Ballpark Figures – Week 10

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Rock Solid
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies will kick off a new series on Memorial Day afternoon on the corner of 30th and Blake Streets in LoDo in the Mile High City. If anyone will be at the game in person, and stop off for some liquid refreshments after the game, have one for me at the 14th Street Rooftop Bar. I'd kill for one of those homemade burritos sold out of a cooler on the street, too!

 The Diamondbacks have been sky high lately, too, at least when Greinke is on the bump. They're 7-3 over his past 10 starts while also going 7-3 in his past 10 outings on a grass surface. In addition, he is 31-12 in the past 43 starts against a team with a losing overall record, including 5-2 over his past seven road outings against a losing squad. While the Diamondbacks are 8-2 in their past 10 games in a new series, they're just 2-5 across Greinke's past seven assignments in the opener of a new series. Arizona is also 3-8 across the past 11 games on a Monday, for whatever that's worth. Arizona is also 2-6 in the previous eight meetings between these NL West rivals.
 
As far as the Rockies are concerned, they will counter with RHP Jon Gray, and they're 5-2 across his past seven outings, including 5-2 in his past seven on a grass surface, too. The Rockies are also 13-6 over his past 19 outings against a team with a winning record, although just 1-4 in the past five starts against a National League West opponent and 1-5 in his past six starts in the opening game of a new series. Colorado will look for continued success against righties, as they're 20-9 in the past 29 at home vs. RHP, while going 4-0 in the past four against a starter with a WHIP under 1.15.

As far as the total is concerned, the over is 8-2 in Greinke's past 10 in Game 1 of a new series, although the under is 5-2 over his past seven outings. The over is 6-1 in his past seven starts inside the division, too, while going 5-1 in Arizona's past six on the road against a team with a losing record. For the Rockies, the over is 10-1 in the past 11 games at home, including 5-0 in the past five at home vs. RHP and 12-4 in the past 16 games overall against winning teams. In this series, the over is 4-0 in the past four meetings in Denver, and 5-2 in the past seven overall.

Looking Ahead

Monday, May 27
The Dodgers and Mets will square off on the left coast at 8:10 p.m. ET, and it's a tremendous pitching matchup with RHP Jacob deGrom and LHP Clayton Kershaw doing battle. The Mets are just 2-6 over the past eight outings by deGrom, and 4-9 in his past 13 road outings against a team with a winning record, and 1-4 in the past five starts against NL West clubs, too. They're also 0-4 in the past four starts by deGrom during Game 1 of a new series. In addition, New York has struggled by going 0-4 in the past four road games vs. LHP and 2-5 in the past seven road contests against a team with a home winning percentage over .600.

As far as the Dodgers are concerned, they're 20-7 in their past 27 games overall, and they kick off a new series after playing in Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon. They welcome a return home, where they're 37-14 in the past 51 games. They also took care of a right-handed starter on Sunday, moving to 38-15 across the past 53 vs. RHP. Kershaw definitely doesn't have a case of the Mondays, either, as the Dodgers are 23-7 over his past 30 assignments on Monday. They're also 46-16 in the past 62 starts when he is working on five days of rest. He is even better against the Mets, as L.A. is 13-2 over his past 15 starts against the Mets, including 5-2 in the past seven starts at home. The Mets are 3-14 in the past 17 meetings with the Dodgers, including 2-6 in their past eight trips to Chavez Ravine.

In the final game of the night, the Rangers roll out RHP Lance Lynn to face Mariners LHP Tommy Milone at T-Mobile Park (formerly Safeco Field). Perhaps the only thing that can cool off Texas is a game on a Monday, as they're 8-17 in the past 25 on Mondays. They're also 8-24 in the past 32 on the road against a left-handed starting pitcher, and 3-8 in the past 11 in Game 1 of a new road series. However, they're 4-1 in Lynn's past five starts. The M's are just 5-13 in the past 18 at home, while going 0-5 in the past five against AL West foes, and 0-4 in the past four vs. RHP. They're also just 6-21 in the past 27 at home against teams with a winning record. In this series, the Rangers have won five straight, although they're just 2-5 in the past seven in Seattle. The over is 3-0-1 in the past four meetings in Seattle, too.

Weather Report
Mother Nature will cooperate in most of the baseball action on the holiday, although the forecast is rather ominous for the interleague battle between the Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of rain at first pitch (6:10 p.m. CDT), although the rains pull out by 9 p.m. CDT, so they could potentially get this one in. When they do get it underway the winds will be gusting from 13-16 mph from left-center field into the face of the batters, keeping scores down. Really, that's the only trouble spot, though.

Tuesday, May 28
The Padres and Yankees continue their series in the Bronx, and San Diego rolls out a second consecutive lefty after LHP Matt Strahm took the ball on Monday. Lauer has posted a 3-4 record, 4.72 ERA and .311 on-base percentage against over 53 1/3 innings across 10 outings, and he has a dismal 5.74 ERA in 15 2/3 innings over his past three outings. Venue matters for Lauer, too. He has a solid 2.67 ERA in 33 2/3 innings at home, but an awful 8.24 ERA in 19 2/3 innings on the road, while serving up four homers.

The Yankees counter with RHP Masahiro Tanaka, who has a mediocre 3-3 record through 64 1/3 innings this season. Still, that's mostly due to a lack of run support, as he has a sparkling 2.94 ERA and low .279 on-base percentage against. He has been even better at home, going 2-1 with a 2.52 ERA with just three homers allowed through 35 2/3 innings, while his groundball to fly ball ratio at Yankee Stadium is a solid 2.31. Over his past three outings he has been super, going 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA and 0.74 WHIP, getting opposing batters to pound the ball into the ground at a 4.17 GB:FB rate.

The Royals and White Sox square off on the south side of Chicago, as RHP Brad Keller and RHP Lucas Giolito battle in what could be a very entertaining and underrated pitching matchup. Keller has a poor 3-5 record, but a decent 4.43 ERA and he is coming off a quality start and win in St. Louis against a good Cards team, allowing just two earned run and two hits in a 105-pitch seven-inning quality start. He also allowed two earned runs, four hits and four walks in five innings in a no-decision in his first showing against the White Sox in Chicago back on April 17.

As far as Giolito is concerned, he is an ace in the making. The former Washington Nationals prospect is 6-1 with a 2.77 ERA with 59 strikeouts over just 52 innings, and the White Sox are 5-0 across his pas five outings. The last time his team lost was in a no-decision against the Royals on April 17, a start he was forced from after just 2 2/3 scoreless innings due to injury. Eventually, the Royals won that game in the 10th inning, well after Giolito checked out. The 'under' has connected finr each of his past four outings, including that April 17 start.

The Mets and Dodgers continue their series, and it's a battle of lefties with LHP Steven Matz and LHP Rich Hill locking horns. Matz had a strange line last time out, allowing a run while scattering 10 hits over six innings in an 88-pitch quality start and no-decision. Matz is just 3-3 with a 3.63 ERA in nine starts, although the Mets are 6-3 in his nine appearances this season, but just 1-3 in his past four road appearances. The 'under' is also 4-1 across his past five outings. Hill's season was delayed due to injury, but he has been good with a 2.67 ERA in five starts since his debut April 28. While the Dodgers have posted just 2.33 runs of support over his past three outings, they're still 3-2 overall in his five outings this season. He enters with back-to-back quality starts, going 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA, two walks and 17 strikeouts in 12 innings during the span.

Weather Report
The Padres and Yankees might dodge raindrops early on in their battle Tuesday, but the rains are expected to start lightening up by 7:00 p.m. ET, according to the forecast. Perhaps the tarpaulin makes an appearance, but the game should get in with a 10-13 mph breeze blowing from right field to home plate. The weather is a bit more frightful for the Indians-Red Sox game in Boston, with rain chances listed at 50 percent or greater for most of the evening.

It's the opposite at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, gusting 13-16 mph out to left field with hot, clear conditions helping the ball carry.