Ballpark Figures – Week 14

Editor's Note: Don't miss out on 30 days of Winning Baseball Picks from Joe Williams for the 2017-18 MLB regular season. Click to win!
Streaky Teams (entering Monday)
Wins and Losses Streak Over/Under Streak
Detroit 1-11 past 12 games overall Houston Under 8-3-1 past 12 games
Minnesota 2-8 past 10 games overall Kansas City Under 9-3 past 12 games
San Francisco 10-2 past 12 games overall Milwaukee Over 4-0-1 past five games
Seattle 7-0 past seven games overall San Francisco Under 6-2 past eight games
Tampa Bay 8-1 past nine games overall Tampa Bay Under 14-3-1 past 18 games

Motor City Blackout
For many years the Detroit Tigers had a feared offensive lineup and outstanding starting pitching. Their biggest issue was the bullpen, something that held them back from accomplishing great things. Now, it is a lack of offense which is their biggest bugaboo. Detroit enters the new week averaging just 3.0 runs per game over the past 10 outings, and that includes a nine-run outburst in Sunday's spoiling of Canada Day in Toronto. It is nothing new, either, as if you go back 24 games to June 5, they're only slightly better at 3.29 runs per contest. As you might imagine, the 'under' has been a frequent happening for the Tigers, going 17-8 across their past 25 tilts.

The Tigers will play an afternoon affair in Toronto on Monday, as the Canada Day festivities spill over into the first day of the week. The 'under' has connected in 13 of the past 18 road games for the Tigers, and is 5-1-1 in the past seven overall when Mike Fiers is on the hill. The under is also 5-2 in their past seven overall against teams with a left-handed starting pitcher. For the Jays, the 'over' has been the rule lately, but the under is 7-3 in their past 10 following a loss, and 4-1 in the past five against a team with a losing overall record. And seven of the past 10 meetings at Rogers Centre have resulted in an 'under' result between these two sides.



Looking Ahead

Monday, July 2
The novelty of interleague play has certainly worn off over the years, but Monday kicks off a huge slate of AL vs. NL tilts, with many more series starting on Tuesday.

The Rays and Marlins battle for Sunshine State supremacy, and both teams have had a little to crow about lately. The Rays have picked up victories in eight of their past nine games overall, while going 7-1 in their past eight played on a Monday. In addition, they're 5-0 in the past five against teams with a losing overall record, 5-0 in their past five against left-handed starting pitching and 5-1 in their past six road outings vs. LHP. However, they're also a dismal 2-7 in their past nine against NL East foes, 2-7 in their past nine interleague games overall and 2-11 in their past 13 on the road. They're also just 1-4 in Nathan Eovaldi's past five outings. Miami has won seven of their past nine interleague battles vs. RHP, and they're 11-4 in Wei-Yin Chen's past 15 at home. However, they are also 4-9 in their past 13 interleague home games, including just 1-5 in the past six at Marlins Park against the Rays. Tampa is an impressive 9-4 in the past 13 meetings overall. The 'under' is also 12-4-2 in the past 18 meetings in Miami, and 5-2 in the past seven overall.

The Red Sox roll into the nation's capital to battle the Nationals in what could possible be an October preview. It's a good pitching matchup, too, with Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer doing battle. The BoSox are 9-4 over Porcello's past 13 road outings, and 11-1 in his past 12 starts against the National League. They have also been successful in five straight interleague road contests, while going 36-15 in the past 51 vs. NL East clubs. Boston is also 44-18 in the past 62 vs. RHP, and 39-16 in the past 55 on the road against righties. Washington is in a bit of a tailspin, losing five of their past six overall. An interleague home game and a start by Scherzer might be the elixir to cure their ills.

The Nationals are 5-2 in their past seven interleague home games, while going 14-4 in the past 18 games played on a Monday. More importantly, the Nats are 16-5 across Scherzer's past 21 starts and 14-3 in his past 17 when leading his team into a new series. He is working on five days of rest, and the team is 22-6 in Scherzer's past 28 on full rest, too. With two solid pitchers, many might not be thinking 'over', but the over has hit in the past six meetings between these two in D.C., while going 9-2 in the past 11 meetings overall.

Weather Report
There is a slight weather concern for the interleague series opener in Cincinnati between the White Sox and Reds. Chances of an isolated thunderstorm are around 30 percent for the first two-thirds of the game, but no postponement is expected in this one.

The weather will cooperate in all other Major League Baseball venues on Monday, and the winds will be rather tranquil, too. The forecast is for winds at or below 10 mph everywhere. Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 3
The Orioles take the short jaunt up I-95 (ahh, they'll still probably fly) for an interleague series opener with the Phillies. Alex Cobb hasn't been the shot in the arm the team was hoping for, and the O's are just 3-11 over his past 14 starts and 2-5 in his past seven against a team with a winning overall mark. The O's are a dismal 6-17 across their past 23 interleague games, and 14-43 in the past 57 on the road. In addition, they're 14-43 in the past 57 against a right-handed starter, too. Zach Eflin has been pitching well for the Phillies, and Philadelphia is a perfect 5-0 across his past five outings. Overall the Phils have won four of the past five at hoem, and they're 12-5 in the past 17 vs. RHP.

It isn't John Tavares going from New York to Toronto, but there will be a homecoming on Tuesday when the Mets and Blue Jays square off. Jose Bautista makes his return to Rogers Centre in what should be an emotional return. Mets fans are emotional about the play of the team lately, too -- mostly angry or sad. New York is 1-5 in the past six on the road, 0-7 in their past seven interleague road outings and 3-11 in their past 14 against losing sides. They're also just 7-20 in the past 27 vs. RHP. They'll roll Zack Wheeler out against Marco Estrada, but that could be a disaster. The Mets are 1-10 over Wheeler's past 11 starts, and 0-5 in his past five on five days of rest. Conversely, not counting Monday's game, the Blue Jays are 10-2 over their past 12 at home and 5-1 in the past six interleague battles. While they are 2-7 in Estrada's past nine starts, including 2-5 in the past seven at home, they have posted a 5-1 record in his past six against losing squads and 5-1 in the past six vs. NL East teams, too.

Both Andrew Heaney of the Angels and Wade LeBlanc of the Mariners were tuned up in their most recent outing. They'll look to right the ship againts each other at Safeco on Tuesday. The Angels are 0-8 in their past eight vs. LHP, and 3-11 in the past 14 on the road after a blistering start away from home earlier in the season. They're also just 2-6 in Heaney's past eight assignments, and 3-13 in his past 16 on the road. They have won just once over his past five inside the division, too. The M's have won five of the past six overall, and they're 20-6 in their past 26 in SoDo. More impressively, the Mariners are a sizzling 12-0 in LeBlanc's past 12 starts at home, while going 13-3 in his past 16 overall, including 4-1 in the past five inside the division.

Weather Report
It is shaping up as a great early-week forecast in Major League Baseball. There are no precipitation threats on Tuesday, although wind will be a factor in Oakkland. The wind will be humming from home plate to the right-center field power alley at a 14-17 mph clip, so watch for a potential 'over' there with wind-aided extra-base hits. Elsewhere, no precip and winds all less than 10 mph, or 16 kilometers per hour, in hono(u)r of Canada Day.