Washington Nationals
-Picked up a 3-2 win on Sunday over the Florida Marlins, thanks to SP Livan Hernandez' seven strong innings, logging his 5th quality start in six outings. The Nationals improved to 5-1 in rubber matches this season.
-With Sunday's 3-2 win, the Nationals improved to 7-3 in one-run games. It's interesting to note that Washington is a perfect 7-0 in games decided in regulation and 0-3 in extra-inning affairs.
-Starting pitchers have posted a 1.43 ERA and a .179 batting average against in the last four contests, while the team has gone 3-1 over the last four the starting staff has not earned a decision.
-With a win tonight, Washington would boast a winning record against each of the NL's three divisions. They are currently 9-9 vs NL East, 4-2 vs Central and 4-3 vs West.
-SP Luis Atilano is the first Nationals start to earn a win in his initial two big league starts since Jordan Zimmerman turned the trick back in 2009.
Detroit Tigers
-The Tigers suffered at 7-4 loss to the Indians on Sunday afternoon. SP Max Scherzer (1-3) took the loss for Detroit after allowing five runs in five innings of work.
-Detroit enters tonight's game against the Yankees with a 3.50 ERA in 12 games at Comerica Park this season. Detroit is tied for 4th amongh all AL clubs with a 3.50 ERA at home.
-OF Austin Jackson has reached base safely in each of his pase 25 games dating back to April 11. During the 25-game stretch, he is hitting .394 with a home run and six RBI. He is tops among all AL players with a .394 average and 43 hits during that stretch.
-IF Miguel Cabrera enters tonight's game hitting .500 (19-for-38) with RISP. He is tops among all AL players with that mark.
-Relievers have posted a 1.39 ERA over the club's last 20 games. The pen leads the AL with nine victories, a 2.17 ERA and 103.2 innings pitched.
-The Yankees will be the Tigers first opponent of the year from the AL East (9-8 vs Central, 8-6 vs West).
-SP Dontrelle Willis can win consecutive decisions for the first time since September 2007 tonight. He is making his third start of the season at home, going 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA.
Pittsburgh Pirates
-Pittsburgh has won three or their last five games and has gone 7-5 in their last 12 games overall, after losing a season-high seven straight from 4/20-26.
-This current nine-game homestand comes to a close with this three-game series against the Reds. The Pirates have gone 4-2 thus far on the homestand after sweeping a three-game set from the Cubs and losing two-of-three to the Cardinals. The Bucs are 9-6 at PNC Park this season.
-The Pirates and Reds are meeting this week for the second time this season at PNC Park. The Bucs swept Cincinnati in a three-game set played here on April 16, winning two games by one run and the finale by two runs.
-OF Andrew McCutchen ranks first in the Majors with a .464 batting average (13-for-28) in the 1st inning this season. In his career, he has produced a .328 average and 6 HR while batting in the opening frame.
-In the first six games of this homestand, Pittsburgh starting pitchers have gone 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA. The staff enters tonight's action having allowed five earned runs in its last 24.2 innings of work (1.81 ERA).
-Dating back to last season, SP Ross Ohlendorf has won five straight decisions and eight of his last 10 at PNC Park. He went 8-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 16 starts at home last season.
Atlanta Braves
-The Braves and Brewers play the first game of a 3-game weekday series and first of seven meetings between the two clubs this season. Atlanta has won 15 of their last 27 games at Miller Park, including 2-of-3 last year.
-Over his last 14 games, Braves 1B Troy Glaus is batting .347 with 10 RBI and 10 walks.
-Braves batters have not belted a round-tripper since Wednesday, May 5 at Washington. The stretch is their longest without a homer since the Braves went 8+ games (267 at-bats) April 21-28. Atlanta began the season by homering in 12 of their first 13 contests.
-SP Tommy Hanson has one career start at Miller Park, going 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA. He allowed nine hits over seven innigs while striking out just one.
-Hanson has allowed six earned runs in the first two innings of games this season, while allowing just five the rest of the way.
-Picked up a 3-2 win on Sunday over the Florida Marlins, thanks to SP Livan Hernandez' seven strong innings, logging his 5th quality start in six outings. The Nationals improved to 5-1 in rubber matches this season.
-With Sunday's 3-2 win, the Nationals improved to 7-3 in one-run games. It's interesting to note that Washington is a perfect 7-0 in games decided in regulation and 0-3 in extra-inning affairs.
-Starting pitchers have posted a 1.43 ERA and a .179 batting average against in the last four contests, while the team has gone 3-1 over the last four the starting staff has not earned a decision.
-With a win tonight, Washington would boast a winning record against each of the NL's three divisions. They are currently 9-9 vs NL East, 4-2 vs Central and 4-3 vs West.
-SP Luis Atilano is the first Nationals start to earn a win in his initial two big league starts since Jordan Zimmerman turned the trick back in 2009.
Detroit Tigers
-The Tigers suffered at 7-4 loss to the Indians on Sunday afternoon. SP Max Scherzer (1-3) took the loss for Detroit after allowing five runs in five innings of work.
-Detroit enters tonight's game against the Yankees with a 3.50 ERA in 12 games at Comerica Park this season. Detroit is tied for 4th amongh all AL clubs with a 3.50 ERA at home.
-OF Austin Jackson has reached base safely in each of his pase 25 games dating back to April 11. During the 25-game stretch, he is hitting .394 with a home run and six RBI. He is tops among all AL players with a .394 average and 43 hits during that stretch.
-IF Miguel Cabrera enters tonight's game hitting .500 (19-for-38) with RISP. He is tops among all AL players with that mark.
-Relievers have posted a 1.39 ERA over the club's last 20 games. The pen leads the AL with nine victories, a 2.17 ERA and 103.2 innings pitched.
-The Yankees will be the Tigers first opponent of the year from the AL East (9-8 vs Central, 8-6 vs West).
-SP Dontrelle Willis can win consecutive decisions for the first time since September 2007 tonight. He is making his third start of the season at home, going 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA.
Pittsburgh Pirates
-Pittsburgh has won three or their last five games and has gone 7-5 in their last 12 games overall, after losing a season-high seven straight from 4/20-26.
-This current nine-game homestand comes to a close with this three-game series against the Reds. The Pirates have gone 4-2 thus far on the homestand after sweeping a three-game set from the Cubs and losing two-of-three to the Cardinals. The Bucs are 9-6 at PNC Park this season.
-The Pirates and Reds are meeting this week for the second time this season at PNC Park. The Bucs swept Cincinnati in a three-game set played here on April 16, winning two games by one run and the finale by two runs.
-OF Andrew McCutchen ranks first in the Majors with a .464 batting average (13-for-28) in the 1st inning this season. In his career, he has produced a .328 average and 6 HR while batting in the opening frame.
-In the first six games of this homestand, Pittsburgh starting pitchers have gone 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA. The staff enters tonight's action having allowed five earned runs in its last 24.2 innings of work (1.81 ERA).
-Dating back to last season, SP Ross Ohlendorf has won five straight decisions and eight of his last 10 at PNC Park. He went 8-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 16 starts at home last season.
Atlanta Braves
-The Braves and Brewers play the first game of a 3-game weekday series and first of seven meetings between the two clubs this season. Atlanta has won 15 of their last 27 games at Miller Park, including 2-of-3 last year.
-Over his last 14 games, Braves 1B Troy Glaus is batting .347 with 10 RBI and 10 walks.
-Braves batters have not belted a round-tripper since Wednesday, May 5 at Washington. The stretch is their longest without a homer since the Braves went 8+ games (267 at-bats) April 21-28. Atlanta began the season by homering in 12 of their first 13 contests.
-SP Tommy Hanson has one career start at Miller Park, going 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA. He allowed nine hits over seven innigs while striking out just one.
-Hanson has allowed six earned runs in the first two innings of games this season, while allowing just five the rest of the way.