9월14일 MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants (-107, 7)

The San Francisco Giants are streaking, pulling even with the San Diego Padres for first place in the National League West. The reason? No one is pitching as well as the Giants.

Over the past week the Giants have gone 5-2 thanks to a stellar performance by the team’s hurlers, posting a miniscule 1.57 ERA and giving up an MLB-low 11 earned runs over that span. The Giants also have a sterling 64-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that time, holding opponents to a meager .178 batting average. 

Possibly more impressive, the team has averaged only 3.3 runs per game over that span. The team doesn’t get many runs, but with a staff like this, it makes the few it gets count.

“Usually about this time, I’m 20 or 30 games out and I’m counting the days till a Hawaii vacation,” Giants infielder Aubrey Huff told the New York Times. “I would get to the field at 4 every day and be the first one to leave. Now I’m the first one here and the last one to leave. I feel like I’m a rookie again.”

Pick: Giants.

Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox (-104, 7.5)

The White Sox pitchers get nauseous when they see the Twins on the schedule.

Not only is Minnesota 10-5 against the Pale Hose this season, but the Twins hitters are absolutely raking against their American League Central rival. In 15 games between the two teams this year, Minnesota is batting .306 with a .366 on-base percentage, 14 home runs and a staggering 34 doubles. The Twins are averaging 4.8 runs per game in the team’s meetings this year. 

"We've got nothing to lose," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, whose team is six games back of the Twins, told the Associated Press. "There's no pressure on us and we shouldn't play with any pressure ... It's really the Twins' to lose.”

However pressure-packed situations is where Minnesota delivers the most. The two-teams have had nine games decided by a single-run this season. The Twins are 7-2 in those games.

"We feel like we need to win every game in September," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the Associated Press. "We've been there before, chasing. Whether you have the lead or are trying to catch up, you want to win."

And they will.

Pick: Twins.

Streaking

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies (10-10, 3.06 ERA)

The South Paw has been as dominant as any pitcher in baseball over his past three starts.

Hollywood, who ranks 188th in the National League with 188 strikeouts this season, has finally cut down on allowing hurtful home runs and it shows.

Over his past three starts, Hamels has lasted at least seven innings each time he has toed the rubber and allowed no runner to score over that span. That’s a span of 22 innings in which he has given up no runs and allowed a meager 11 hits. He also has a solid 18-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

Hamels said the key to his strong play has been his even-keel approach.

"I want to go out there and get one guy out my next game," he told the Associated Press.

Chris Capuano, Milwaukee Brewers (3-3, 4.09 ERA)

The 32-year-old has had Tommy Johns surgery twice and seems to again be regaining his form with the Brew Crew.

Cappy had a rough start to the season but has been better than solid in his two most recent outings, ending up with a hard-luck, 1-0 loss to the Phillies and besting the Cardinals, 8-1. In those two starts, he combined to allow only two runs over 12 innings while striking out six.

Next up for the South Paw is Houston, which is hitting a meager .133 against him in 4.1 innings this season. 

"Knock on wood, I've been real happy with the way the arm feels," Capuano told the Associated Press.

Slumping

Livan Hernandez, Washington Nationals (9-11, 3.82 ERA)

The veteran right-hander had a phenomenal first half, but has tailed off following the All-Star Break. 

Hernandez allowed only three runs in his most recent outing, but that is in stark contrast to the train wreck he has become the past few weeks. Over his past 11 starts, the Cuban has an ERA north of 4.60.

More specifically in his past four outings, Hernandez has yielded 23 earned runs over just 21.1 innings, including giving up 30 hits and issuing nine walks over that span. 

Zach Duke, Pittsburgh Pirates (7-13, 5.47 ERA)

The left-hander will be owed around $5 million this offseason if he is tendered an offer from the Pirates. He sure hasn’t earned that payday this season. Over his past three starts, Duke has allowed 12 earned runs over 11.1 innings, including lasting only an inning in his most recent outing against the Braves. 

"Obviously I wasn't doing much good while I was out there, so I can't fault the manager [for being lifted after one inning]," Duke told the Associated Press. "I was more frustrated with myself at that point."

The last three times he has toed the rubber, he has combined to give up an abysmal 20 hits and issued six walks.