LOS ANGELES ANGELS with MOSELEY vs minnesota twins with blackburn / 8:10pm ET
The LA Angels have come out of the gate with a smokin HOT starting
pitcher ERA of only 2.60. Now compare that to tonight's host (5.43).
That's an unheard of early-season starting pitcher advantage of almost
3 FULL runs per game. With yesterday's 9-2 loss to the Hot Blue Jays,
the Twins finished the 4-game series at 1-3... and are now 1-5 in their
last 6 games. This also happens to be a series in which they have
struggled big-time in the last 2+ seasons. Minnesota is 3-9 in the last
2 years vs the Angels... and that includes a PERFECT 0-4 when playing
the role of the host.
Nick Blackburn's ERA in his first two starts of the 2009 season is
already sky-high at 5.73 with an opponent team batting average of .367.
Not only that, but he's allowed TWICE as many walks as strikeouts...
which is usually a great indicator of 'play AGAINST' form. He's even
done WORSE at home... with an ERA of 7.20 and an opponent team batting
average of .458. Blackburn has faced the Angels only twice in his
career (in the 2008 season)... and is a PERFECT 0-2. He's also 3-9 in
his last 12 overall starts dating back to last year... 1-5 on 4 days
rest... and 1-5 in his last 6 vs losing teams.
Meanwhile, Dustin Mosely comes in with a 5-1 record on 4 days rest....
and a very profitable 4-1 in his last 5 UNDERDOG roles. He's allowed 3
earned runs or less in EACH of his two 2009 starts thus far. His K/BB
ratio is solid at better than a 3-1 advantage and also holds an edge in
that he has NEVER faced the Twins before.
King Creole steps out on Friday night with the 2** Major League Baseball GAME OF THE WEEK! If you enjoyed yesterday's 'OVER-EASY' winner on the Diamonds (Twins-Blue Jays OVER)... you aint seen nothin yet!