Swing Week starts the MLB action

This is the only week of the Major League baseball season that players truly hate. It’s referred to as “swing week” because every team will play 2 two-game series this week before the weekend. The purpose is to balance out the schedule since the two leagues have differing amount of teams, which forces uncommon numbers to make 162-game slate work out. This used to be done later in the year, but the clubs worked with the schedule-maker to get it out of the way sooner in the year.

In the National League, a couple of teams from the Keystone State will meet for a pair. Philadelphia (23-13, +5.1 units) returns home off a 4-1 road trip which included sweeping the Brewers in Milwaukee. The Phillies are 11-3 this month and four games clear in the NL East of competitors. The always potent Philly batting order is now the best in the National League at 5.6 runs per game, but improved all around pitching has lit this candle for them.

Pittsburgh at 16-21 (+4.9) isn’t terrible (at least not yet), nor are they particularly good. The Pirates problem is offense, ranked next to last in scoring at 3.5 runs per contest and 14th in home runs with 29 in the senior circuit.

Philadelphia is a -220 money line favorite having to face Charlie Morton (1-6, 9.19 ERA). Even with a couple of surprising wins at Wrigley Field the past three days, Pittsburgh is still 29-70 as a road underdog of +100 or higher.

As we head down the hill for May, having Atlanta and the New York Mets holding down the last two spots in the NL East is as surprising the Flyers and Canadiens in the East Finals in the NHL. The Mets (18-20, -3.6) fall is particularly appalling since they were in first place in the division not that long ago, however a 4-12 road record will do that to a team.

The Braves (18-19, -3.8) haven’t been very good on the road either, which is why they have to take advantage of this situation at Turner Field. Atlanta caught Milwaukee at the right time and swept them, took series over pitching-poor Arizona and host Mets who have lost five in a row. Thanks to Tim Hudson yesterday, the Braves are 17-4 with a rested bullpen that pitched one inning or less in last game and they are -144 ML home favorites tonight.

In the American League, Toronto (23-16, +10.5) prepares to face first place Minnesota. A great deal of verbile could be used to describe the Blue Jays in 2010. Toronto has won 11 of 14 after sweeping another club atop their division in Texas. The Jays lead the AL in home runs with 60, slugging percentage (.459) and total bases (612). They will face Kevin Slowey (4-3, 4.62 ERA) of the Twins and Toronto is 20-11 against right-hand pitchers, averaging 5.8 runs per contest.

The Twins (23-14, +4.5) finally ended their 12-game road losing streak against the Yankees in dramatic fashion with Jason Kubel’s grand slam home run off Mariano Rivera on Sunday. However, the Blue Jays are also tough on Minnesota with 11-3 mark the last couple of years. The Twinkies are -115 ML choice and are 12-2 when favored by -150 or less this season.

If the Rangers (20-18, -0.6) are feeling a little uneasy being in first place in the AL West it’s understandable. After being swept north of the border, they return to Rangers Ballpark and hear the unmistakable rumble of the Angels chasing them. With Texas having lost last three, Los Angeles (18-21, -4.2) won a trio at home over Oakland, bringing them back to within 2.5 games in the division.

Texas is back home where they are 13-7 this season. The Rangers mission for this two-game set is to get into L.A.’s redoubtable bullpen that carries 6.38 ERA (2.118 WHIP) away from home. The Rangers are 24-8 vs. a poor pen whose WHIP is 1.550 or worse. The Angels finally got great pitching over the weekend in permitting three total runs to the A’s and had two shutouts.

“We’re only going to go as far as our starters are going to perform,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “If this weekend is any indication, hopefully we’re starting to make some strides forward.”

Inconsistent Scott Kazmir (2-3, 6.82) is the Halos starter and his club is a +140 ML underdog, yet is 14-3 after consecutive wins by four runs or more.

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