MLB Mon, Aug 2, 2004
Rocket and Ortiz power the under
Johnston Farrow
The Houston Astros’ Rocket doesn’t take off, it goes under.
Roger Clemens has been the most consistent pitcher in Houston’s lineup. It’s too bad that his teammates can’t score when Clemens has a good night. In eight of his starts this season, the ‘Stros scored three runs or fewer to support the Rocket.
But his teammates, fuelled by midseason firings and mix-ups, have changed since the All-Star break, scoring over five runs a game in Clemens’ last three starts. While that's by no means an onslaught of offensive power, it’s been enough for the Rocket to go 2-0 with a 3.66 ERA in his last three appearances.
“Clemens, we have just been horrible to,” third baseman Morgan Ensberg told the Houston Chronicle. “We’ve scored one run or two runs a game, and the guy’s got to go out there and give up no runs, which is what he consistently does. It was frustrating early on, and it was nice giving him more runs.”
The staff ace, who is 12-3 this season with a 2.77 ERA, loves to see the score play under the set total, with the over/under at 6-14 in his starts this season.
Clemens’ numbers echo the pitcher he faces in his next matchup. The Atlanta Braves’ Russ Ortiz is 12-6 this season with a 3.19 ERA. The over/under ratio in his starts is nearly identical to Clemens at 6-13.
That stat is mostly due to Ortiz’ dominant pitching recently. Ortiz is 6-0 with a 1.71 ERA in his past seven starts and opponents batted a meager .211 against him in July.
He also pitches well under pressure, as his teammates mustered only three runs or fewer in 10 of his games. He earned his last win - No. 100 in his career - in a 1-0 nail-biter.
“Russ is the ‘Weeble-Wooble’ that you never…you can’t knock him over,” Braves closer John Smoltz told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Throw two great pitchers together and a combined over/under record of 12-27 and you get an under as hot as one of Clemens’ fastballs.
Oddmakers have the Astros as -135 faves in this matchup, and the total is set at eight.
Rocket and Ortiz power the under
Johnston Farrow
The Houston Astros’ Rocket doesn’t take off, it goes under.
Roger Clemens has been the most consistent pitcher in Houston’s lineup. It’s too bad that his teammates can’t score when Clemens has a good night. In eight of his starts this season, the ‘Stros scored three runs or fewer to support the Rocket.
But his teammates, fuelled by midseason firings and mix-ups, have changed since the All-Star break, scoring over five runs a game in Clemens’ last three starts. While that's by no means an onslaught of offensive power, it’s been enough for the Rocket to go 2-0 with a 3.66 ERA in his last three appearances.
“Clemens, we have just been horrible to,” third baseman Morgan Ensberg told the Houston Chronicle. “We’ve scored one run or two runs a game, and the guy’s got to go out there and give up no runs, which is what he consistently does. It was frustrating early on, and it was nice giving him more runs.”
The staff ace, who is 12-3 this season with a 2.77 ERA, loves to see the score play under the set total, with the over/under at 6-14 in his starts this season.
Clemens’ numbers echo the pitcher he faces in his next matchup. The Atlanta Braves’ Russ Ortiz is 12-6 this season with a 3.19 ERA. The over/under ratio in his starts is nearly identical to Clemens at 6-13.
That stat is mostly due to Ortiz’ dominant pitching recently. Ortiz is 6-0 with a 1.71 ERA in his past seven starts and opponents batted a meager .211 against him in July.
He also pitches well under pressure, as his teammates mustered only three runs or fewer in 10 of his games. He earned his last win - No. 100 in his career - in a 1-0 nail-biter.
“Russ is the ‘Weeble-Wooble’ that you never…you can’t knock him over,” Braves closer John Smoltz told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Throw two great pitchers together and a combined over/under record of 12-27 and you get an under as hot as one of Clemens’ fastballs.
Oddmakers have the Astros as -135 faves in this matchup, and the total is set at eight.
