Monday Notes
Tough day overall in looking at trends. Very few division matchups and plenty of new blood on the mound overall. Let’s see what we've got!
In 72 combined at-bats, the Pirates have hit .389 against Kyle Lohse. Have to have some fun with small sample sizes here, but when we do the numbers are pretty good.
Jose Tabata is 5-for-7 while Andrew McCutchen is 4-for-9 and Pedro Alvarez 4-for-7. Lohse was 1-1 in three starts against Pittsburgh last season with a 7.53 ERA.
The news is not better for Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton. The Cardinals have hit .479 against him in 71 combined at-bats. Skip Schumaker is the dark horse here as he is 6-for-12. The message, largely, is start all your Cardinals in this one.
If you are thinking about starting Erik Bedard based on his spring numbers, I would still caution you to think twice. Yes he posted a 3.15 ERA in spring training, but that is not going to make him a certainty here. Heading to Texas against a hot offense, leave him on your bench.
Nothing too intriguing about Derek Holland against the Mariners. Ichiro is just 3-for-12 against him, but that is the only one that sticks out like a sore thumb. Chone Figgins, on the other side, is 4-for-10.
Hold back on starting Curtis Granderson today. He is just 10-for-47, good for a .213 average, against Scott Baker. Nick Swisher is 3-for-14 and Alex Rodriguez is only 2-for-11. Mark Teixeira is a pretty good bet to continue his hot hitting. Teixeria is 6-for-12 lifetime against Baker.
Every year, I talk myself into believing in Randy Wells. This time is no different. Wells is 3-0 in five April starts and 2-0 in his career against Arizona. While he is up and down, for certain, he has some things working for him in this matchup.
Ugly numbers on the road for Rick Porcello last season. Porcello went just 3-7 with a 5.73 ERA away from home last year while batters hit better than .300 against him in those outings. He only had one start against Baltimore in 2010 which was a tough-luck loss.
Spot Starts: Arrieta, Wells
Tuesday Notes
Only Alexi Casilla at 9-for-13 has decent numbers for the Twins against C.C. Sabathia. Dating back to his days with Cleveland, Sabathia has owned Minnesota. Joe Mauer is just 5-for-23 while Justin Morneau is 6-for-39. Nothing good to report on any starters you normally would play here.
Both David Wright and Carlos Beltran are better than .300 against Cole Hamels. Beltran has added three home runs in 31 at-bats against the lefty. Might not be a shock to see Scott Hairston in the lineup given his .375 mark in 16 at-bats against him as well. The worst number is the .250 in 32 at-bats for Jose Reyes.
All tough numbers for the Rockies against Clayton Kershaw. Not a .300 average to be found amongst any hitter that would be in your lineups. Carlos Gonzalez is 2-for-12 while Troy Tulowitzki is just a .185 hitter in 27 at-bats. Spilborghs, Helton and Iannetta all have struggled against the lefty.
Hanley Ramirez owns Jason Marquis to the tune of 8-for-17 against him lifetime. Emilio Bonifacio is the only other player with a track record to note, going 4-for-9 against him. Marquis was 1-1 against Florida last season, giving up five runs on 12 hits and four walks in 11.2 innings pitched.
Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham have raked against Luke Hochevar. Ramirez is 6-for-13 while Beckham is 4-for-11. Alex Rios checks in at only 1-for-14 while Paul Konerko is 2-for-15 against him. Hochevar is 3-1 in his last four starts against the White Sox.
Spot Starts: Cashner, Leake, Hochevar
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