BASEBALL MISCELLANY : NAMES AND NUMBERS

Greg Maddux: The Chicago Cubs’ right-hander is 13-3 with two more starts before the All-Star break. Here are some of the best recent records at the All-Star break, followed by the pitchers’ final record for that year:

1968--Denny McLain, 16-2 and 31-6; 1976--Randy Jones, 16-3 and 22-14; 1978--Ron Guidry, 13-1 and 25-3; 1979--Tommy John, 13-4 and 21-9; 1980--Steve Carlton, 14-4 and 24-9; 1985--Dwight Gooden, 13-3 and 24-4; 1985--Joaquin Andujar, 15-4 and 21-12; 1986--Roger Clemens, 15-2 and 24-4; 1987--Bret Saberhagen, 15-3 and 18-10.

Kansas City: The Royals have had six winning streaks of three or more games and four losing streaks of four or more. “This is probably the most inconsistent team I’ve ever been around,” George Brett said.

Mark Gubicza: Despite the Royals’ inconsistency, the talented Gubicza, an off-season resident of Northridge, is enjoying his most consistent season. He faces the Boston Red Sox today with an 11-5 record, 2.77 earned-run average and a 6-game win streak, having also won 8 of his last 9 decisions.

Houston Astros: They led the majors through Friday with 126 stolen bases, but were 5-19 in games in which they did not steal.

Pittsburgh Pirates: They were 35-0 in games they led entering the ninth inning before losing a lead and a game to the New York Mets Wednesday.

Otis Nixon: Now with the Montreal Expos, the pinch-running specialist is the only major leaguer with 200 or more at-bats who has more runs, 93, than hits, 89.

Mark McGwire: Oakland ballot-box stuffing enables McGwire to continue to lead the American League All-Star voting at first base despite his .174 batting average, 2 homers and 6 runs batted in during June.

Milwaukee Brewers: They led the American League in team ERA at 3.35 through Friday and were at 3.15 in June, when they had only a 12-15 record because they hit .208 with runners in scoring position.

Cleveland: A 26-game stretch within the American League East division was expected to determine whether the Indians were for real. The Indians went 9-17 in the stretch that ended Wednesday, scored 3 or fewer runs 14 times and went from 1 1/2 to 6 games out.