Monday MLB Handicapper Report - 8/20

Jeff Grant · 08-20-12, 05:46 PM

Cincinnati Reds
-In 11 series since the All-Star break, the Reds are 9-1-1 with four series sweeps
-The Reds are 18-37 against the Phillies since 2003
-SP Mike Leake is 0-1 with a 6.64 ERA in three career starts versus the Phillies

Minnesota Twins
-The Twins are 8-19 against AL West teams this year
-Suffered their first sweep in Seattle since July 27-29, 2001, going 3 for 28 (.107) with RISP
-Turned a major league leading 148 double plays this season
-SP Brian Duensing is 1-6 with a 6.34 ERA and .339 opponents BA in eight starts this year (1-2, 3.12 ERA as a reliever)
-Duensing has yet to record a decision in three career relief appearances at the Coliseum (5.06 ERA)

Texas Rangers
-Closer Joe Nathan has converted 22 consecutive sane opportunities, a club record for a single season
-Collected 19 hits on Sunday, the most hits by Texas in over three months (May 13)
-Tied with the Yankees for the most runs in the AL in August (100)
-The Rangers have won eight of their last nine games against the Orioles (82-27)
-SP Ryan Dempster is 1-3 with a 7.06 ERA in his last five starts overall

Tampa Bay Rays
-The Rays are 13-4 in the month of August, best in the majors
-Gone 11-16 versus AL Central teams this year, worst in the league
-The Rays are coming off their first-ever, four-game sweep of the Angels, setting a club record of scoring 37 runs in a series
-Tampa Bay is 12-1 at Tropicana Field with 3B Evan Longoria in the lineup
-The Rays have not lost a season series to the Royals since 2007
-Bullpen owns a 0.86 ERA over the last 29 games
-SP Jeremy Hellickson hasn’t won at home since May 16 (5.45 ERA), with the team losing all seven of those games

Jeff Grant · 08-20-12, 06:46 PM

San Francisco Giants
-Won 11 of their 16 road games since the All-Star break, outscoring opponents by a 112-59 margin
-Averaging a major league-best 5.17 runs per game on the road
-Hitting .341 with RISP this month, highest in the majors
-Rank second in the NL with 182 runs scored since the All-Star break (Nationals, 188)
-SP Madison Bumgarner has allowed 15 of his 18 HRs on the road
-Bumgarner is 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA in four career starts at Dodger Stadium

Los Angeles Dodgers
-Hit .340 (32-for-94) with RISP on its recent road trip
-SP Clayton Kershaw is 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his last four starts
-Kershaw has the lowest all-time ERA (1.39) against the Giants of any pitcher with a minimum of 75 IP
-3B Hanley Ramirez is batting .313 with four HRs and 27 RBIs in 24 games as a Dodgers player
-Kershaw owns the majors’ lowest opponents’ batting average (min. 500 IP) since making his debut on May 25, 2008 (.216 BA)

Oakland Athletics
-Gone 28-13 since the start of July, which is the best record in the AL
-Starting rotation is 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA over the last four games
-Rank last in the majors with a .232 batting average
-Hit 92 HRs in 66 games since June 4, tied for third most in the majors
-Used 18 rookies this year, which is the most in the majors
-SP Brandon McCarthy is 3-2 with a 1.57 ERA in seven home starts
-McCarthy is 2-0 with a 2.43 ERA in nine appearances (four starts) against the Twins

San Diego Padres
-The Padres have won 15 of their last 18 games against the Pirates, outscoring them by a 119-66 margin
-3B Chase Headley has eight HRs and 23 RBIs in August, most for any month in his career
-SP Edinson Volquez is 1-2 with a 13.38 ERA over his last four starts (.349 opp BA)
-Volquez has posted a 9.64 ERA in his last three starts against the Padres since 2011

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