Many folks will be enjoying Labor Day with beer, family, friend and barbecue. Of course, many of use will be doing that same stuff with a close eye to what’s happening on the baseball diamond. We’ve got 16 games on Monday’s slate, including a day/night doubleheader. Let’s take a look at a pair of the bigger showdowns.
Reds at Rockies – 3:10 p.m. EDT
There is no rest for the weary as the Reds travel out of St. Louis on Sunday to meet with Colorado on Monday afternoon. A trip out west might be the only way to hold down Cincinnati as they’ve won seven of its last nine ballgames. The result of that stretch has the Reds holding onto an eight-game edge over the Cardinals in the National League Central.
Cincy will look to tighten that stranglehold on the division lead with Aaron Harang (6-7, 4.92) getting the start for Game 1 of this series. Harang has been fairly solid for the Reds as of late, allowing no more than three earned runs in each of his last four starts. Although he is looking come back from a four-inning performance against Milwaukee due to back spasms. Harang also needs to improve on his record away from Great American Ballpark, evidenced by a 1-3 record with an earned run average of 5.63.
Colorado has kept themselves close enough in the NL West an Wild Card races all season long. Now they look like they have a chance to act as San Diego begins to fade. To get the Rockies over the hump, Ubaldo Jimenez (17-6, 2.69) needs to find his winning touch. That isn’t really fair to say against Jimenez as he’s thrown at least seven innings in six of his last seven starts. And he has allowed no more than three earned runs in each of those starts. What is hurting Jimenez in these games is the lack of offensive support. The Rox are scoring around 3 ½-runs when he’s on the mound.
The Reds will have their work cut out for them as they are 15-27 as road pups against NL West foes. And they’ve lost seven of their last nine in this role. The Rockies have won 11 of their last 15 tests at home NL Central rivals.
Rays at Red Sox – 7:10 p.m. EDT
The American League East has been one of the toughest divisions that anyone can remember in baseball for a while. Monday offers up a chance for the Rays to keep Boston to the curb at Fenway Park.
Tampa Bay has been matching the Yankees almost hit-for-hit to stay atop the division. Yet thanks to the Bombers’ recent winning streak, the Rays find themselves 2 ½-games out. That might be a good thing for Jeff Neimann (10-5, 3.97) to straighten himself out. Neimann has looked more than mortal in his last two starts, giving up 17 earned runs in 8.1 innings of work.
Boston isn’t exactly showing much fight right now as they’ve gone 3-7 in its last 10 games. Luckily for the Red Sox, Jon Lester (15-8, 3.27) gets the ball on Monday night in what could be a last ditch effort to stay relevant in the division. Lester has been on target recently with wins in four of his last five starts. But those wins are all on the road. Lester has lost three straight starts at Fenway Park, including that 16-2 beatdown the Blue Jays levied on him on August 20. The one saving grace for BoSox faithful is that he is 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season.
The Red Sox have been a solid ‘under’ play at home recently, evidenced by a 10-2 record in their last 12 home tests. Most people hate Monday, but not the Rays…at least not on the road. Tampa Bay has gone 5-2 this year in road games on Mondays.
You can reach Judd Hall via e-mail at judd@vegasinsider.com
