3. Brewers look to rebound against Maholm
By all accounts, Pirates left-hander Paul Maholm is in the midst of his best professional season. The Mississippi State product has topped the 200-inning mark for the first time in his career, establishing a new high in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.40) while posting a solid 3.68 ERA. Maholm still has some issues with right-handed hitters (.774 OPS against), but that number is better than his mediocre career line against righties (.812 OPS). On Wednesday, Maholm will face the scuffling Milwaukee Brewers. Although the Brewers have had extreme difficulty putting up runs down the stretch, Maholm might be just what Milwaukee needs. With a predominantly right-handed lineup, Milwaukee has shown a pronounced platoon split in 2008. The Brewers have produced middling results against right-handed pitching, but they have hit lefties for a league-best OPS. Maholm has been hit hard by several of Milwaukee's slugging right-handers in his career: <!-- begin table --> <table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="300"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="3">Brewers vs. Maholm</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td>Hitter</td> <td>AB</td> <td>OPS</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Mike Cameron</td> <td>15</td> <td>1.973</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Bill Hall</td> <td>23</td> <td>1.697</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>J.J. Hardy</td> <td>20</td> <td>.981</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Corey Hart</td> <td>25</td> <td>.866</td> </tr></tbody></table> <!-- end table --> Brewers' right-handed hitters have tattooed Maholm's outside pitches through the years. This season, they have missed on just 5 of 75 swung-on pitches away from Maholm, going 21-for-43 with four extra-base hits. Overall in 2008, Maholm has surrendered a .327 batting average against Milwaukee and has a 4.56 ERA in 25 2/3 innings pitched.
By all accounts, Pirates left-hander Paul Maholm is in the midst of his best professional season. The Mississippi State product has topped the 200-inning mark for the first time in his career, establishing a new high in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.40) while posting a solid 3.68 ERA. Maholm still has some issues with right-handed hitters (.774 OPS against), but that number is better than his mediocre career line against righties (.812 OPS). On Wednesday, Maholm will face the scuffling Milwaukee Brewers. Although the Brewers have had extreme difficulty putting up runs down the stretch, Maholm might be just what Milwaukee needs. With a predominantly right-handed lineup, Milwaukee has shown a pronounced platoon split in 2008. The Brewers have produced middling results against right-handed pitching, but they have hit lefties for a league-best OPS. Maholm has been hit hard by several of Milwaukee's slugging right-handers in his career: <!-- begin table --> <table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="300"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="3">Brewers vs. Maholm</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td>Hitter</td> <td>AB</td> <td>OPS</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Mike Cameron</td> <td>15</td> <td>1.973</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Bill Hall</td> <td>23</td> <td>1.697</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>J.J. Hardy</td> <td>20</td> <td>.981</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Corey Hart</td> <td>25</td> <td>.866</td> </tr></tbody></table> <!-- end table --> Brewers' right-handed hitters have tattooed Maholm's outside pitches through the years. This season, they have missed on just 5 of 75 swung-on pitches away from Maholm, going 21-for-43 with four extra-base hits. Overall in 2008, Maholm has surrendered a .327 batting average against Milwaukee and has a 4.56 ERA in 25 2/3 innings pitched.
1. Pitching has been killing the Twins
If the Minnesota Twins fall short in their playoff pursuit, they can blame their pitching down the stretch. Opponent OPS has skyrocketed this month: <!-- begin table -->
<table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="300"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="2">Twins pitching (through Monday)</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td>Month</td> <td>OPS</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>March-April</td> <td>.756</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>May</td> <td>.782</td> </tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>June</td> <td>.778</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>July</td> <td>.720</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>August</td> <td>.685</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>September</td> <td>.868</td> </tr></tbody></table> <!-- end table --> The Twins' September OPS allowed is worst in the majors through Monday, and almost all of their starters have seen performance drops: <!-- begin table --> <table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="300"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="4">Twins starters' OPS allowed </td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td> Pitcher</td> <td>March-August</td> <td>September</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Scott Baker</td> <td>.698</td> <td>.692</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Francisco Liriano</td> <td>.638</td> <td>.748</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Kevin Slowey</td> <td>.698</td> <td>.849</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Nick Blackburn</td> <td>.741</td> <td>.994</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Glen Perkins</td> <td>.785</td> <td>1.305</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- end table --> The bullpen has not been immune, either. Four of their key relievers, including All-Star closer Joe Nathan, have seen their opponent OPS balloon this month:
<!-- begin table --> <table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="300"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="4">Twins relievers' OPS allowed</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td> Pitcher</td> <td>March-August</td> <td>September</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Joe Nathan</td> <td>.524</td> <td>.717</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Matt Guerrier</td> <td>.753</td> <td>1.150</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Dennys Reyes</td> <td>.628</td> <td>.884</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Boof Bonser</td> <td>.760</td> <td>.892</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- end table --> Meanwhile, the Minnesota offense ranks among the league leaders in runs scored, batting average, in-play percentage and well-hit average. The Twins lead the majors by a wide margin in hitting with runners in scoring position. Joe Mauer tops the AL in batting, and Justin Morneau is the RBIs leader.
If the Minnesota Twins fall short in their playoff pursuit, they can blame their pitching down the stretch. Opponent OPS has skyrocketed this month: <!-- begin table -->
<table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="300"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="2">Twins pitching (through Monday)</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td>Month</td> <td>OPS</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>March-April</td> <td>.756</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>May</td> <td>.782</td> </tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>June</td> <td>.778</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>July</td> <td>.720</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>August</td> <td>.685</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>September</td> <td>.868</td> </tr></tbody></table> <!-- end table --> The Twins' September OPS allowed is worst in the majors through Monday, and almost all of their starters have seen performance drops: <!-- begin table --> <table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="300"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="4">Twins starters' OPS allowed </td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td> Pitcher</td> <td>March-August</td> <td>September</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Scott Baker</td> <td>.698</td> <td>.692</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Francisco Liriano</td> <td>.638</td> <td>.748</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Kevin Slowey</td> <td>.698</td> <td>.849</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Nick Blackburn</td> <td>.741</td> <td>.994</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Glen Perkins</td> <td>.785</td> <td>1.305</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- end table --> The bullpen has not been immune, either. Four of their key relievers, including All-Star closer Joe Nathan, have seen their opponent OPS balloon this month:
<!-- begin table --> <table class="tableheadFixWidth" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="300"> <tbody><tr class="stathead"> <td colspan="4">Twins relievers' OPS allowed</td> </tr> <tr class="colhead" valign="top"> <td> Pitcher</td> <td>March-August</td> <td>September</td> </tr> <tr class="oddrow" valign="top"> <td>Joe Nathan</td> <td>.524</td> <td>.717</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Matt Guerrier</td> <td>.753</td> <td>1.150</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Dennys Reyes</td> <td>.628</td> <td>.884</td> </tr> <tr class="evenrow" valign="top"> <td>Boof Bonser</td> <td>.760</td> <td>.892</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- end table --> Meanwhile, the Minnesota offense ranks among the league leaders in runs scored, batting average, in-play percentage and well-hit average. The Twins lead the majors by a wide margin in hitting with runners in scoring position. Joe Mauer tops the AL in batting, and Justin Morneau is the RBIs leader.
