MLB: Top MLB Weekend Power Trends 7/10-7/12

Major League Baseball wraps up it first half of the season this weekend, before teams head out for the three day all-star break. Some managers place a lot of importance on this particular weekend’s games annually, citing the need to build momentum heading


2009-07-10

Major League Baseball wraps up it first half of the season this weekend, before teams head out for the three day all-star break. Some managers place a lot of importance on this particular weekend’s games annually, citing the need to build momentum heading into the second half. With that in mind, there are several important series’ on tap across the country where teams will be looking to build on recent surges or conversely, stop skids. The competitive N.L. Central is loaded with key matchups over the next three days, including Cardinals-Cubs. In the A.L., the red-hot Yankees travel cross country to take on the Angels. Read on as we take a look at those series’ and more, plus reveal some of this weekend’s Top StatFox Power Trends for you to utilize.

The National League Central Division has become the most competitive, and compelling, in baseball. Five of the six teams are within three games of one another in the loss column. St. Louis leads the way and comes off a big series win in Milwaukee. The Cardinals will be taking on the Cubs this weekend in Chicago. St. Louis is 6-3 vs. the Cubbies this year but the hosts will be looking at this as a perfect time to close the gap before the break. The team between the Cubs and Cards in the standings is Milwaukee, who is limping into the all-star break, having lost six of eight games. The Brew Crew pitching staff is crumbling and the hitting hasn’t been much better of late. Perhaps the worst news of all is that they will be hosting the league’s best team this weekend, the Dodgers, who continue to lead the West by 7 games.

The one team everyone in the N.L. Central has its eye on right now is Houston, who is on a 23-15 run. The Astros have been able to close to within 4-games of the division lead, and considering how well they have played in the late season of the last few years, they have to be considered a bonafide playoff contender at this point. Houston is hosting the league’s worst team this weekend, the Nationals, in a rare 5-game set that comes as a result of the makeup of a suspended game on Thursday. So far that series is split 1-1 heading into Friday night.

In the American League, the red-hot Yankees will be putting their 8-game road winning streak on the line in Anaheim. Overall, New York has won 13 of its last 15 games to pull even with Boston in the East. However, that winning stretch will be tested by the Angels, who own a 7-2 mark at home vs. New York over the last three seasons. The Angels currently find themselves ½ game back in the West after losing two of three to Texas this week.

Elsewhere in the junior circuit, the White Sox and Minnesota will get together in a Central Division series, and the Rangers will head to Seattle with the Mariners trying to cut into the 3-1/2 game separation between the clubs at the outset of play on Friday.

Now, here’s a look at some of those top StatFox Power Trends you’ve been waiting for.

ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS
CHICAGO CUBS are 15-22 (-17.8 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons. The average score was CHICAGO CUBS 3.9, OPPONENT 5.1 - (Rating = 1*)

PITTSBURGH at PHILADELPHIA
PITTSBURGH is 10-40 (-25.3 Units) against the money line in road games vs. teams averaging 3.5 or more extra base hits per game in the second half of the season since 1997. The average score was PITTSBURGH 4.1, OPPONENT 6.3 - (Rating = 1*)

CINCINNATI at NY METS
CINCINNATI is 24-47 (-26.6 Units) against the money line vs. terrible power teams - averaging 0.75 or less HR's/game over the last 3 seasons. The average score was CINCINNATI 4.3, OPPONENT 5.6 - (Rating = 2*)

LA DODGERS at MILWAUKEE
MILWAUKEE is 4-17 (-15.8 Units) against the money line vs. teams outscoring opp by 0.5 or more runs/game in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. The average score was MILWAUKEE 3.1, OPPONENT 5.4 - (Rating = 2*)

WASHINGTON at HOUSTON
WASHINGTON is 0-11 (-11.0 Units) against the money line in road games vs. NL teams scoring 4.3 or less runs/game in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. The average score was WASHINGTON 2.1, OPPONENT 4.5 - (Rating = 2*)

ATLANTA at COLORADO
COLORADO is 52-33 (+25.8 Units) against the money line vs. teams whose hitters strike out 6 or less times/game over the last 3 seasons. The average score was COLORADO 4.9, OPPONENT 3.9 - (Rating = 2*)

FLORIDA at ARIZONA
FLORIDA is 22-11 (+11.9 Units) against the money line vs. an NL team with an on base percentage .325 or worse in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. The average score was FLORIDA 5.3, OPPONENT 4.2 - (Rating = 1*)

SAN DIEGO at SAN FRANCISCO
SAN DIEGO is 26-44 (-22.2 Units) against the money line vs. NL teams scoring 4.3 or less runs/game on the season over the last 2 seasons. The average score was SAN DIEGO 3.5, OPPONENT 4.8 - (Rating = 1*)

CLEVELAND at DETROIT
DETROIT is 27-14 UNDER (+10.6 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season. The average score was DETROIT 4.1, OPPONENT 4.8 - (Rating = 1*)

TORONTO at BALTIMORE
TORONTO is 7-15 (-11.1 Units) against the money line vs. a mediocre bullpen whose WHIP is 1.450 to 1.550 this season. The average score was TORONTO 4.0, OPPONENT 4.8 - (Rating = 1*)

KANSAS CITY at BOSTON
BOSTON is 3-10 (-12.8 Units) against the money line vs. AL teams scoring 4.2 or less runs/game on the season this season. The average score was BOSTON 4.0, OPPONENT 5.2 - (Rating = 3*)

OAKLAND at TAMPA BAY
TAMPA BAY is 7-14 (-11.7 Units) against the money line vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .260 or worse this season. The average score was TAMPA BAY 4.1, OPPONENT 4.8 - (Rating = 2*)

CHI WHITE SOX at MINNESOTA
MINNESOTA is 40-17 (+17.9 Units) against the money line in home games vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .265 or worse over the last 2 seasons. The average score was MINNESOTA 5.6, OPPONENT 4.1 - (Rating = 1*)

NY YANKEES at LA ANGELS
LA ANGELS are 21-10 (+11.1 Units) against the money line vs. an overused bullpen that pitches more than 3.2 innings per game this season. The average score was LA ANGELS 5.7, OPPONENT 4.4 - (Rating = 1*)

TEXAS at SEATTLE
SEATTLE is 32-54 (-21.9 Units) against the money line vs. an AL team with an on base percentage .330 or worse over the last 2 seasons. The average score was SEATTLE 4.0, OPPONENT 4.9 - (Rating = 1*)

MLB: Top MLB Weekend Power Trends 7/10-7/12 News

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