Ballpark Figures - Week 13
Streaky Teams (entering Monday)
Wins and Losses Streak
Cincinnati 7-0 past seven games overall
Cleveland 7-0 past seven games overall
Kansas City 2-17 past 19 games overall
San Diego 1-7 past eight games overall
Texas 7-1 past eight games overall
Over/Under Streak
Baltimore Over 5-2 past seven games
Chicago White Sox Over 6-0 past six games
N.Y. Mets Over 5-2 past seven games
Oakland Over 11-1 past 12 games
Tampa Bay Under 10-2 past 12 games
Buckeye State Bonanza
The Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians combined to make it a perfect week for the state of Ohio. The Reds and Indians are a combined 14-0 across their past 14 games, as each club is on a seven-game winning streak. The run by the Reds is quite a bit more surprising, as they're cellar dwellers in the National League Central Division. The huge winning streak has helped them carve into what was once an ugly run differential. It's now at just minus-43. They'll hit the road for Atlanta on Monday looking to stay hot with Tyler Mahle on the mound. The Reds have won five straight with Mahle on the hill, and five of his past six outings away from home. They have also rattled off four straight wins vs. right-handed starting pitchers. The Braves will counter with Mike Foltynewicz, and they're just 6-15 across his past 21, and 0-4 in his past four against NL Central foes.
The Indians have opened up an eight-game gap in the American League Central, sweeping the Tigers out of Progressive Field. They're now 10-3 against the Tigers, and 25-13 overall in their division. The only chink in the armor for the Tribe has been on the road, where they're 16-20. That's where the Indians will be starting on Monday night in St. Louis. The Indians have rattled off 23 victories in their past 29 appearances on Monday, but they're just 17-41 in their past 58 interleague road games against a team with a winning record, 2-5 in their past seven interleague road games vs. RHP and 1-4 in Mike Clevinger's past five road assignments. They're also 0-5 in his past five against a winning team. Luckily for the Indians, the Cards are just 1-4 in their past five at home, 2-5 in their past seven interleague battles and 0-5 in John Gant's past five outings.
Looking Ahead
Monday, June 25
The Blue Jays head down to the Gulf for a battle against the Astros. The Jays have gotten a little hotter lately, going 5-1 in their past six games against a right-handed starting pitcher, although Justin Verlander of the Astros represents the biggest test in a while. Toronto has posted a solid 6-2 record in their past eight games on a Monday, but they're just 3-10 in the past 13 games on the road. They're also 3-9 in the past 12 games against American League West Division opponents. The good news for Toronto is that they'll have LHP JA Happ on the bump. They're 10-4 over his past 14 assignments, while going 12-5 in his past 17 games against AL West opponents. Toronto is also a solid 36-17 over the past 53 with Happ on the hill against a team with a winning record.
For the Astros, they have posted a 5-2 mark in their past seven tries vs. LHP. They're also 5-2 in the past seven at Minute Maid Park against teams with a losing overall mark. Houston has posted a 42-19 record in their past 61 home games, and they're 35-16 in the past 51 against teams with a losing overall mark. Verlander has been gold for the defending champs, as Houston has posted a 19-7 record across his past 26 assignments, although they are a dismal 1-4 in the past five home outings by J.V. The Jays have managed just six wins in their past 21 trips to Houston, while the 'under' has connected in six of the past eight meetings at Minute Maid Park.
The Cubs and Dodgers hook up in L.A. in the only late-night game on Monday night. These two clubs just met last week at Wrigley Field, with the Cubs posting two wins in three tries. However, Chicago limps in after a shocking four-game sweep at the hands of the cellar-dwelling Reds. The Cubs pitching staff allowed 7.8 runs per game in the four-game brooming, so they'll need better pitching against Matt Kemp and the Dodgers. They turn to Duane Underwood Jr. in his major league debut on Monday. He'll be tasked with turning around an 0-5 skid in the past five road games, while going 0-4 in their past four vs. RHP. The Dodgers counter with Kenta Maeda, and they're 6-2 in his past eight starts vs. NL Central foes. They're also 12-5 in his past 17 starts at Chavez Ravine.
Weather Report
The winds will be howling at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, gusting from 12-15 mph from home plate to the left-center field power alley. Precipitation will not be a problem in Queens for the Pirates-Mets battle, but the wind will also be gusting there, too. However, the winds will be out of the north from 9-12 mph blowing in from right-center field to home plate.
The only trouble spot as far as precipitation will be in St. Louis, where there is a 40 percent or better chance of rain from 6pm through midnight.
Tuesday, June 26
It will be a southpaw battle in Detroit between A's LHP Sean Manaea and Tigers LHP Blaine Hardy. Oakland has posted a 5-2 mark over their past seven on the road with Manaea on the hill. They're also 6-0 in Manaea's past six starts against American League Central foes, while going 36-15 in their past 51 against Central opponents overall. They're also 20-8 in the past 28 against teams with a losing overall record while going 4-1 in their past five vs. LHP. For the Tigers, they're on a five-game losing skid heading into Monday's game. They are also a dismal 11-24 in their past 35 against AL West teams, while posting a 13-27 record in the past 40 at home vs. a team with a winning record. However, they have won five of their past six tries vs. LHP, including 4-0 in their past four at home vs. southpaws.
The Twins and White Sox will battle on the south side after a scheduled day off. Minnesota has struggled with rest, going just 3-7 in their past 10 games after a day off. They're also just 4-9 in their past 13 on the road, while going 1-5 in Lance Lynn's past six starts when opening a new series. The Pale Hose counter with Reynaldo Lopez, and they're 1-5 in his past six starts while going 0-5 in his past five inside the division. Chicago has managed a poor 2-6 record in their past eight at home, while going 18-39 in their past 57 vs. RHP. Minnesota has owned this series recently, going 9-3 in the past 12 overall, while posting an 11-5 mark in their past 16 trips to Guaranteed Rate Field.
Colorado and San Francisco renew acquaintances in the Bay Area. The Rockies struggled against the Marlins over the weekend, now they try to get better on the road. They're 0-7 in Chad Bettis' past seven battles against NL West rivals, and they're 1-6 in the past seven against teams with a winning overall record. Colorado has managed a subpar 2-5 mark in the past seven on the road. San Francisco has won five of the past six overall, and they're 5-1 in the past six at home. The Giants are also 13-3 in their past 16 vs. RHP, while going 4-1 in Derek Holland's past five starts. The Giants are 7-2 in the past nine at home vs. the Rockies, although they're 0-4 the past four times seeing Bettis at AT&T Park.
Weather Report
The weather is expected to move in to the Motor City in the later innings, perhaps hindering the A's-Tigers battle at Comerica. There is a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms around 9pm, increasing to better than 50 percent through the overnight hours.
At Fenway Park, the Angels and Red Sox will be dealing with a jetstream to left-center field blowing at 11-14 mph. The same holds true for the Pirates-Mets game. There will be no precip, but winds gusting from 11-14 mph to the left-center field power alley. A hot wind will be blowing in from right field to home plate at 12-15 mph with temperatures hovering around the 100-degree mark. In San Francisco, the Rockies-Giants will also be experiencing gusty winds humming from 13-17 mph out to left-center field.
It wouldn't be summer if Atlanta wasn't on the weather worry list. The Reds and Braves have thunderstorm chances of 40 percent for most of the evening, so it will be hit or miss there. Mother Nature might be the only thing that can cool off the Reds these days.
