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Ballpark Figures - Week 8
Joe Williams
Short Slate
There are just seven games to be played on Monday, so it's a rather shortened slate. The Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners square off at T-Mobile Park (still weird not calling it Safeco Field) on Monday, as RHP Mike Fiers attempts to join Johnny Vander Meer as the only pitcher to record consecutive no-hitters. He'll be opposed by LHP Yusei Kikuchi, a rookie southpaw who enters play 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA and .266 on-base percentage allowed while managing a sparkling 1.06 WHIP through 48 1/3 innings.
The Athletics have won just once in the past 10 road games, while going 1-4 over the past five outings for Fiers. However, the A's are 12-3 across the past 15 starts by Fiers on a grass surface, and 5-2 in his past seven inside the division. In addition, the A's are a dismal 3-15 acrosss the past 18 road games against a team with a losing overall mark. However, they are 10-4 in the past 14 road games vs. LHP, while going just 5-17 across the past 22 games against a team with a losing overall record.
The Mariners fired out of the chute, but they're just 7-21 across the past 28 games, and 2-6 in the past eight agaisnt a right-handed starting pitcher. They're also just 1-6 in the past seven at home vs. RHP, although they're 6-2 in the past eight at home against a losing team, and 8-2 in the past 10 overall against teams with a losing overall mark. In this series, the over is 7-1 in the past eight meetings, while going 8-3 in the past 11 battles in Seattle. The A's have also won just four of their past 13 games overall against the M's.
Looking Ahead
Monday, May 13
The Pirates and Diamondbacks square off in the desert with RHP Nick Kingham facing LHP Robbie Ray in a righy-lefty matchup. Pittsburgh has won five of the past six on the road, and they're 4-1 in the past five against winning teams while going 6-2 in the psat eight overall. However, they're still just 0-4 in the past four vs. LHP, while cashing in only one of Kingham's past six outings. They're also 0-4 in his past four road starts against a team with a winning overall mark.
The Twins and Angels lock horns in the Twin Cities, and that's been good for the Halos lately. They're 10-2 in the past 12 against American League Central Division foes. They're also 6-1 in the past seven vs. RHP, and 5-2 in the past seven on the road. While they're 7-3 in the past 10 road outings by LHP Tyler Skaggs against teams with a winning mark, they're just 1-4 in his past five road contests. The Twins are a perfect 5-0 across RHP Jose Berrios' past five outings, and a whoppig 14-2 in the past 16 at home against teams with a losing overall mark. The under is 4-1 in the past five in this series, going going 4-1 in the past five.
Weather Report
The O's and Yankees are expecting heavy rain for their AL East Division tilt. Look for this one to be postponed, as their closer proximity to each other means a reschedule is a lot more palatable for both sides rather than a lengthy rain delay. The Brewers and Phillies will also be looking at significant rain chances of 70 percent or more, so expect a delay.
The Astros and Tigers needn't worry about rain, but wind will be the issue, gusting from 10-14 mph to straightaway center field.
Tuesday, May 14
Since coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays, RHP Wilmer Font has allowed two earned runs, three hits and a homer over four innings. He is a pitcher without a lengthy track record, and it will take a village against the Washington Nationals.
Reds RHP Sonny Gray enters play against the Chicago Cubs with no victories over eight starts, and he has failed to post a quality start in four outings dating back to April 17 in Los Angelss against the Dodgers. The Reds are 0-3 over Gray's past three outings, and 2-6 in his eight starts this season.
Marlins RHP Jose Urena heads into play 1-5 with a 4.82 ERA across 46 2/3 innings, yielding 15 walks with 32 strikeouts. He was sharp last time out, allowing two runs - one earned - and five hits over seven innings in a no-decision at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.
Weather Report
The Brewers and Phillies will be bombarded with winds of 10-13 mph blowing in from the left-center field power alley. The Mets and Nationals also neede to hang onto thier hats, with 11-14 mphs gusts from left-center field to first base. Other than that, everything looks tip-top.
Joe Williams
Short Slate
There are just seven games to be played on Monday, so it's a rather shortened slate. The Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners square off at T-Mobile Park (still weird not calling it Safeco Field) on Monday, as RHP Mike Fiers attempts to join Johnny Vander Meer as the only pitcher to record consecutive no-hitters. He'll be opposed by LHP Yusei Kikuchi, a rookie southpaw who enters play 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA and .266 on-base percentage allowed while managing a sparkling 1.06 WHIP through 48 1/3 innings.
The Athletics have won just once in the past 10 road games, while going 1-4 over the past five outings for Fiers. However, the A's are 12-3 across the past 15 starts by Fiers on a grass surface, and 5-2 in his past seven inside the division. In addition, the A's are a dismal 3-15 acrosss the past 18 road games against a team with a losing overall mark. However, they are 10-4 in the past 14 road games vs. LHP, while going just 5-17 across the past 22 games against a team with a losing overall record.
The Mariners fired out of the chute, but they're just 7-21 across the past 28 games, and 2-6 in the past eight agaisnt a right-handed starting pitcher. They're also just 1-6 in the past seven at home vs. RHP, although they're 6-2 in the past eight at home against a losing team, and 8-2 in the past 10 overall against teams with a losing overall mark. In this series, the over is 7-1 in the past eight meetings, while going 8-3 in the past 11 battles in Seattle. The A's have also won just four of their past 13 games overall against the M's.
Looking Ahead
Monday, May 13
The Pirates and Diamondbacks square off in the desert with RHP Nick Kingham facing LHP Robbie Ray in a righy-lefty matchup. Pittsburgh has won five of the past six on the road, and they're 4-1 in the past five against winning teams while going 6-2 in the psat eight overall. However, they're still just 0-4 in the past four vs. LHP, while cashing in only one of Kingham's past six outings. They're also 0-4 in his past four road starts against a team with a winning overall mark.
The Twins and Angels lock horns in the Twin Cities, and that's been good for the Halos lately. They're 10-2 in the past 12 against American League Central Division foes. They're also 6-1 in the past seven vs. RHP, and 5-2 in the past seven on the road. While they're 7-3 in the past 10 road outings by LHP Tyler Skaggs against teams with a winning mark, they're just 1-4 in his past five road contests. The Twins are a perfect 5-0 across RHP Jose Berrios' past five outings, and a whoppig 14-2 in the past 16 at home against teams with a losing overall mark. The under is 4-1 in the past five in this series, going going 4-1 in the past five.
Weather Report
The O's and Yankees are expecting heavy rain for their AL East Division tilt. Look for this one to be postponed, as their closer proximity to each other means a reschedule is a lot more palatable for both sides rather than a lengthy rain delay. The Brewers and Phillies will also be looking at significant rain chances of 70 percent or more, so expect a delay.
The Astros and Tigers needn't worry about rain, but wind will be the issue, gusting from 10-14 mph to straightaway center field.
Tuesday, May 14
Since coming over from the Tampa Bay Rays, RHP Wilmer Font has allowed two earned runs, three hits and a homer over four innings. He is a pitcher without a lengthy track record, and it will take a village against the Washington Nationals.
Reds RHP Sonny Gray enters play against the Chicago Cubs with no victories over eight starts, and he has failed to post a quality start in four outings dating back to April 17 in Los Angelss against the Dodgers. The Reds are 0-3 over Gray's past three outings, and 2-6 in his eight starts this season.
Marlins RHP Jose Urena heads into play 1-5 with a 4.82 ERA across 46 2/3 innings, yielding 15 walks with 32 strikeouts. He was sharp last time out, allowing two runs - one earned - and five hits over seven innings in a no-decision at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.
Weather Report
The Brewers and Phillies will be bombarded with winds of 10-13 mph blowing in from the left-center field power alley. The Mets and Nationals also neede to hang onto thier hats, with 11-14 mphs gusts from left-center field to first base. Other than that, everything looks tip-top.
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