This Week's Best MLB Trends

This Week's Best MLB Trends
By Bill McBride
Covers.com

HOT TEAM: Chicago White Sox

THIS SEASON: 30-23.
LAST WEEK: 5-1.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE: Home to the Blue Jays for three, home to the Astros for three.

THE SKINNY: A 10-8 loss to Ichiro Suzuki and the Seattle Mariners on Saturday did not dampen what was one incredible run for Robin Ventura's scrappy crew in Chicago. The White Sox had won nine in a row prior to that defeat, and they did it so many ways.

In a three-game sweep of Cleveland during the surge? They scored 35 runs. In a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay right after the Indians series? The pitched in and out of trouble and won two one-run games.

Adam Dunn, left for dead after last year's disaster of a season, had 17 home runs and 38 RBIs headed into Sunday's action, and the ageless A.J. Pierzynski was hitting .291 with 33 RBIs

COLD TEAM: Houston Astros

THIS SEASON: 22-31.
LAST WEEK: 0-7.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE: Home to the Cardinals for three, at the White Sox for three.

THE SKINNY: On the opposite end of the spectrum is the Astros, a spunky, nameless group that turned some heads with a decent start. They are now, however, falling back to reality, and when the pitching is going, the hitting isn't, and vice versa.

It was the latter, for sure, on Saturday, when Joey Votto went 4 for 4 with a home run as the Reds outlasted Houston, 12-9. It was the eighth straight loss for the Astros, and the only thing that's keeping them out of last place in the National League Central is the overall malaise that's hovered over the Cubs this season.

OVER TEAM: Boston Red Sox

O/U THIS SEASON: 32-20-1.
O/U LAST WEEK: 5-2.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE: Home to the Orioles for three, home to the Nationals for three.

THE SKINNY: Just when you thought panic had soaked in all across Red Sox Nation, the bats come alive a bit. Though they are shopping Kevin Youkilis, and are likely to deal him soon, Boston’s offense has picked up, and if nothing else, it has made the Red Sox an attractive over buy.

Remember a few years ago, when it appeared David Ortiz was done? Too slow a swing, not getting on base enough, right on down the line? Well, through Saturday, Ortiz was batting .322, with 13 homers and 37 RBIs. He had a 1.006 OPS and 26 walks. As a result, the Red Sox had scored at least six runs in five of the past six games headed into Sunday, and were 7-3 over in their last 10 games.

There will always be a price to pay at the window for a public team like Boston. But overs are overs, folks, and this team is producing enough of them to warrant the cost.

UNDER TEAM: San Francisco Giants

O/U THIS SEASON: 24-27-2.
O/U LAST WEEK: 0-5-1.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE: Home to the Cubs for one, at the Padres for three, home to the Rangers for three.

THE SKINNY: The Giants personify a great under team on many levels. Hosting teams in a far different time zone, often times in the San Francisco elements, helps the cause. But a terrific pitching staff, of course, and some light bats are the prime factors, and the Giants have utilized both lately for a quality run of unders.

Last week alone, the Giants squeeked out three one-run games, and were held to three runs or less four times. No one's going to discount the start that journeyman Melky Cabrera has had, taking a .373 average, 40 runs and nine steals into Sunday's game. But he had 57 singles, many of the hollow variety, and San Francisco’s offense was 22nd in the majors in runs scored (210), and 23rd with 357 strikeouts.

And the pitching is there, as always. The Giants were fourth in baseball with a 3.33 ERA, and 10th with a 1.25 WHIP. And what a find reliever Sergio Romo has been, sporting a 2-0 record, an 0.60 ERA, 20 strikeouts, nine holds and a save in just 19 appearances. No wonder the unders have been rolling in.