Monday MLB Handicapper Report - 7/30

[Jeff Grant]

Pittsburgh Pirates
-Best records in the month of July: Athletics (18-4), Reds (18-6), Nationals (17-8), Pirates (16-8), Braves (16-8), Tigers (16-8)
-Gone 6-1 in their last seven series at Wrigley Field
-OF Andrew McCutchen has reached base safely in 37 straight games against the Cubs
-Homered in a team-record 19 consecutive road games (40 HR)
-SP Erik Bedard has gone 1-1 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts against the Cubs


Detroit Tigers
-Gone 43-33 in road games dating back to Aug. 11, 2011, third-best road mark in the majors in that span
-Bullpen has a 2.53 ERA over the last 65 games
-The Tigers are 14-12 versus AL East opponents
-SP Max Scherzer enters with a four-game winning streak dating back to June 28 (2.81 ERA)
Scherzer has a 1-0 record and 2.92 ERA at Fenway Park

Make sure to check out the SBR Forum articles for Monday's MLB action

[Jeff Grant]

New York Yankees
-Gone 21-14 against left-handed starters this year, second-best winning percentage in the AL behind Boston (22-12, .647)
-New York is 23-10 in series openers this season
-Lead the majors with 160 HRs, which is the most in the franchise’s history through 101 games
-Won nine of their last 13 home games against the Orioles
-Since July 31, 2005, SP Freddy Garcia is 3-1 with a 4.28 ERA in 10 games (eight starts) against the Orioles


Texas Rangers
-The Rangers are hitless in their last 29 at-bats with RISP
-Own a 10-2-2 record in home series against divisional opponents since last year
-SP Roy Oswalt has faced Angels 1B Albert Pujols more than any other hitter during his career
-Oswalt is 6-9 with a 4.24 ERA in 19 career starts versus AL West opponents


Boston Red Sox
-Won seven of its last eight home games against Detroit and has taken all six series at Fenway since 2007 (15-5 record)
-Lead the majors with 355 extra-base hits
-SP Clay Buchholz is 4-1 with a 2.47 ERA over his last eight starts
-Leads all AL teams with a 16-9 record against the AL Central division (35-42 against all other teams)


San Diego Padres
-Gone 16-12 all-time at the Great American Ball Park
-With a 14-10 record, the Padres have clinched their first winning month of the season and their first winning month overall since going 16-13 in August 2010
-RP Huston Street is a perfect 17-for-17 in save situations, only qualifying MLB pitcher with a 100 percent success rate
-SP Edinson Volquez has earned the win in four of his last eight starts (team record 6-2)