Sport Spies: Wednesday MLB Handicapping Report - September 15

[Sport Spies]

Atlanta Braves
-The Braves and Nationals are tied 7-7 in the season series, but Atlanta owns a 72-45 advantage at Turner Field.
-Atlanta is in a stretch of having lost eight of their last 13 games and are just 12-13 in their last 25 contests.
-Bullpen owns the second-best ERA (3.09) trailing only San Diego (2.74).
-A win today would improve the team’s overall series record to 30-13-5. The Braves own a 19-1-3 series mark at home and have lost just one series at home this seaosn.
-Major League-best 52-22 at home this season and are just four wins shy of tying the Turner Field record for home wins in a season.
-SP Mike Minor went a combined 6-7 with a 3.44 ERA in 21 starts at Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett.
-Minor won his third straight start in the Braves 9-2 victory over the visiting New York Mets on August 31.

[Sport Spies]

San Diego Padres
-The Padres continue a 10-game road trip with the last of three against the Rockies tonight.
-San Diego is in the midst of playing 16 straight games, 19 of 23 and 22 of their final 33 on the season against NL West opponents.
-Won their second straight games against the Rockies last night. The Padres entered the series against them having dropped each series against their division rival this season.
-Picked up their first consecutive wins against Colorado since 9/23-24/09.
-Clinched their first winning season since 2007 and are one of seven MLB teams with at least 82 wins so far this season.
-Closer Heath Bell has converted each of his last 29 save opportunities and ranks tied for first in the majors with a career-high-tying 42 saves.
-Reliever Luke Gregerson recorded his 35th hold of the season Monday night and is now one shy of tying the MLB record for holds in a season.
-Over the last night games, the bullpen has combined to post a 1.44 ERA, allowing just six runs (five earned) in 31.1 innings of work.
-SP Clayton Richard is 5-2 with a 2.87 ERA over his past nine starts and is 6-3 with a 3.43 ERA in 11 second-half starts.

[Sport Spies]

Colorado Rockies
-Colorado is now 33-26 against the NL West this season and 19-13 versus the two teams above them in the division (San Diego 11-6, San Francisco 8-7).
-The Rockies are 16-8 in series finales at Coors Field this season.
-Brings the NL’s best daytime record (32-17) into today’s game and the team has won nine consecutive day games.
-Team has two of the top three hitters in the NL during the day in terms of average. SS Troy Tulowitzki leads the NL with his .380 batting average in day games this season, while Carlos Gonzalez ranks third with his .370 average.
-SP Jorge De La Rosa earned his season-long third-straight win by allowing two runs on five hits in six innings in his last start versus Arizona. The Rockies are 6-2 in his last eight starts since August 1.
-Over the last two seasons, De La Rosa is 14-5 with a 3.59 ERA in 25 post All-Star Game starts.
-The Rockies are 5-0 in De La Rosa’s last five starts versus the Padres.

[Sport Spies]

Houston Astros
-Last night’s win improved the Astros to 26-14 in 40 games in which they’ve faced a left-handed pitcher this season, which ranks second-best in the NL (Florida, 30-14).
-Since coming off the disabled list on September 1, RP Matt Lindstrom has allowed no runs and just one hit in seven appearances.
-OF Hunter Pence needs two stolen bases to become the 9th player in franchise history to reach 20 HR and SB in the same season.
-The Astros 2.46 team ERA since August 13 is the lowest in the majors, while the club’s 22-10 record since that date ranks as the 2nd-best.
-Houston has won 11 of 15 and 17 of their last 23 games.
-Shutout the Brewers in three of their last six games at Minute Maid Park, posting a 1.00 ERA.
-Starting pitchers are 9-0 with a 2.85 ERA in the last 15 games.
-SP J.A. Happ is 4-0 with a 0.96 ERA in six career starts at Minute Maid Park. He is the only pitcher in ballpark history to start at least six career games at MMP without recording a loss.

[Sport Spies]

Philadelphia Phillies
-With last night’s 2-1 win, the Phillies improved to 40-24 in games decided by two runs or less.
-Philadelphia has been held to two runs or fewer 48 games this season.
-Team has 16 games remaining in 2010, all coming against each of their four NL East division opponents. This season, the Phillies are 32-24 against the East.
-Over the past six seasons, Philadelphia has posted an NL-best 256-167 record in games after the All-Star break. This year, the team is 38-21 after the break.
-The Phillies have the most wins among MLB teams in September with an 11-3 record.
-SP Roy Halladay is 11-1 with a 1.41 ERA in 12 starts against NL East opponents.
-Halladay has pitched six or more innings in 53 consecutive starts on the road.
-Halladay has a 2-0 record and 0.56 ERA in two games at Sun Life Stadium in 2010.