Cubs
Mostly a go-against Moyer, as there are a lot of variables working against him in this game. Moyer has been known for second half meltdowns as he ages, as it appears he just can’t handle the grind of the entire season any longer. Last season, Moyer finished the second half with an ERA well over five, and appears on his way of such again this year, finishing the month of July with a near seven ERA. Moyer’s style of pitching is heavily dependent on which ballpark he pitches in and who is behind home plate- two variables not working in his favor in this game, as Wrigley can be unforgiving for fly ball pitchers, as the Cubs power lineup can make the same statement. Emmel is not known to give the corners, which does not bode well for Moyer, whose strategy is to get hitters to chase out of the zone. He has been really hittable in recent starts, and has been especially vulnerable to right handed power hitters, a deficiency that might come into play tonight, as he will be forced to face four. Backed by a sub par bullpen should allow the Cubs to face hittable pitchers throughout this game.
Hill has shown some regression the last couple of months, and may be prone to some more, but being able to pitch three quality starts in a row despite a high walk total is a good sign. His ability to overwhelm both right and left handed hitters is a good sign when going up against a balanced lineup like the Phillies. The Phillies productivity at the plate decreases when up against southpaws, a variable magnified with two solid hitters against southpaws, Utley and Victorino, out of the lineup, which also puts more pressure on Burrell (.228 against lefties) and Howard (.233 against lefties) to produce. Hill is also backed by the deeper and better bullpen, that proved to be the difference in yesterdays game.
Padres
I feel that Wells recent woes are fully discounted by the marketplace- and then some. After being dominated by two veteran, patient lineups in the Phillies and Astros, Wells style will now be complimented by a young and aggressive Diamondbacks one. Wells recent propensity to allow the long ball should be helped out tonight by pitching in Petco and being able to face a lineup with just 20 home runs against southpaws. The Diamondbacks continue to be unable to pick up left handed pitching, lacking a batter able to crack the .300 mark, and possessing just one with more than three home runs against this style of pitching. Wells has always been know to pitch better at home, and continues to put forth impressive numbers at Petco this season, coming into this game with a 3.55 home ERA. Backed by a top tier bullpen should only require five to six innings out of Wells.
Despite anticipating a decent bounce back performance out of Wells, this is most a go- against Owings, who has shown a lot of evidence that he is not ready for the big leagues ( no start more foretelling than his last, walking the pitcher with the bases loaded, and then hitting the following batter). The added pressure of this start maybe being his last shot to earn a spot in the rotation can not do a young pitcher that looks beat mentally on the mound any good. Pitching just one quality start in his last seven and posting a plus nine ERA in the month of July is exactly what a struggling Padres lineup needs to get back on track. Most of Owings struggles have occurred against left handed hitters, which do not bode well for his chances, going up against a lineup that is more than likely going to show him five. The Padres hitters do not go out of the strike zone very often, which should not bode well for Owings bouts of wildness.
Giants
There probably has not been a more dominant pitcher in baseball during the last month compared to Lincecum. After being mentally overwhelmed for a few starts, Lincecum has finally regained his confidence back, allowing his talent to do the talking on the mound. He has the ability to use three pitches that has made veteran hitters look foolish, and his improved command in recent outings, has allowed him to use all three in appropriate circumstances. Teams were able to hit just .181 against him in the month of July, which allowed him to post an ERA well under 2. Lineups look especially overwhelmed by his stuff the first couple of go-arounds, which does not bode well for a Dodgers lineup yet to see what he is all about. He has been as dominant against left handed bats as he has against right handed one, and has shown no problems pitching on the road. His improved first pitch strike rate will not do a patient lineup like the Dodgers any good. His improved efficiency allows him to not accumulate a high pitch count despite being a strike out pitcher, thus allowing him to avoid the underbelly of the bullpen. The Giants bullpen continues to pitch well, and have not shown any signs of slowdown. The Dodgers are a team dangerous on the basepaths, but getting baserunners against Lincecum has been harder than any other pitcher in baseball last month.
Hendrickson is a hit or miss pitcher, whose home struggles in Tampa that were initially blamed by the park, has carried over to LA despite pitching in a friendly park for flyball pitchers like himself. He is clearly getting this start by default, as his numbers took a nose dive in July, allowing opposing batters to hit .320 against him, forcing him to generate a 6 plus ERA. Hendrickson is not a deep inning pitcher, while the underbelly of the Dodgers bullpen is beaten and battered, which should allow the Giants to face struggling pitchers throughout this game. This is not an ideal situation for a Dodgers team facing the hottest pitcher in the game.
Mostly a go-against Moyer, as there are a lot of variables working against him in this game. Moyer has been known for second half meltdowns as he ages, as it appears he just can’t handle the grind of the entire season any longer. Last season, Moyer finished the second half with an ERA well over five, and appears on his way of such again this year, finishing the month of July with a near seven ERA. Moyer’s style of pitching is heavily dependent on which ballpark he pitches in and who is behind home plate- two variables not working in his favor in this game, as Wrigley can be unforgiving for fly ball pitchers, as the Cubs power lineup can make the same statement. Emmel is not known to give the corners, which does not bode well for Moyer, whose strategy is to get hitters to chase out of the zone. He has been really hittable in recent starts, and has been especially vulnerable to right handed power hitters, a deficiency that might come into play tonight, as he will be forced to face four. Backed by a sub par bullpen should allow the Cubs to face hittable pitchers throughout this game.
Hill has shown some regression the last couple of months, and may be prone to some more, but being able to pitch three quality starts in a row despite a high walk total is a good sign. His ability to overwhelm both right and left handed hitters is a good sign when going up against a balanced lineup like the Phillies. The Phillies productivity at the plate decreases when up against southpaws, a variable magnified with two solid hitters against southpaws, Utley and Victorino, out of the lineup, which also puts more pressure on Burrell (.228 against lefties) and Howard (.233 against lefties) to produce. Hill is also backed by the deeper and better bullpen, that proved to be the difference in yesterdays game.
Padres
I feel that Wells recent woes are fully discounted by the marketplace- and then some. After being dominated by two veteran, patient lineups in the Phillies and Astros, Wells style will now be complimented by a young and aggressive Diamondbacks one. Wells recent propensity to allow the long ball should be helped out tonight by pitching in Petco and being able to face a lineup with just 20 home runs against southpaws. The Diamondbacks continue to be unable to pick up left handed pitching, lacking a batter able to crack the .300 mark, and possessing just one with more than three home runs against this style of pitching. Wells has always been know to pitch better at home, and continues to put forth impressive numbers at Petco this season, coming into this game with a 3.55 home ERA. Backed by a top tier bullpen should only require five to six innings out of Wells.
Despite anticipating a decent bounce back performance out of Wells, this is most a go- against Owings, who has shown a lot of evidence that he is not ready for the big leagues ( no start more foretelling than his last, walking the pitcher with the bases loaded, and then hitting the following batter). The added pressure of this start maybe being his last shot to earn a spot in the rotation can not do a young pitcher that looks beat mentally on the mound any good. Pitching just one quality start in his last seven and posting a plus nine ERA in the month of July is exactly what a struggling Padres lineup needs to get back on track. Most of Owings struggles have occurred against left handed hitters, which do not bode well for his chances, going up against a lineup that is more than likely going to show him five. The Padres hitters do not go out of the strike zone very often, which should not bode well for Owings bouts of wildness.
Giants
There probably has not been a more dominant pitcher in baseball during the last month compared to Lincecum. After being mentally overwhelmed for a few starts, Lincecum has finally regained his confidence back, allowing his talent to do the talking on the mound. He has the ability to use three pitches that has made veteran hitters look foolish, and his improved command in recent outings, has allowed him to use all three in appropriate circumstances. Teams were able to hit just .181 against him in the month of July, which allowed him to post an ERA well under 2. Lineups look especially overwhelmed by his stuff the first couple of go-arounds, which does not bode well for a Dodgers lineup yet to see what he is all about. He has been as dominant against left handed bats as he has against right handed one, and has shown no problems pitching on the road. His improved first pitch strike rate will not do a patient lineup like the Dodgers any good. His improved efficiency allows him to not accumulate a high pitch count despite being a strike out pitcher, thus allowing him to avoid the underbelly of the bullpen. The Giants bullpen continues to pitch well, and have not shown any signs of slowdown. The Dodgers are a team dangerous on the basepaths, but getting baserunners against Lincecum has been harder than any other pitcher in baseball last month.
Hendrickson is a hit or miss pitcher, whose home struggles in Tampa that were initially blamed by the park, has carried over to LA despite pitching in a friendly park for flyball pitchers like himself. He is clearly getting this start by default, as his numbers took a nose dive in July, allowing opposing batters to hit .320 against him, forcing him to generate a 6 plus ERA. Hendrickson is not a deep inning pitcher, while the underbelly of the Dodgers bullpen is beaten and battered, which should allow the Giants to face struggling pitchers throughout this game. This is not an ideal situation for a Dodgers team facing the hottest pitcher in the game.
ffice
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