MLB’s top five road teams
By DAVID JONES
A quick look at the standings shows that many teams are playing great baseball at home but disappoint away from their friendly confines. The Toronto Blue Jays, for example, owned the best record in the majors but lost seven straight since starting their nine-game road trip.
Here’s a peek at five teams that aren’t backing down when they put on their dark uniforms:
Philadelphia Phillies (16-6, + 11.8 units)
The defending world champions (best National Leauge road record in 2008) have carried a swagger out on the road in 2009. The Phillies have pounded out over six runs per outing in their 22 away contests. Free agent signee Raul Ibanez leads the N.L. in homers and RBIs to pace the attack.
The schedule has played a role. Philadelphia is 10-2 in away matchups against the Nationals, Rockies and Marlins. Philly’s next road swing could be their most difficult of the year.
To begin the month of June, the Phillies will face the Padres and Dodgers on the West Coast. These two squads are a combined 35-11 at home. The trip will conclude with a three-game set against NL East rival New York at Citi Field.
Starting pitching will be the key to this trip. Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton and Chan Ho Park each have an ERA of over seven while ace Cole Hamels is still rounding into form.
Cincinnati Reds (13-8, + 7.5 units)
For the first time in about a decade, the Reds have the foundation of a quality starting staff. This strength has been evident away from the hitter friendly Great American Ballpark in 2009. Cincinnati is allowing only 3.4 runs per game in their 21 road contests. The bullpen has an outstanding away E.R.A. of 2.45.
Cincinnati will face a major test beginning on Friday with three games in Milwaukee followed by a four-game set in St. Louis. With key hitters Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips battling some minor injuries, the arms will be relied on even more in the important seven-game road swing.
Atlanta Braves (12-8, + 4.8 units)
Atlanta’s away resume is arguably the most impressive of any club in 2009. The Braves are 4-2 at Philadelphia this season and have also won a series at New York against the Mets. Atlanta’s offense (13th in NL in homers) has been mediocre in the early going. Chipper Jones and Brian McCann have missed a combined 25 games.
Atlanta’s pitching staff has been able to compensate for the dead wood even with veteran hurlers Tim Hudson and Tom Glavine on the shelf. Youngster Jair Jurrjens (2.07 ERA) has combined with veteran newcomers Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez to form the best starting trio in the senior circuit.
Atlanta will face a couple of weak offensive squads on the West Coast this week in San Francisco and Arizona. Runs will be at a premium in the next few days when the Braves face such standout starters as Tim Lincecum and Dan Haren among others.
Milwaukee Brewers (14-11, + 4.6 units)
The Brewers have won 12 of their last 15 NL road games. This young club has dominated at home (100-62) but struggled on the road (73-89) in the last two campaigns. The confidence that was gained in last year’s run to the playoffs has been invaluable to this organization.
After a slow 4-9 start, many skeptics were quick to dismiss the Brewers in 2009 due to a lack of starting pitching. While lacking a dominant ace along the lines of a CC Sabathia, Milwaukee’s top four starters have been respectable.
The Brewers have a good opportunity to continue their road run in Miami next week in a four-game series against the “floundering fish” before a tougher series in Atlanta.
Los Angeles Dodgers (12-10, + 1.7 units)
The Dodgers have won four of their last five road contests heading into this week’s challenging trip through Colorado and Chicago. While L.A. rolled to a 13-0 start at Dodger Stadium this season, the ability to survive on the road is usually a requirement for a team with big aspirations, like the Dodgers.
Like Milwaukee, the Dodgers were a team with some questions in their rotation heading into 2009 after the departure of ace Derek Lowe. Despite losing Opening Day starter Hiroki Kuroda in early April, Los Angeles has produced a solid rotation in 2009. The Dodgers are a combined 14-3 in games started by new ace Chad Billingsley and surprise lefty Eric Stults.
Only two American League squads (New York and Texas) have winning records away from home as the second month of the season nears its’ completion.