MLB: MLB Top Weekend Power Trends (9/4-9/6)

It’s the Labor Day Holiday Weekend, and while this time of the year is best known in sports circles for the kickoff of the football season, it is also important in baseball. Pennant races are heating up and with only four weeks left in the season, there’s

2009-09-04

It’s the Labor Day Holiday Weekend, and while this time of the year is best known in sports circles for the kickoff of the football season, it is also important in baseball. Pennant races are heating up and with only four weeks left in the season, there’s only so much time for those chasing to gain ground. With a full slate of games on tap once again for the weekend, we are here to look at all of the key action, plus deliver this week’s Top StatFox Power Trends for you to capitalize on in your wagering.

The wildcard races are the closest of any chase for playoff positioning in both leagues. In the American League, Boston continues to set the pace, but Texas is just 3-games back. The Rangers also have their sights set on the A.L. West title though, trailing the Angels by 3-1/2 games. All three of the aforementioned teams will be on the road this weekend, with Boston visiting Chicago, Texas traveling to Baltimore, and the Angels making a visit to America’s heartland to take on Kansas City. The Halos have swept the Royals in six games this season, while the Red have taken 14 of the last 19 in the battle of the Sox.

Elsewhere in the Junior Circuit, the league’s hottest team, the Yankees, winners of seven straight games headed into the weekend, take a trip north of the border to Toronto. This figures to be the ultimate battle of hot & not, as while New York has put together that nice winning streak, the Jays have dropped seven of eight and seem to have packed it in for the year. The Bronx Bombers have taken 10 of 13 games overall in this head-to-head series this year, including five of six in Toronto.

In the National League, there isn’t a single series in which two winning teams are playing one another, so this figures to be a weekend where only upsets will make noise. Each of the three divisions shows a comfortable margin between first & second place so the leaders will just try to continue to set the pace. Philadelphia is in Houston, St. Louis travels to Pittsburgh, and the Dodgers welcome San Diego to town.

The one N.L. race still in play is that in the wildcard race, where the Rockies and Giants are separated by just a single game. Colorado has the easier series on paper this weekend, taking on Arizona at home, while San Francisco is in Milwaukee. The D-backs have played better of late though, coming into this set on a 6-2 run. They have also played the Rockies tough in 2009, splitting 12 games. The Giants and Brewers have also split six games this year, but Milwaukee is not playing well, having slipped out of the race over the last month. If either of the two wildcard front runners slip, Atlanta & Florida, both 4-games out, will look to capitalize. The Marlins are in Washington, and the Braves are hosting the suddenly hot Reds.

Now, here’s a look at those Top StatFox Power Trends that figure to be in play for the next few days…

FLORIDA at WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON is 13-42 (-21.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. The average score was WASHINGTON 4.1, OPPONENT 5.9 - (Rating = 1*)

ST LOUIS at PITTSBURGH
PITTSBURGH is 5-26 (-18.3 Units) against the money line vs. NL teams allowing 4.3 or less runs/game in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. The average score was PITTSBURGH 3.0, OPPONENT 5.5 - (Rating = 1*)

CHICAGO CUBS at NY METS
CHICAGO CUBS are 27-38 (-14.8 Units) against the money line in road games this season. The average score was CHICAGO CUBS 3.8, OPPONENT 4.3 - (Rating = 1*)

CINCINNATI at ATLANTA
ATLANTA is 11-16 (-10.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a bad team (Win Pct. 38% to 46%) this season. The average score was ATLANTA 4.6, OPPONENT 4.4 - (Rating = 1*)

PHILADELPHIA at HOUSTON
PHILADELPHIA is 15-6 (+10.3 Units) against the money line in road games vs. an overused bullpen that pitches more than 3.2 innings per game this season. The average score was PHILADELPHIA 5.4, OPPONENT 3.8 - (Rating = 2*)

SAN FRANCISCO at MILWAUKEE
MILWAUKEE is 12-27 (-15.5 Units) against the money line vs. NL teams allowing 4.3 or less runs/game in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. The average score was MILWAUKEE 3.7, OPPONENT 5.7 - (Rating = 1*)

ARIZONA at COLORADO
COLORADO is 89-58 (+23.4 Units) against the money line vs. an NL team with an on base percentage .325 or worse in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons. The average score was COLORADO 5.4, OPPONENT 4.5 - (Rating = 1*)

SAN DIEGO at LA DODGERS
LA DODGERS are 50-27 (+17.7 Units) against the money line vs. an NL team with a team batting average of .250 or worse over the last 2 seasons. The average score was LA DODGERS 5.1, OPPONENT 4.2 - (Rating = 1*)

TEXAS at BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE is 8-25 (-15.9 Units) against the money line vs. a good bullpen that converts on 75%+ of their save opportunities this season. The average score was BALTIMORE 4.8, OPPONENT 6.8 - (Rating = 1*)

NY YANKEES at TORONTO
TORONTO is 7-22 (-16.0 Units) against the money line vs. AL teams allowing 4.7 or less runs/game in the second half of the season this season. The average score was TORONTO 4.3, OPPONENT 5.6 - (Rating = 2*)

MINNESOTA at CLEVELAND
CLEVELAND is 14-25 (-13.2 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record this season. The average score was CLEVELAND 4.3, OPPONENT 4.7 - (Rating = 1*)

DETROIT at TAMPA BAY
DETROIT is 12-32 (-18.3 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%) in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons. The average score was DETROIT 4.2, OPPONENT 5.9 - (Rating = 1*)

LA ANGELS at KANSAS CITY
LA ANGELS are 18-4 (+13.1 Units) against the money line vs. teams outscored by opp by 0.5 or more runs/game in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. The average score was LA ANGELS 6.6, OPPONENT 4.8 - (Rating = 2*)

BOSTON at CHI WHITE SOX
BOSTON is 11-16 (-11.9 Units) against the money line vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .260 or worse this season. The average score was BOSTON 4.7, OPPONENT 5.0 - (Rating = 2*)

SEATTLE at OAKLAND
OAKLAND is 5-18 (-14.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 54%) this season. The average score was OAKLAND 3.9, OPPONENT 5.4 - (Rating = 3*)

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