MLB Wed, Jul 13, 2005
On the Mound: Deceiving records
Josh Hansen
American League
Jarrod Washburn
Away record: 4-1
Team W/L road record under Washburn: 6-5
Building a lead on the road doesn’t mean a thing to Jarrod Washburn. He knows he`d has better luck finding a four-leaf clover than relying on his pen to save a win.
That’s because, despite his 4-1 record away from home, the boys in the Halos` pen have blown three of their last five games when Washburn exists with a lead on the road.
Not exactly what you’d expect from the league’s eighth-ranked bullpen, which has only a total of eight blown saves all season. It’s a big reason the Angels are only 6-5 under Washburn on the road and likely explains why today’ starter is 1.66 units in the red.
Oddsmakers have Anaheim as a -135 favorite with a total of nine runs.
Jay Bonderman
Home record: 5-2
Team W/L at home under Bonderman: 5-4
A former 19-game loser, Bonderman is on pace to win 19 this season if his Tigers can pick up the slack at home. Detroit is just one game above .500 at Comerica Park when its third-year hurler takes the hill, due in large part to their early season woes and once-struggling bullpen.
But with Detroit’s pen up to No. 6 to start the second half of the season, Detroit’s home struggles under Bonderman could be a thing of the past, sort of like his brutal rookie season.
“He`s an All-Star type pitcher," Yankees manager Joe Torre said after Bonderman’s last home game: a complete-game victory as a +158 dog over the Yankees. “You certainly don`t want to give him a head of steam.”
The Tigers are a -201 favorite, while the total is 8 1/2.
National League
Kris Benson
Home record: 3-2
Team W/L record at home under Benson: 5-2
There’s something about Kris Benson that brings out the bats in New York.
Today’s scheduled starter is seeing just over six runs of support from his mates this season, including 6.18 when he starts at Shea Stadium. And while the bats are doing their jobs, Benson is busy mowing down opposing batters like nobody’s business.
Opposing hitters are batting a mere .267 off Benson in New York – a 30-point drop from his overall average. In fact, Benson has better numbers at home in every statistical category than he does on the road, including his money earning.
Benson has 5.07 units in the bank because he’s been more than a –150 favorite just once in seven starts at home.
New York is a -120 home favorite versus the Braves. The total is set at 8 1/2 runs.
Mark Prior
Home record: 3-2
Team W/L at home under Prior: 5-2
The Chicago Cubs may have a .500 home record, but it’s a whole other story when Mark Prior takes the hill.
Thanks to his sickening 2.23 home ERA, which ranks third among National League, the Cubs have dropped just two of Prior’s seven starts at Wrigley this season, including his first game back after missing a month with an elbow injury.
Prior held the Washington Nationals to just three runs but his Cubs allowed a late run, falling as –160 favorites.
With his return coming nearly three weeks ago, Prior should be ready to throw a full game on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, whom he is 5-0 with a 2.80 ERA in nine career games.
Prior and company are -196 faves versus the Pirates.
On the Mound: Deceiving records
Josh Hansen
American League
Jarrod Washburn
Away record: 4-1
Team W/L road record under Washburn: 6-5
Building a lead on the road doesn’t mean a thing to Jarrod Washburn. He knows he`d has better luck finding a four-leaf clover than relying on his pen to save a win.
That’s because, despite his 4-1 record away from home, the boys in the Halos` pen have blown three of their last five games when Washburn exists with a lead on the road.
Not exactly what you’d expect from the league’s eighth-ranked bullpen, which has only a total of eight blown saves all season. It’s a big reason the Angels are only 6-5 under Washburn on the road and likely explains why today’ starter is 1.66 units in the red.
Oddsmakers have Anaheim as a -135 favorite with a total of nine runs.
Jay Bonderman
Home record: 5-2
Team W/L at home under Bonderman: 5-4
A former 19-game loser, Bonderman is on pace to win 19 this season if his Tigers can pick up the slack at home. Detroit is just one game above .500 at Comerica Park when its third-year hurler takes the hill, due in large part to their early season woes and once-struggling bullpen.
But with Detroit’s pen up to No. 6 to start the second half of the season, Detroit’s home struggles under Bonderman could be a thing of the past, sort of like his brutal rookie season.
“He`s an All-Star type pitcher," Yankees manager Joe Torre said after Bonderman’s last home game: a complete-game victory as a +158 dog over the Yankees. “You certainly don`t want to give him a head of steam.”
The Tigers are a -201 favorite, while the total is 8 1/2.
National League
Kris Benson
Home record: 3-2
Team W/L record at home under Benson: 5-2
There’s something about Kris Benson that brings out the bats in New York.
Today’s scheduled starter is seeing just over six runs of support from his mates this season, including 6.18 when he starts at Shea Stadium. And while the bats are doing their jobs, Benson is busy mowing down opposing batters like nobody’s business.
Opposing hitters are batting a mere .267 off Benson in New York – a 30-point drop from his overall average. In fact, Benson has better numbers at home in every statistical category than he does on the road, including his money earning.
Benson has 5.07 units in the bank because he’s been more than a –150 favorite just once in seven starts at home.
New York is a -120 home favorite versus the Braves. The total is set at 8 1/2 runs.
Mark Prior
Home record: 3-2
Team W/L at home under Prior: 5-2
The Chicago Cubs may have a .500 home record, but it’s a whole other story when Mark Prior takes the hill.
Thanks to his sickening 2.23 home ERA, which ranks third among National League, the Cubs have dropped just two of Prior’s seven starts at Wrigley this season, including his first game back after missing a month with an elbow injury.
Prior held the Washington Nationals to just three runs but his Cubs allowed a late run, falling as –160 favorites.
With his return coming nearly three weeks ago, Prior should be ready to throw a full game on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, whom he is 5-0 with a 2.80 ERA in nine career games.
Prior and company are -196 faves versus the Pirates.
