Friday MLB Handicapper Report - 8/24

[Jeff Grant]

Detroit Tigers
-Won 31 of their last 49 games, with their .633 win percentage in that stretch being tops among AL teams
-Hitting .292 with 106 runs scored and 22 HRs in 20 games during August, second in the majors in BA in that span
-Won 11 of 16 against the Angels at Comerica Park
-The Tigers are 9-15 versus AL West opponents
-SP Rick Porcello is tied for the lead in the AL with 179 hits allowed this season
-Porcello has won his last three decisions against the Angels (5.04 ERA)

Chicago Cubs
-Haven’t faced a left-handed starter in 14 games
-The Cubs are 40-34 against the Rockies at Wrigley Field (1-2 last year)
-Closer Carlos Marmol has converted his last 14 save opportunities (0.68 ERA)
-SP Jeff Samardzija has received two or fewer runs of support while on the mound in seven of his last eight starts
-Samardzija is 3-7 with a 5.67 ERA in 13 daytime outings (2.57 ERA at night)

Colorado Rockies
-The Rockies are 3-1-1 in their last five series
-Gone 12-27 in day games this year
-Bullpen ERA (0.78) leads the NL since August 19
-Own a 13-9 record in August, following a .500 or losing record in the previous four months

Check out my early thoughts on one of Friday's biggest MLB games

[vaas187]

rockies look nice today

[Jeff Grant]

Washington Nationals
-Fresh off a 4-2 homestand against the Braves and Mets, outscoring them by a 21-18 margin
-Owns the best road win percentage (41-23, .641) in baseball, winning 14 of their last 17 road games (14-4-2 road series record)
-Gone an NL-best 16-6 in August
-Leads the majors with a .635 intra-division winning percentage (33-19)
-SP Edwin Jackson is 0-3 with a 5.60 ERA in three career starts versus the Phillies
-Jackson is 1-6 with a 3.40 ERA in eight starts versus NL East opponents
-Jackson is 17-8 with a 3.23 ERA in his career during August


Milwaukee Brewers
-Three players are in the top five among NL extra-base leaders (Braun, Ramirez, Hart)
-The Brewers are 38-53 at PNC Park
-Gone 19-38 on the road (4-14-1 in series play), losing 14 of their last 15 road games
-SP Mike Fiers has lost his last two starts (15.43 ERA)


Minnesota Twins
-The Twins are 31-23 against the Rangers since 2007
-Hitting .156 with RISP over the first seven games of their road trip (.253 on the season)
-Own a 9-22 record against AL West teams
-Averaging 4.40 runs per game, while the Rangers lead baseball (5.14 rpg)
-SP Samuel Deduno is holing right-handed batters to a .200 average this season
-Deduno made his Twins debut on the road against the Rangers on July 7

Learn more about Friday night's game between the Twins and Rangers


Kansas City Royals
-The Royals are 10-5 in their last 15 games (4-2-1 in series play in August)
-SP Bruce Chen earned his first win against Boston since July 9, 2005 on May 9
-Chen is 1-3 with a 7.89 ERA in eight games (four starts) as an opponent at Fenway Park

[Jeff Grant]

Chicago White Sox
-The White Sox are 51-34 since May 17, the best record in the AL in that span
-Won eight of their last nine games versus Seattle (21 of 25 since 2010)
-SP Jake Peavy is 5-1 with a 2.21 ERA in eight career starts against the Mariners
-Lead the majors with 38 HRs in August
-Only team in baseball with four players with 20-plus HRs
-Peavy is 3-8 with a 3.16 ERA over his last 12 starts, received just 28 runs of support in that span


Seattle Mariners
-Own the best record in the AL since the All-Star break (25-13)
-The Mariners have lost 16 of their last 19 at U.S. Cellular Field
-C Jesus Montero leads the majors in road average since the All-Star break (.431)
-Bullpen hasn’t allowed a run in 14.2 innings, posted an 0.84 ERA since Aug. 12
-Rotation is 17-6 with a 2.59 ERA over the last 32 games
-SP Jason Vargas is 6-1 with a 1.95 ERA in his last 10 starts
-Vargas has a 4.91 ERA in three starts at U.S. Cellular Field (18.1 IP, 10 ER)


New York Yankees
-Have not lost more than four straight road games under manager Joe Girardi
-Gone 27-14 over the last two years when opposed by a starting pitcher they are facing for the first time (10-9 this season)
-Own a 27-13 record in series openers, the best win percentage (.675) in baseball
-Hit 193 HRs, their most as a franchise through 124 games
-Homered in nine straight road games, last 12 HRs have been solo shots
-CC Sabathia is 29-10 with a 3.23 ERA in post All-Star game starts during his time with the Yankees
-Sabathia is 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA in three road starts against the Indians


Cincinnati Reds
-Closer Aroldis Chapman owns a 0.32 ERA against NL teams
-OF Jay Bruce has hit safely in 11 of 12 games (.396, 5 HR, 12 RBI)
-The Reds are 41-36 all-time against the Cardinals at GABP (4-2 this season)
-SP Mat Latos 0.92 ERA in August ranks second in the majors (Price)

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