Sunday MLB Handicapper Report - 8/5

[Jeff Grant]

Pittsburgh Pirates
-In his last 16 starts, A.J. Burnett has the sixth-lowest ERA (2.58) in the major leagues
-Burnett has surrendered a total of 11 HRs in 19 starts this year (31 with NYY in 2011)
-Burnett is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts versus the Reds this year


Cincinnati Reds
-Gone 16-3 since All-Star 1B Joey Votto landed on the DL
-36 home wins are the most in the majors
-Closer Aroldis Chapman has a 0.19 ERA versus NL teams this year (.105 opposing BA)
-SP Homer Bailey is 6-1 with a 2.62 ERA in nine career games versus the Pirates
-Bailey was 4-0 with a 2.61 ERA in six July starts


Detroit Tigers
-Won 21 of 32 games since June 28, second in the AL with a .656 win percentage over that stretch
-Won 13 of 14 at Comerica Park, including the last seven
-Bullpen has a 2.57 ERA over the last 70 games
-SP Max Scherzer is 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA in his last six home starts


Cleveland Indians
-Dropped all eight games on its current road trip
-Starting rotation is 0-7 with a 12.80 ERA, while the offense is hitting .190
-Posted a 7-4 mark versus the Tigers this year
-Scored 65 runs since the All-Star break (3.0 rpg)
-SP Chris Seddon has gone 0-2 with a 10.26 ERA in 10 career road games at the MLB level (0-2, 11.37 ERA in two starts)

Make sure to check out the SBR Forum articles to learn more about Sunday's MLB action

[blowseq]

Thanks for the report Jeff

[Jeff Grant]

Baltimore Orioles
-Trail the season series 5-6 against the Rays
-Won 31 road games this year, eclipsing their road win total of 2011
-Hitting .309 with nine HRs and 39 runs scored over the last eight games
-SP Miguel Gonzalez is 3-0 with a 2.93 ERA in five road outings (three starts)


Chicago White Sox
-Bullpen has a 1.06 ERA over the last 12 games
-Won 11 of their last 13 home games (89-48 scoring margin)
-Gone 14-7 versus AL West teams this year
-SP Francisco Liriano is 0-3 with a 5.56 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break
-Liriano is 0-4 with a 9.12 ERA in his last five starts versus the Angels


Minnesota Twins
-1B Justin Morneau is a .387 career hitter at Fenway Park in 24 games (4 HRs, 11 RBIs)
-The Twins are 1-14 versus AL East opponents
-Won three straight games in Boston for the first time since winning five straight from 1993-94
-SP Nick Blackburn has allowed the game’s first run in 10 of his 16 starts
-Blackburn is 1-1 with a 2.74 ERA in his last four starts versus the Red Sox


New York Yankees
-Been shutout 10 times at the current Yankee Stadium, three times by Seattle
-Gone 22-12 in series finales, winning eight of 11
-10 of the team’s 11 losses since the break have been by a combined 13 runs
-SP Freddy Garcia is 59-25 (.702) in day games, the fifth-highest winning percentage among active pitchers (min. 50 starts)


Seattle Mariners
-Bullpen has a 2.37 ERA since June 1
-Since May 18, the Mariners are 17-13 on the road, third-best mark in the AL
-Posted the second-best mark in the AL (15-7) since the break (Athletics)
-SP Hisashi Iwakuma struck out a franchise rookie record 13 batters in his last start (109 pitches - reliever turned starter)

Read some of my early thoughts on Sunday's MLB card

[Jeff Grant]

Washington Nationals
-Gone 28-17 overall against divisional opponents (14-9 at home)
-Adam LaRoche leads all MLB first baseman with 23 HRs
-SP Stephen Strasburg is 1-1 with a 6.06 ERA in his last three starts


Miami Marlins
-Gone 27-13 all-time inside Nationals Park
-1B Carlos Lee has hit safely in his past 10 games (.500)
-Bullpen has a 1.85 ERA since the All-Star break, fourth-lowest in the MLB (Rays, Reds and Padres)
-SP Ricky Nolasco is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in four career starts at Nationals Park
-Nolasco has allowed at least four runs in each of his last four starts (7.48 ERA)


Arizona Diamondbacks
-Going for their first series win in Philadelphia since May 2007
-Lead the majors with 102 runs scored since July 18, while leading baseball with a +47 run differential in that span
-Won 12 of their last 16 games against left-handed starters
-Bullpen has a 1.21 ERA in the last 12 games
-SP Trevor Cahill has allowed nine HRs in his last eight starts


Atlanta Braves
-Gone 7-2 on their current homestand, while posting a 15-7 mark since the All-Star break
-Bullpen has allowed just one earned run (0.34) in 26.2 innings of work in the first nine games of their homestand
-Kris Medlen is 7-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 19 starts, while going 4-6 with a 2.92 ERA in 90 relief appearances

Don't forget that the NFL's preseason schedule kicks off tonight in Canton, OH