Chris Bahr, Sporting News
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Jake Peavy has been ice-cold for the White Sox.
Peavy problems
After four starts this season, White Sox righthander Jake Peavy is winless with a 7.66 ERA and as many walks (15) as strikeouts. He recently said that mechanics, and not injuries, were to blame. Tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Peavy will face a pitcher battling similar problems. Righthander Rich Harden is 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA and an 18/20 K/BB. Harden has pitched past the fifth inning only once this season.
Pirates on the plank
Pittsburgh already has seen enough of Milwaukee this season. Last week at PNC Park, the Brewers outscored the Pirates 36-1 in a three-game sweep. In the final game of that series, Milwaukee put a 20-0 beating on Pittsburgh, which fell below .500 with that loss and still hasn’t recovered. In the first game of the teams’ three-game series at Miller Park on Monday, the Brewers again pounded the Pirates, 17-3. Pittsburgh will give the ball to lefthander Paul Maholm in the series finale this afternoon and hope the lefthander can find a way to shut down Ryan Braun and Co. In five games against Pittsburgh this season, Braun has two homers and eight RBIs.
Surprise, surprise
While would-be contenders such as the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mariners, Braves, White Sox and Rangers continue to wallow below the .500 mark, the Marlins and Padres enter their series finale this afternoon with winning records. As expected, Adrian Gonzalez’s big bat has paced San Diego, but Dan Uggla’s early-season success for Florida is surprising. In the first four seasons of his major league career, Uggla hit only .236 in April. However, he leads the team’s regulars in batting average this season and is among the team leaders in homers, RBIs and on-base percentage. Today, Uggla will face Padres righthander Kevin Correia, whose 8.6 K/9 this season is the best of his career.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Sponsored link: Pirate tickets available
Chris Bahr, Sporting News
What to expect in the major leagues today:
Jake Peavy has been ice-cold for the White Sox.
Peavy problems
After four starts this season, White Sox righthander Jake Peavy is winless with a 7.66 ERA and as many walks (15) as strikeouts. He recently said that mechanics, and not injuries, were to blame. Tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Peavy will face a pitcher battling similar problems. Righthander Rich Harden is 0-1 with a 4.58 ERA and an 18/20 K/BB. Harden has pitched past the fifth inning only once this season.
Pirates on the plank
Pittsburgh already has seen enough of Milwaukee this season. Last week at PNC Park, the Brewers outscored the Pirates 36-1 in a three-game sweep. In the final game of that series, Milwaukee put a 20-0 beating on Pittsburgh, which fell below .500 with that loss and still hasn’t recovered. In the first game of the teams’ three-game series at Miller Park on Monday, the Brewers again pounded the Pirates, 17-3. Pittsburgh will give the ball to lefthander Paul Maholm in the series finale this afternoon and hope the lefthander can find a way to shut down Ryan Braun and Co. In five games against Pittsburgh this season, Braun has two homers and eight RBIs.
Surprise, surprise
While would-be contenders such as the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mariners, Braves, White Sox and Rangers continue to wallow below the .500 mark, the Marlins and Padres enter their series finale this afternoon with winning records. As expected, Adrian Gonzalez’s big bat has paced San Diego, but Dan Uggla’s early-season success for Florida is surprising. In the first four seasons of his major league career, Uggla hit only .236 in April. However, he leads the team’s regulars in batting average this season and is among the team leaders in homers, RBIs and on-base percentage. Today, Uggla will face Padres righthander Kevin Correia, whose 8.6 K/9 this season is the best of his career.
Chris Bahr is Sporting News’ baseball editor. E-mail him at cbahr@sportingnews.com.
Sponsored link: Pirate tickets available
Jake Peavy has been ice-cold for the White Sox.