MLB PREVIEWS 11 MAY 09

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Preview: Nationals (10-19) at Giants (16-14)

Preview: Nationals (10-19) at Giants (16-14)

Preview: Nationals (10-19) at Giants (16-14)

Date: May 11, 2009 10:15 PM EDT

The San Francisco Giants finished 18 games below .500 last year but didn't have any problems dispatching the Washington Nationals.

Currently on pace for their first winning record in five years, the Giants have to like their chances of continuing their dominance in the series.

The Giants go for their 14th win in 20 games - and their eighth straight against the Nationals - as the clubs open a three-game set Monday night in San Francisco.

Though San Francisco finished fourth in the NL West at 72-90 in 2008, it won all seven meetings with Washington. The Giants outscored the Nationals 38-13 in those games, batting .288 and posting a 1.71 ERA - their lowest against any team last season.

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy has to feel good about his club's ability to extend its winning streak against Washington based on the way the Giants (16-14) have been playing lately. After stumbling to a 3-8 start, they've won 13 of 19, including two of three in a weekend series against the NL-best Los Angeles Dodgers.

Randy Winn hit a tiebreaking two-run single with the bases loaded in the 13th inning and finished with four hits to lead the Giants to a 7-5 victory over the Dodgers on Sunday.

"There's no quit in this team. We're not going to give up and roll over," outfielder Aaron Rowand said. "We feel we have a good team and we have the ability to win a lot of games, especially with our pitching staff. So there's a lot of confidence in here."

While the Giants are riding the emotion of a dramatic victory, the Nationals (10-19) are coming off a discouraging defeat. They had their season-high three-game winning streak snapped with a 10-8 loss at Arizona on Sunday.

Ryan Zimmerman extended his franchise-record hitting streak to 28 games with a double and two singles, and Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham both homered twice. But that wasn't enough as Washington gave up at least nine runs for the fourth time in six games.

"Anytime you score over six runs, you should be able to win the ballgame," manager Manny Acta said.

Acta may not be able to count on that much offense Monday against San Francisco starter Randy Johnson (2-3, 5.68 ERA). The 45-year-old left-hander, who's three wins shy of 300, is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA in his first three home starts for the Giants.

However, Johnson gave up seven runs for the second time this season Wednesday, lasting 5 2-3 innings in an 11-1 loss at Colorado. He didn't strike out a batter in the game for the first time since Aug. 4, 2006, when he was with the New York Yankees.

"I'm not too worried about strikeouts," said Johnson, who is second all-time with 4,819. "It is a sign something is wrong? No. By no means."

Johnson is 3-3 with a 2.67 ERA in nine career starts against the Washington franchise, which he hasn't faced since 2004, when it was based in Montreal.

Dunn, 8 for 18 (.444) with four homers and eight RBIs over his last four games, is 0 for 9 with six strikeouts in his career against Johnson.

Daniel Cabrera (0-3, 4.85) will start for the Nationals, who have lost the first six games started by the right-hander, including a 10-3 road defeat against the Dodgers on Wednesday. Cabrera gave up five runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings in that game.

Cabrera, who spent the first five seasons of his career in the AL with Baltimore, has never faced San Francisco.

 

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Trends - Washington at San Francisco

Trends - Washington at San Francisco

Trends - Washington at San Francisco

W/L Trends

Washington

?Nationals are 5-1 in their last 6 games as an underdog of +110 to +150.
?Nationals are 10-21 in their last 31 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
?Nationals are 31-66 in their last 97 games as an underdog.
?Nationals are 18-39 in their last 57 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Nationals are 17-37 in their last 54 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
?Nationals are 16-35 in their last 51 vs. National League West.
?Nationals are 16-36 in their last 52 games on grass.
?Nationals are 16-36 in their last 52 overall.
?Nationals are 17-40 in their last 57 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Nationals are 6-17 in their last 23 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150.
?Nationals are 14-40 in their last 54 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
?Nationals are 3-9 in their last 12 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Nationals are 13-39 in their last 52 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
?Nationals are 3-9 in their last 12 during game 1 of a series.
?Nationals are 4-12 in their last 16 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Nationals are 15-47 in their last 62 games as a road underdog.
?Nationals are 15-47 in their last 62 road games.
?Nationals are 14-44 in their last 58 games following a loss.
?Nationals are 11-40 in their last 51 vs. a team with a winning record.
?Nationals are 10-41 in their last 51 road games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
?Nationals are 0-6 in Cabreras last 6 starts as an underdog.
?Nationals are 0-6 in Cabreras last 6 starts.
?Nationals are 0-6 in Cabreras last 6 starts on grass.
?Nationals are 0-4 in Cabreras last 4 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Nationals are 0-4 in Cabreras last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
?Nationals are 0-4 in Cabreras last 4 starts following a team loss in their previous game.


San Francisco

?Giants are 6-0 in their last 6 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Giants are 7-1 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Giants are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a favorite.
?Giants are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. National League East.
?Giants are 7-2 in their last 9 home games.
?Giants are 7-2 in their last 9 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Giants are 6-2 in their last 8 games as a home favorite.
?Giants are 6-2 in their last 8 during game 1 of a series.
?Giants are 6-2 in their last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
?Giants are 8-3 in their last 11 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
?Giants are 5-2 in their last 7 games as a home favorite of -151 to -200.
?Giants are 14-6 in their last 20 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
?Giants are 13-6 in their last 19 games on grass.
?Giants are 13-6 in their last 19 overall.
?Giants are 19-9 in their last 28 home games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
?Giants are 2-5 in their last 7 Monday games.
?Giants are 2-6 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
?Giants are 3-10 in their last 13 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
?Giants are 1-4 in their last 5 games following a win.


OU Trends

Washington

?Over is 7-1-2 in Nationals last 10 Monday games.
?Under is 7-1-1 in Nationals last 9 games following a loss.
?Under is 7-1 in Nationals last 8 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Over is 6-1 in Nationals last 7 road games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
?Under is 5-1 in Nationals last 6 games as an underdog of +110 to +150.
?Over is 4-1 in Nationals last 5 during game 1 of a series.
?Over is 12-3-1 in Nationals last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
?Under is 9-3-1 in Nationals last 13 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
?Under is 6-2 in Nationals last 8 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
?Over is 8-3 in Nationals last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
?Over is 12-5 in Nationals last 17 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
?Over is 16-7-1 in Nationals last 24 vs. a team with a winning record.
?Over is 28-13-3 in Nationals last 44 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Over is 5-0-1 in Cabreras last 6 starts overall.
?Over is 5-0-1 in Cabreras last 6 starts on grass.
?Over is 4-0 in Cabreras last 4 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Over is 4-0 in Cabreras last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
?Over is 5-0-1 in Cabreras last 6 starts as an underdog.


San Francisco

?Under is 7-0-3 in Giants last 10 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Under is 6-0 in Giants last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
?Under is 6-0-1 in Giants last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
?Under is 7-0-1 in Giants last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
?Under is 9-1-2 in Giants last 12 games following a win.
?Under is 7-1-2 in Giants last 10 home games.
?Under is 5-1-1 in Giants last 7 home games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
?Under is 5-1-1 in Giants last 7 during game 1 of a series.
?Under is 4-1 in Giants last 5 vs. National League East.
?Under is 4-1 in Giants last 5 games as a home favorite.
?Under is 8-2-2 in Giants last 12 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Under is 7-2-1 in Giants last 10 Monday games.
?Over is 7-2-2 in Giants last 11 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
?Under is 9-3-1 in Giants last 13 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
?Under is 9-3-2 in Giants last 14 games vs. a right-handed starter.
?Under is 9-3-1 in Giants last 13 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
?Under is 12-5-3 in Giants last 20 overall.
?Under is 12-5-3 in Giants last 20 on grass.
?Under is 7-3 in Giants last 10 games as a home favorite of -151 to -200.
?Under is 4-1 in Johnsons last 5 starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5.
?Under is 4-1 in Johnsons last 5 starts vs. a team with a losing record.


Head to Head

?Nationals are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in San Francisco.
?Nationals are 0-7 in the last 7 meetings.


Umpire Trends - Name unavailable

No trends available