Howard hitting and missing over past eight games

ESPN.com

Updated: June 16, 2008

Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

It seems lately Ryan Howard drives home either four runs in a game or none.

GOOD AND BAD

By Mark Simon, ESPN Research

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Ryan Howard, for much of the 2008 season, has been an all-or-nothing player. While Phillies fans may be disappointed with his overall performance, there are some signs that he's returning to his form from previous seasons.

Howard had his second straight four-RBI game on Monday. This time, the Phillies were winners over the Red Sox behind strong performances from both Howard and starter Cole Hamels.

A closer look at Howard's last eight games shows that he's hitting .343 with 17 RBIs, but the all-or-nothing trend still is a warning sign that lingers. He has almost as many strikeouts in that stretch as he has hits.

Ryan Howard, last eight games
Games with an RBI Games without an RBI
Games 4 4
Avg. .579 (11-for-19) .063 (1-for-16)
HR 4 0
RBI 17 0
Strikeouts 6 5

Past Baseball Tonight Clubhouses: June 15 | June 12 | June 11 | June 10 | June 9 | June 8

FORWARD THINKING: TUESDAY

Jamie Moyer • Red Sox at Phillies, 7:05 p.m. ET: Jamie Moyer (7-3, 4.12 ERA) flirted with a no-hitter his last time out against the Marlins. It'll be hard to duplicate against Boston, against whom he is 6-11 with a 6.69 ERA in his career, the highest ERA against any team. Jon Lester (5-3, 3.43 ERA) threw his no-hitter at Fenway Park, but a majority of his starts have come on the road this season. Lester has only pitched twice at Fenway. Tuesday marks his eighth start of the year on the road.

Ryan Dempster • Cubs at Rays, 7:10 p.m. ET: Ryan Dempster (8-2, 2.81 ERA), who threw a complete game in his most recent start, is 3-0 over his past four starts. He has not given up more than five hits in any of his past five starts. Scott Kazmir (6-2, 1.74 ERA) is coming off his first loss in a month. He has not given up a home run at home this season.

Brandon Webb • A's at Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m. ET: Despite having a 2.98 ERA on the road this season, Justin Duchscherer (6-4, 2.20 ERA) is 1-4 away from home. After losing back-to-back starts, Brandon Webb is 2-0 over his past three. He has not issued a walk in any of those three starts.

• Complete list of pitching probables for Tuesday's games


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BBTN ON THE AIR: TUESDAY

TIME WHO'S ON?
10 p.m. ET
ESPN		 Host: Dari Nowkhah
Analysts: Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, John Kruk, Eduardo Perez
1:30 a.m. ET
ESPN		 Host: Dari Nowkhah
Analysts: John Kruk, Eduardo Perez

BASEBALL TONIGHT MINUTE: WANG'S INJURY

MONDAY'S NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES

GOOD
Marcus Thames• Marcus Thames homered in his first two at-bats against the Giants, giving him a stretch in which his last seven hits were all homers.
BAD
Ubaldo Jimenez• Ubaldo Jimenez's struggles continue. He gave up three runs and five walks in a loss against Atlanta. He is now 0-6 over his past 12 appearances this season.
UGLY
Mike Timlin• Mike Timlin made matters worse in Boston's loss, coming out of the bullpen to give up four hits, four runs and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME

Fantasy To comm-
emorate the 100-year anniversary of baseball's most famous tune, "Base-
ball Tonight" has asked nine popular musical artists to record a rendition of the song and engage in a battle of the bands. Take a listen. "Baseball Tonight": Battle of the Bands

FANTASY: PREVIEW OF TUESDAY'S GAMES

Will Harris examines the pitching matchups in store for the 15 games on Tuesday's schedule in the American League and National League.

Fantasy Harris also looks at injuries and details player reports that could help shape the way you put together your roster for Tuesday. Daily Notes

NEWS AND NOTES

Kevin Youkilis• Boston's Kevin Youkilis was a late scratch from Monday's lineup. Youkilis missed the game because of spasms in the middle of his back.

Troy Tulowitzki• Troy Tulowitzki (torn left quad) and Clint Barmes (sprained right knee) are expected to begin rehab stints at Triple-A Colorado Springs on Tuesday. Tulowitzki has been out since April 30; Barmes since May 25.

Daisuke Matsuzaka• Daisuke Matsuzaka threw 65 pitches over five innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket. Matsuzaka, out with a strained rotator cuff, gave up two runs and three hits.