Studs and Duds
By Kevin Rogers
Halfway through the 2009 Interleague campaign, several teams are showing their muscle against the opposing league. Others, meanwhile, are praying for the end of June, when they can meet their conference counterparts. Let's take a look at which teams have excelled in Interleague action, and the ones wishing for its conclusion.
Studs
L.A. Angels (8-1)
The Halos have caught fire facing their National League counterparts, winning six straight over the Padres and Giants. Mike Scioscia's club returns home for round two of the annual Freeway Series with the Dodgers, after Joe Torre's team took two of three at Chavez Ravine back in May. The offense has certainly picked up for the Angels recently, tallying 57 runs over the last six games, while compiling a 4-1 underdog record in Interleague.
John Lackey will get one more start during IL action on Sunday against the Dodgers, as the Angels are 16-4 in his last 20 starts against the National League. After battling the Dodgers, the Angels will host the Rockies, who had their 11-game winning streak snapped by Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Following the Colorado series, the Angels will conclude IL play in Arizona against the Diamondbacks.
Minnesota Twins (7-2)
The Twins are National League slayers when it comes to IL play, winning 21 of their last 26 games since the start of 2008. Minnesota is 13-2 at the Metrodome in its last 15 in IL action, winning all but two games by at least two runs. Kevin Slowey will have two more turns in the rotation in IL, as the Twins have won eight of the right-hander's nine career starts against NL opponents. Slowey starts Friday night against Roy Oswalt and the Astros in Minnesota, then will be slated to pitch next Thursday in the series finale at Milwaukee. Keep an eye on the Twins in the Brewers series, as Minnesota swept Milwaukee back in May at the Metrodome, while the Twins are 10-5 in the last 15 meetings with the Brew Crew.
Minnesota's final venture against the NL comes at Busch Stadium in St. Louis from June 26-28, as the Twins will certainly be tested in the final two series on the road against the Brewers and Cardinals before resuming division play against the Royals on June 29.
Texas Rangers (6-3)
The Rangers continue to lead the American League West division, despite the Angels getting healthier by the day. Texas has done this without its top bat, Josh Hamilton, who is out until after the All-Star Break with an abdominal injury. Surprisingly, Ron Washington's club is getting solid starting pitching. Kevin Millwood has won a team-high seven games, while five other starters have won five games apiece. The Rangers have beaten the Astros five times in Interleague, and have a favorable schedule for the duration against the National League. The Rangers head to San Francisco on Friday night, already avoiding reigning Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, who lost to the Angels on Wednesday. Texas will face Randy Johnson, Matt Cain, and Barry Zito during the series, but will have Millwood at its disposal for the finale on Sunday.
The Rangers then head to Arizona to take on the struggling Diamondbacks on Tuesday for three games, followed by a three-game home set with the offensively-inept Padres. Texas heads into the opener with San Francisco on a solid 'under' run, finishing 'under' the total in 12 straight games.
Duds
San Diego Padres (1-5)
The Padres are a woeful 4-20 since the start of last season against American League opponents, picking up their first win in six tries in '09 over the Mariners on Thursday. San Diego's home-field advantage has suddenly dried up following a 10-game winning streak at Petco Park in late May. The Padres will be without ace Jake Peavy until after the All-Star Break, and without Chris Young for two weeks. The second-leading pitcher on the Padres is ex-Giant Kevin Correia, who actually pitched well in his last outing, a loss to the Mariners. It didn't help Correia was opposed by Felix Hernandez, but the Padres righty allowed two solo homers in eight innings of work, only to lose 5-0 (M's put up three runs in the 9th off the Padres bullpen).
San Diego's offense is nowhere to be found, past the 23 homers hit by Adrian Gonzalez. The Padres have mustered just 11 runs in their last six games, all losses. Some of the blame can fall on Gonzalez's shoulders, as the first baseman is hitting .190 in the month of June with only three home runs. The Padres will have a good shot to end their record-setting IL skid hosting the anemic A's offense. San Diego then hits the road for a pair of series at Seattle and at Texas, where the losing ways may continue without much pitching and very little hitting.
Houston Astros (1-5)
The Astros would feel a lot better about themselves if they didn't have to face their cross-state rivals six times a season. The Rangers took the first five meetings with the Astros until Houston claimed a 5-3 victory on Thursday, as the 'Stros look for greener pastures indoors in Minneapolis. Problem is the Twins have been one of the best Interleague teams ever. The only positive sign is Cecil Cooper will send out two of his best three pitchers to try and slow down the Twins, as Roy Oswalt goes Friday night, while Wandy Rodriguez gets the ball on Sunday. It will be a difficult road for Houston over the next ten days, as the Astros are slated to face nine-game winner Kevin Slowey on Friday at Minnesota, eight-game winner Zack Greinke at home against Kansas City, and Detroit's top two aces - Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson at home the final two games of the Tigers series. The Astros have hit plenty of 'unders' at home against right-handed starting pitchers this season, doing so 18 of 25 times, while on 16 occasions a combined seven runs or less were scored.
Oakland A's (2-6)
The A's continue to languish towards the bottom of many offensive categories, as their lineup struggles have translated to many losses, more than a week following a seven-game winning streak. Oakland has plated 24 runs in the last six games, after scoring 42 runs during their seven-game hot streak. The rumors are still surfacing regarding outfielder Matt Holliday and when the A's will trade him. For the time being, Oakland heads south to San Diego after a three-game set with the Dodgers. The A's/Padres series is nearly a toss-up, considering both offenses have problems manufacturing runs.
Following the San Diego set, the A's return home to battle the Giants. San Francisco, who had been owned in this series recently (A's were 9-1 against the Giants in the previous ten matchups), exacted revenge on Oakland with a three-game home sweep last weekend. The Giants will send out a pair of lefties (Jonathan Sanchez and Randy Johnson), sandwiched with A's killer Tim Lincecum in the middle. Oakland is 3-8 at home this season against southpaw starters, while Lincecum hasn't allowed a run in his last two starts versus the A's, striking out 19 batters in 16 innings pitched. Oakland finishes off IL play at home against Colorado, as the last six meetings have finished 'under' the total, with the last matchup coming in 2006.
No, we didn't forget about the Washington Nationals. There isn't much reason to keep making them feel like the worst team in baseball, when that's what they really are. That being said, the Nats are 3-6 in Interleague action after taking two of three against the Yankees in New York. Washington has six home games against Toronto and Boston before wrapping up IL play against the Orioles in Baltimore. At least Manny Acta still has his job, for now.
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