Saturday MLB Handicapper Report - 8/18

[Jeff Grant]

Texas Rangers
-Friday marked the fourth time in five games that the team scored two or fewer runs, hitting .211 with three HRs
-Won four of seven games against the Blue Jays this year (1-3 at Rogers Centre)
-The Rangers are 18-11 (.621) in day games, the AL’s third-best win percentage behind the Orioles (.647) and Yankees (.632)
-Lead the majors with a .276 daytime average, played an MLB-low 29 day games
-Joe Nathan has converted 21 consecutive saves
-SP Roy Oswalt will be working on extended nine days’ rest

Toronto Blue Jays
-The Jays have won 12 of their last 16 home games against the Rangers
-Lost four of their last five completed series, going 5-13 over that span
-SP Carlos Villanueva has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his eight starts

Chicago Cubs
-Playing their first doubleheader since Aug. 13, 2008
-SS Starlin Castro is batting .353 in his last nine games, picking up his 36th multi-hit effort last night
-The Cubs are 3-7 against the Reds this season (7-11 in 2011)
-SP Jeff Samardzija has thrown 100-plus pitches in three of his last four starts
-Samardzija has a 5.56 daytime ERA in 12 starts (2.57 ERA at night)

Cincinnati Reds
-SP Johnny Cueto is 10-0 with a 1.55 ERA in 12 daytime starts
-The Reds are 40-17 in games played on the weekend and have won 16 straight games played on Friday or Saturday
-Closer Aroldis Chapman has a 0.17 ERA versus NL teams
-Gone 15-6 against the Cubs at home the last three years

Read my early thoughts on one of tonight's American League contests

[Jeff Grant]

Boston Red Sox
-Gone 15-19 since the All-Star break, 5-11 in the month of August
-Only visiting AL team with a winning record at the new Yankee Stadium
-SP Jon Lester is 6-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 11 career road starts against the Yankees
-Lester has held opponents to a .212 average in 19 day games since 2011, ninth among AL starters in that span


New York Yankees
-The Yankees are 26-16 (.619) against left-handed starters, best win percentage in the AL
-Batting .357 with RISP and two outs in August
-Hit 28 HRs in 10 games versus the Red Sox this year, outscoring them by a 73-50 margin
-SP David Phelps has the third-lowest ERA (2.53) among all MLB rookie pitchers this year (min. 55 IP)


Pittsburgh Pirates
-Produced a 26-14 record in day games, tied for the third-most such wins behind the Tigers (31) and Reds (29)
-3B Pedro Alvarez has recorded 15 RBI this year against the Cardinals, which is the most by any player in the majors
-SP Erik Bedard has won back-to-back starts for the second time this season
-Bedard is 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA in three career starts against the Cardinals


St. Louis Cardinals
-The Cardinals are 13-5 at home since the All-Star break
-Gone 30-22 all-time against the Pirates at Busch Stadium III
-SP Lance Lynn owns a 9-1 record and 2.72 ERA in 19 career appearances (11 starts) versus NL Central opponents

[JMon]

Jeff, any chance you are hammering the Mariners tonight?

[Jeff Grant]

Jeff, any chance you are hammering the Mariners tonight?

A side that I'm interested in - need one of your situational stats

[JMon]

A side that I'm interested in - need one of your situational stats

All team systems tonight don't care sharing, pm if interested...cheers!

[Jeff Grant]

Baltimore Orioles
-The Orioles are 21-22 all-time at Comerica Park
-OF Nick Markakis is hitting .322 with five HRs and 15 RBIs in 34 games at the leadoff spot
-Bullpen owns a 1.37 ERA in the last 14 games
-SP Zach Britton has just three quality starts in his last 13 road outings


Detroit Tigers
-Hitting .308 with 129 runs scored and 31 HRs in the last 21 home games
-3B Miguel Cabrera is hitting .481 with 10 HRs and 24 RBIs in 20 games versus the Orioles since 2010
-The Tigers are 18-16 versus AL East teams
-SP Rick Porcello is 4-1 with a 3.42 ERA over his last nine home starts
-Porcello is 3-1 with a 3.52 ERA in six starts versus AL East teams
-Porcello is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four career starts versus the Orioles


New York Mets
-The Mets are 10-23 since the All-Star break (8-13 on the road)
-Gone 42-29 all-time in Washington, DC
-Began the year 13-5 versus division opponents (8-20 L28)
-SP Jonathan Niese will pitch on extra rest tonight, going 5-2 with a 2.36 ERA in 13 starts in that situation
-Niese is 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in five career starts versus the Nationals


Washington Nationals
-The Nationals are 29 games above .500 for the first time since 1933
-Owns the majors best winning percentage (.622) since the All-Star break
-Rank second in run differential (+107), trailing only the Cardinals (+108)
-SP Edwin Jackson is 1-5 with a 3.53 ERA in seven starts versus divisional foes
-Jackson is 17-7 with a 3.25 ERA in August during his career