recent Series Result: Cardinals 9-3 last 12 games (2-1 this season)
Most Recent Series Result at the Site: Cardinals 5-1 last six games home
Key Day/Month Stat: Cardinals 9-1 Fridays; Braves 0-4 Fridays
Best Arm in the Series: Cardinals Carpenter 5-0, 3.95 ERA career team starts
Worst Arm in the Series: Braves Vazquez 1-6, 4.31 ERA last seven team starts
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants
Most Recent Series Result: Dodgers 7-5 last 12 games (7-5 this season)
Most Recent Series Result at the Site: Dodgers 3-2 last five games away (3-3 this season)
Key Day/Month Stat: Giants 7-0 home Saturdays; Dodgers 1-4 away Saturdays
Best Arm in the Series: Giants Penny 3-1, 2.89 ERA away career team starts
Worst Arm in the Series: Giants Sanchez 1-5, 5.51 ERA career team starts
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox
Most Recent Series Result: Rays 9-5 last 14 games (9-6 this season)
Most Recent Series Result at the Site: Rays 7-4 last 11 games away (3-3 this season)
Key Day/Month Stat: Rays 8-1 Saturdays away
Best Arm in the Series: Rays Garza 11-2, 2.89 ERA career team starts
Worst Arm in the Series: Rays Shields 0-5, 9.00 away career team starts
Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles Angels
Most Recent Series Result: White Sox 7-3 last 10 games (4-2 this season)
Most Recent Series Result at the Site: White Sox 14-5 last 19 games away (2-1 this season)
Key Day/Month Stat: Angels 16-4 Sundays home; White Sox 5-15 Sundays
Best Arm in the Series: Angels Kazmir 5-3, 2.84 ERA career team starts
Worst Arm in the Series: Angels Saunders 0-2, 9.00 ERA career team starts