Aaron Harang vs. Cardinals
Aaron Harang’s season of redemption comes to a crossroads Monday night. Forget the nine-run pounding he took Wednesday night in Miami. No team has beaten him more over his 13-year career than the Cardinals: 13 losses in 25 starts. He has given up more hits (155) to them than innings pitched (154 1/3) and don’t even ask about the games in St. Louis (three wins in 13 tries). He has not faced the Cards since 2010 and for that, he may be thankful (0-3 that season with five home runs allowed in 17 innings). But the Cardinals that whipped him four years ago in Harang’s final season with Cincinnati are a different team today. Among the carry-overs from 2010, C Yadier Molina has just a .216 career average against Harang and that’s better than anyone else. OF Matt Holliday (.087), OF Allen Craig (.167) and OF Jon Jay (.143) have barely touched him. It took one April for Harang to re-established his career. Beating St. Louis would do a lot for his May.
Emilio Bonifacio vs. Braves
Maybe it’s because they’re the Cubs that a complete stranger — a February free agent signee at that — can just show up and quickly become the team’s offensive focus. But Emilio Bonifacio, playing for his sixth team in eight seasons, has done just that, leading the Cubs in average (.337), on-base percentage (.385), doubles (7) and steals (10) through the first month. This from a career .266 hitter? New manager Rick Renteria is shuttling him between center field and second base to keep his bat in the lineup. Bonifacio has the second-highest OBA for leadoff hitters in the league and Braves starter Alex Wood might note he is batting .419 against lefties. How long can this last? Bonifacio had a great start — .500 in the first week — but the Braves’ scouting report may need revising. In 61 career games against Atlanta, he had more strikeouts (54) than hits (53).
