Baseball’s third weekend of the 2009 season offers up the first meeting between the sports biggest rivals, the Yankees and Red Sox. Nothing says “intense baseball” more than when these two teams get together. Most often it doesn’t even matter what the clu
2009-04-24
Baseball’s third weekend of the 2009 season offers up the first meeting between the sports biggest rivals, the Yankees and Red Sox. Nothing says “intense baseball” more than when these two teams get together. Most often it doesn’t even matter what the clubs’ records are, the disdain with which they view one another trumps all. In this case, both teams come in playing well, so it should be an exciting 3-game set. That series highlights a full weekend of baseball that also features a matchup between the American League’s East and Central Division leaders, as well as another meeting between heated rivals Chicago and St. Louis in the senior circuit. Here’s a look at the action on tap for this weekend, along with a top trend from each of the 15 weekend series’.
The New York-Boston series has been very competitive over the last couple of seasons. In fact, the Yankees hold just a slight 19-17 edge overall in the series, with the games in Boston being split 9-9 during that span. The pitching matchups for the series are scintillating. Friday’s first game features Joba Chamberlain vs. Jon Lester, followed up by A.J. Burnett vs. Josh Beckett on Saturday, then Andy Pettite vs. John Masterson to wrap it up on Sunday. Both teams come in at 9-6, with the Red Sox on a 7-game wining streak and the Bronx Bombers having won six of their last eight. However, both clubs are still staring up at the East Division leading Blue Jays in the standings. Speaking of the Jays, they will be heading to the Windy City this weekend to take on the White Sox, currently tied atop the Central at 8-7. Toronto has been getting some solid pitching thus far, holding opponents to an A.L. leading .232 batting average. However, they are also hitting the ball as well, with a .291 average while scoring 6.1 RPG. In terms of head-to-head history, note that Toronto has won 11 of the 15 games between these teams over the last two seasons. Other intriguing series’ in the A.L. include Detroit visiting Kansas City and West-leading Seattle visiting preseason divisional favorite Los Angeles.
In the National League, most eyes will be fixated on St. Louis, where the Cubs and Cardinals get together for a second straight weekend. In Chicago last week, the hosts took two of three, but St. Louis still holds on to the Central Division lead by 1.5-games. Two significant trends have developed between these clubs in their head-to-head games in recent years in St. Louis, with Chicago owning a 12-6 series lead over the last two seasons and the UNDER going 13-3 in that span. The Cardinals come in to this series leading the N.L. in runs scored, at 6.3 RPG. Elsewhere around the senior circuit, the red-hot Dodgers travel to Colorado looking to continue the momentum of their sweep over the Rockies last weekend. Los Angeles has been dominant in the early going, outscoring opponents 5.9-3.4 in their 11-5 start. The other interesting series going on over the next three days pits a pair of surprising fast-starting clubs that were expected to struggle, as Pittsburgh and San Diego are both 9-6 after 15 games.
Now, take a look at a top trend from each of Major League Baseball’s 15 weekend series’:
ATLANTA at CINCINNATI
ATLANTA is 6-19 (-15.9 Units) against the money line vs. a mediocre bullpen whose WHIP is 1.450 to 1.550 over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was ATLANTA 3.4, OPPONENT 5.1 - (Rating = 2*)
WASHINGTON at NY METS
WASHINGTON is 3-18 (-14.1 Units) against the money line vs. terrible power teams - averaging 0.75 or less HR's/game over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was WASHINGTON 2.5, OPPONENT 5.1 - (Rating = 2*)
PHILADELPHIA at FLORIDA
PHILADELPHIA is 40-20 (+20.6 Units) against the money line vs. NL teams allowing 4.3 or less runs/game on the season over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was PHILADELPHIA 5.6, OPPONENT 4.0 - (Rating = 2*)
MILWAUKEE at HOUSTON
MILWAUKEE is 21-6 (+15.4 Units) against the money line vs. a mediocre bullpen whose WHIP is 1.450 to 1.550 over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was MILWAUKEE 5.9, OPPONENT 3.4 - (Rating = 1*)
CHICAGO CUBS at ST LOUIS
CHICAGO CUBS are 23-8 (+13.4 Units) against the money line vs. an NL team with an on base percentage of .340 or better over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was CHICAGO CUBS 5.7, OPPONENT 4.0 - (Rating = 1*)
LA DODGERS at COLORADO
COLORADO is 11-35 (-25.4 Units) against the money line vs. teams who strand 7.5 or more runners on base per game over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was COLORADO 4.2, OPPONENT 5.9 - (Rating = 3*)
SAN FRANCISCO at ARIZONA
ARIZONA is 26-11 OVER (+14.6 Units) vs. NL teams allowing 4.3 or less runs/game on the season over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was ARIZONA 5.0, OPPONENT 4.9 - (Rating = 2*)
PITTSBURGH at SAN DIEGO
SAN DIEGO is 24-48 (-20.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was SAN DIEGO 3.6, OPPONENT 4.9 - (Rating = 1*)
TEXAS at BALTIMORE
TEXAS is 2-14 (-13.4 Units) against the money line vs. a very bad bullpen whose ERA is 5.00 or worse over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was TEXAS 5.5, OPPONENT 6.4 - (Rating = 2*)
MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND
MINNESOTA is 9-18 (-13.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a terrible team (Win Pct. <=38%) over the last 3 seasons.
The average score was MINNESOTA 4.0, OPPONENT 5.1 - (Rating = 1*)
NY YANKEES at BOSTON
BOSTON is 21-5 (+13.6 Units) against the money line vs. a poor bullpen whose ERA is 4.50 or worse over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was BOSTON 6.8, OPPONENT 4.2 - (Rating = 1*)
TORONTO at CHI WHITE SOX
TORONTO is 32-15 (+17.8 Units) against the money line against AL Central opponents over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was TORONTO 4.6, OPPONENT 3.6 - (Rating = 2*)
DETROIT at KANSAS CITY
DETROIT is 21-41 (-15.8 Units) against the money line as an underdog of +100 or higher over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was DETROIT 4.5, OPPONENT 5.8 - (Rating = 1*)
TAMPA BAY at OAKLAND
MADDON is 24-68 (-35.6 Units) against the money line in road games vs. a good bullpen that converts on 75%+ of their save opportunities as the manager of TAMPA BAY.
The average score was TAMPA BAY 3.6, OPPONENT 5.2 - (Rating = 2*)
SEATTLE at LA ANGELS
LA ANGELS are 22-11 (+10.0 Units) against the money line at home when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was LA ANGELS 5.4, OPPONENT 4.3 - (Rating = 1*)
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