This morning let’s check out the particularly good and bad matchups for hitters. Here are the team pitching splits in MLB for OPS allowed. The MLB average is listed in parenthesis right after the split header.
Basically, we are just taking a quick overview of who is pitching well as a staff and who isn’t, and we are challenging what we thing we know when we look at a team and size up how they'll impact our hitters in their upcoming series.
This is not super-deep analysis and when your best slugger is facing a tough staff, we aren't saying it's ok to replace him with a scrubinny. This is basically rough carpentry to hopefully give us an edge when we are trying to decided between two fairly equal candidates for a lineup slot this week. Its quick reference and basic screening.
I also think you will see some things that will surprise you. That is always a plus. Too often we get too comfortable with what we believe and from time to time we need to challenge what we take for granted ...
Best Overall (.332): 1) Padres .294 , 2) A’s .304 , 3) Dodgers .312 , 4) Cubs .314 , 5) Red Sox .315
Outstanding work by the Padres staff this year so far and Petco isn’t necessarily a huge contributor in this column.
Worst Overall (.332): 1) Rangers .362 , 2) Rays .358 , 3) Marlins .355 , 4) Tigers .345
The Rangers are the pitching gift that keeps on giving.
Best Starters (.332): 1) A’s .300 , 2) Cubs .304 , 3) Padres .306 , 4) Mets .310 , 5) Red Sox .313
The Cubs problems obviously don’t start with the starters.
Worst Starters (.332): 1) Rangers .385 , 2) M’s .361 , 3) Marlins .360 , 4) Cards .356 , 5) Rays .348
The young Marlins arms have been disappointing and Cards fans have to be disappointed in the Cardinal starter as well.
Best Bullpen (.331): 1) Padres .271 , 2) Blue Jays .297 , 3) Dodgers .297 , 4) Angels .299 , 5) Brewers .309
The Padres relievers have been very stingy, but we know the Angels always bring a strong pen. The Jays and Brewers have to constitute surprises on this list.
Worst Bullpen (.331): 1) White Sox .282 , 2) Rays .374 , 3) Phillies .363 , 4) Tigers .354 , 5) O’s .349
Nothing gets a manager fired quicker than a bad bullpen. I wonder if Sam Perlozzo knew this stat when he was walking out to lift Jeremy Guthrie the last couple of weeks. Speaking of managers, the Tigers bullpen has to have Jim Leyland ready to start drinking in the dugout … after his cigarette of course.
Best vs. Left (.339): 1) Padres .279 , 2) Dodgers .303 , 3) A’s .309 , 4)
The Padres, A’s and Red Sox are just good.
Worst vs. Left (.339): 1) Phillies .366 . 2) Rangers .359 , 3) Cubs .358 , 4) Yankees .357 , 5) O’s .356
Usually the Yankees hitters are vulnerable to LHP, but this year the Yankees issues revolve around lefty-handed hitters beating up their staff.
Best vs. Right (.327): 1) Cubs .288 , 2) Mets .295 , 3) A’s , 4) Padres .306 , 5) Angels .307
The Cubs show up on the Worst vs. LHH list and the Best vs. RHH list. Looks like they should be shopping for a lefty specialists this summer.
Worst vs. Right (.327): 1) Rangers .364 , 2) Rays .362 , 3) Marlins .355 , 4) Mariners .349 , 5) Tigers .349
Again the Tigers have to be considered a surprise on this list. The Rangers and Rays are anything but a surprise.
Best at Home (.328): 1) Padres .274 , 2) Jays .297 , 3) Brewers .301 , 4) Angels .303 , 5) A’s
Notice that the MLB average for OOBP is .005 lower at home. The Brewers staff seem to like home cooking.
Worst at Home (.328): 1) Marlins .362 , 2) Rays .357 , 3) Royals .354 , 4) Rangers .347 , 5)
It is Interesting that the Marlins, and Royals pitch in what are generally considered pitchers parks. The Rangers and
Best on the Road (.335): 1) Red Sox .296 , 2) A’s .300 , 3) Padres .312 , 4) Mets .313 , 5) Cubs .316
The Red Sox are a huge surprise here. The Cubs epitomize the struggling team just happy to be on the road. The A’s and the Padres simply pitch well.
Worst on the Road (.335): 1) Rangers .375 , 2) M’s .366 , 3) Rays .359 , 4) Pirates .353 , 5) Marlins
Here is the Pirates’ first appearance on these lists. The Rangers, M’s, Rays, and Marlins seem to show up on all of the “worst” lists.
Best this Month (.335): 1) Angels .292 , 2) Dodgers .299 , 3) Cubs .300 , 4) Padres .307 , 5) A’s
The West Coast doesn’t seem to be a great place to be for MLB offenses … unless you are in
Worst this Month (.335): 1) Cardinals .380 , 2) Rangers .376 , 3) M’s .374 , 4) White Sox .365 , 5) Marlins .358
Obviously you will play your best hitters regardless of who they are playing in the week in most circumstances, but when it comes down to choosing between two hitters of similar caliber, it is helpful to know what they are facing.
We learn here that it is always a good sign when your hitter is scheduled to face the Rangers, Rays, Mariners and Marlins. We also know that you do not like to see the Padres and A’s on the schedule.
