Posted:
#1
2009 Record: 151-139, +42.8949
Sorrentos
Monday: 0-5, -6.52
units
Time to get up off
the canvas.
PHILADELPHIA -117 (2.5 UNITS) - Let's not forget
that when right, Cole Hamels is one of the top three lefties in baseball. He
struggled early on but is beginning to put things together. In his last three
starts, he has tossed 17.3 innings and allowed 14 hits, 3 earned runs and had a
20:5 K:BB ratio. More importantly, he loves pitching at Great American Ballpark
where he is 2-0 and has thrown 21 innings and allowed just 11 hits, 2 earned
runs, a 0.86 ERA and a 26:10 K:BB ratio. People have grown excited about the
Reds lately but I'm not sure I fully understand it. They are without Edward
Encarnacion and Alex Gonzalez and Joey Votto is doubtful tonight. This team
struggles against lefties. Without Joey Votto, the rest of the lineup is hitting
.205 against lefties this year (51 for 249) with just 5 HR's and 16 RBI's. Here
are four of the regulars we will probably see tonight and their numbers against
lefties this season:
Jay Bruce 5 for 31
Jerry Hairston 6 for 31
Willy Taveras 5 for 25
Ramon Hernandez 5 for 25
The Phillies have the better bullpen, lineup and
I give them a slight advantage in starting pitching based upon the matchups.
Johnny Cueto is an outstanding young pitcher and is the one positive I see for
the Reds today. The Phils are an outstanding 12-4 on the road while the Reds are
just 7-9 at home. If anyone is hesitant about facing them, then look towards the
Reds' team total UNDER.
CUBS -117 (2.5 UNITS) - Ted Lilly has been
outstanding this season. He sports a 1.05 WHIP, .227 average allowed and has a
38:9 K:BB ratio. In his last three starts, he has tossed 20.3 innings and
allowed 17 hits, 6 earned runs and has a 22:3 K:BB ratio. He has been
outstanding against the Cardinals. The last three seasons against the Cards, he
is 5-2 with a 3.29 ERA. IN 68.3 innings, he has allowed 57 hits, 25 earned runs
and has a 45: 16 K:BB ratio. At Busch Stadium, he is 3-0 and has thrown 28
innings and allowed 28 hits, 9 earned runs with a 20:7 K:BB ratio and a 2.38
ERA. Outside of Pujols. Lilly owns the Cards. Outside of Pujols, Cards' hitters
are 22 for 130 against Lilly for a .169 average and with Pujols they are 31 for
158 for a .196 average. Joel Piniero doesn't do it for me and I think we are
seeing signs of the real Joel Piniero of late. In his last two starts, he has
thrown 12 innings and allowed 19 hits and 10 runs. He pounds the over-pounds the
strike zone and while limiting his walks, he does not have overpowering stuff.
He has just 14 K's in 45 innings this season and is very hittable. In addition
he has struggled against the Cubs. In the last 3 years, he has a 6.33 ERA
against the Cubs and has allowed 28 hits and 17 runs in 21 innings. Cubs'
hitters are 33 for 96 (.344) against him with 5 HR's. The Cards remain banged up
without Ludwick, Ankiel and Glaus and are a shell of a team without much
protection for Pujols. Even Freese is now on the DL and Khalil Greene is less
than 100%.
--more to come--
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