Atlanta: 16-18 Overall 8-4 Home Won 3 6-4 Last 10 4.5 Back in Division
Arizona: 14-21 Overall 7-10 Road Lost 6 3-7 Last 10 8.5 back in Division
Kenshin Kawakami 0-6 5.73 ERA
Ira Kennedy 2-2 3.48 ERA
Kawakami has career WHIP of 1.20 against Arizona
Batters have averaged .295 against Kawakami this season
Arizona lead NL with 44 HR's
Atlanta is 14th in NL with .239 Batting Average.
Possible Game Situation:
Atlanta pitching must not give up the long ball to the NL leading HR hitting team even though Arizona 3-7 Last 10. Kawakami must get ahead in the inning to limit base runners in case he happens to give up a bomb somewhere in the mix to lessen the damage. It will be a challenge as he must work both the inside and outside corners of the strike zone which may or may not get the call from the umpire. If baserunners for Arizona do get aboard from Kawakami trying to pitch the corners and not getting the call and eventually score, Atlanta's low team batting average might not be enough to make up the difference trying to play catchup in the long run and the always present threat of a great HR hittng team coming to the plate when the next inning starts. I do like the fact that Atlanta has stopped the bleeding from that 9 lost streak and may now have a sense of focus back. 8-4 is a good Home Record and Kawakami has been good against Arizona previoulsy. But does he get that first win tonight? I think that is the basis of the wager.
Source: Sports Illustrated
Arizona: 14-21 Overall 7-10 Road Lost 6 3-7 Last 10 8.5 back in Division
Kenshin Kawakami 0-6 5.73 ERA
Ira Kennedy 2-2 3.48 ERA
Kawakami has career WHIP of 1.20 against Arizona
Batters have averaged .295 against Kawakami this season
Arizona lead NL with 44 HR's
Atlanta is 14th in NL with .239 Batting Average.
Possible Game Situation:
Atlanta pitching must not give up the long ball to the NL leading HR hitting team even though Arizona 3-7 Last 10. Kawakami must get ahead in the inning to limit base runners in case he happens to give up a bomb somewhere in the mix to lessen the damage. It will be a challenge as he must work both the inside and outside corners of the strike zone which may or may not get the call from the umpire. If baserunners for Arizona do get aboard from Kawakami trying to pitch the corners and not getting the call and eventually score, Atlanta's low team batting average might not be enough to make up the difference trying to play catchup in the long run and the always present threat of a great HR hittng team coming to the plate when the next inning starts. I do like the fact that Atlanta has stopped the bleeding from that 9 lost streak and may now have a sense of focus back. 8-4 is a good Home Record and Kawakami has been good against Arizona previoulsy. But does he get that first win tonight? I think that is the basis of the wager.
Source: Sports Illustrated