Game Notes For Friday
* Tonight’s contest will feature two of the most dominant pitchers of the last 20 years – Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens, with 11 Cy Young Awards between them.
Maddux and Clemens, Career Stats/Ranks Among Active Pitchers
(min 1500 IP for ratio stats)
Maddux vs. Clemens
Wins 305 (2nd) 329 (1st)
Strikeouts 2,929 (3rd) 4,349 (1st)
Games Started 608 (2nd) 643 (1st)
Innings Pitched 4,205.1 (2nd) 4,521.0 (1st)
ERA 2.96 (2nd) 3.16 (4th)
HR/All per 9 IP 0.58 (2nd) 0.67 (3rd)
* This is also the first matchup between 300-game winners since 1987, and only the fifth since 1900. The previous four were all in the AL, and all four involved Don Sutton.
Matchups Between 300-Game Winners – Since 1900
DATE Visitor Home Score Winner?
JUN-28-1986 Niekro (304), Cle @ Sutton (301), Cal 3- 9 --
JUL-27-1986 Seaver (308), Bos @ Sutton (303), Cal 0- 3 Sutton
JUN-08-1987 Niekro (314), Cle @ Sutton (312), Cal 2- 0 Niekro
AUG-04-1987 Carlton (328), Min @ Sutton (317), Cal 3-12 Sutton
The last matchup between 300-game winners in the National League was on July 21, 1892, when Tim Keefe (Philadelphia) faced off against Jim “Pud” Galvin (St. Louis), with the Phillies winning 2-0.
*Maddux needs a win tonight to avoid a winless April for the first time in his career.
*Clemens goes into tonight with a streak of 23 consecutive scoreless innings.
* Red-hot Derrek Lee will not shy away from facing Clemens tonight.
Derrek Lee, Highest Career BA by Opposing Pitcher
(min 15 AB)
Vs. Jeff Suppan .529 (9/17)
Roger Clemens .467 (7/15)
Jason Marquis .462 (12/26)
Curt Schilling .423 (11/26)
* After knocking in six runs Wednesday against the Reds, Derrek Lee has picked up at least five RBI in three games this season. No other National Leaguer has knocked in at least five runs twice this season.
Most Games With 5+ RBI, 2005
Derrek Lee, ChC 3
Manny Ramirez, Bos 3
Alex Rodriguez, NYY 2
13 players tied with 1
* The Astros have been shut out an MLB high 5 times this year, including 3 of the last 4 games. They are on a five-game losing streak.