Stats Perform: Takes a Look At Series Beginning Thursday
GIANTS (38-23) at NATIONALS (25-33)
● The Nationals have won five straight games in the series, all of them in 2019. Since the franchise’s move to Washington in 2005, the Nats’ longest winning streak over the Giants is six games bridging the 2005 and ’06 campaigns.
● San Francisco has won 10 of its last 14 games, scoring four or more runs in all 10 victories and three or fewer in all four defeats. The Giants have won or split their last five series (3-0- 2).
● The Nationals scored two runs in four different innings in Wednesday’s 9-7, 11-inning win at Tampa Bay. They had only two multiple-run innings in their previous five games, dropping four of five.
● Three of Jason Vosler’s six MLB hits have been home runs, and each of those homers has come with the bases empty. Vosler has a .136 average on balls in play (3-for-22).
● Juan Soto scored three times in Wednesday’s win, giving him 21 runs in 34 games since his May 4 return from the IL. In that stretch, the Nats are 10-2 when Soto crosses the plate at least once.
● Anthony DeSclafani has allowed 10 earned runs in one of his starts (May 23 against the Dodgers) and 16 total in his other 11 outings, compiling a 2.25 ERA in those starts. Max Scherzer’s 2.22 ERA is his third lowest through 12 starts in any season of his career (1.92 in 2018, 2.13 in 2015).
ROYALS (29-31) at ATHLETICS (37-26)
● These teams have not met since September 2019. Between 2016 and ’19, the A’s took 19 of 27 meetings between the clubs, outscoring the Royals by 76 runs, 163-87. Oakland won three games over Kansas City in that period by margins of at least 13 runs, and two others by eight or more runs.
● On the heels of a five-game winning streak in which they plated 43 runs, the Royals have managed only 10 runs in dropping their last five contests. They hit .326 with nine homers during the winning streak but have managed only a .205 average and two homers in the losing string.
● The A’s are a season-high 11 games over .500 following a two-game home sweep of Arizona in which Oakland yielded only two runs. In their past four games – two of which were played at Coors Field – the A’s have a 2.06 ERA (eight earned runs, 35.0 innings).
● Carlos Santana has a .211 lifetime batting average against the A’s. Among active players with 200 or more plate appearances versus Oakland, only Tampa Bay’s Mike Zunino (.202) and Jeff Mathis (.208; currently in minor leagues with Atlanta) have lower marks.
● Mark Canha’s .383 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot ranks fourth among the 23 players who have had at least 125 plate appearances batting first. Canha has scored 48 runs from the No. 1 lineup position – two of them on Wednesday – tied with Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. for the most in MLB.
● Mike Minor has been superb on the road this season, working to a 2-0 record, 3.12 ERA and .188 opponent batting average. With Texas and Oakland in 2020, Minor had a 5.70 road ERA. Frankie Montas allows a .611 OPS on his first trip through the enemy lineup – that figure jumps to .904 the second time through.