Fourth of July Weekend Cheat Sheet
The Fourth of July holiday takes center stage this weekend and with it MLB continues its march toward the All-Star break.
Meanwhile, here’s a quick report of four key games on this weekend’s card. Remember, pitcher records are ‘team start’ results and team matchup records are those from within each series.
Enjoy the games and the fireworks.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs
Most Recent Series Result: Cubs 10-6 last 16 games (3-3 this season)
Most Recent Series Result at the Site: Cubs 3-2 last five games
Key Day/Month Stat: Cubs 16-4 home Sundays; Brewers 0-4 Sundays
Best Arm in the Series: Cubs’ Dempster 6-1, 3.47 ERA home versus Brewers
Worst Arm in the Series: Cubs’ Zambrano 0-6, 4.67 ERA last six home starts versus Brewers; Brewers’ Looper 1-6, 2.72 ERA career versus Cubs
New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies
Most Recent Series Result: Mets 11-7 last 18 games (4-3 this season)
Most Recent Series Result at the Site: Mets 5-2 last seven games (1-1 this season)
Key Day/Month Stat: Phillies 15-4 Sundays; Mets 3-11 Sundays
Best Arm in the Series: Santana 6-2, 2.95 ERA career
Worst Arm in the Series: Hamels 0-2, 5.25 ERA last two home starts
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees
Most Recent Series Result: Yankees 4-2 last six games (2-1 this season)
Most Recent Series Result at the Site: Yankees 10-7 last 17 games
Key Day/Month Stat: Yankees 13-3 Fridays; Blue Jays 4-12 away Fridays
Best Arm in the Series: Blue Jays’ Halladay 16-3, 2.09 ERA last 19 starts
Worst Arm in the Series: Chamberlain 0-2, 4.00 ERA career
Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins
Most Recent Series Result: Twins 14-6 last 20 games (4-1 this season)
Most Recent Series Result at the Site: Tigers 9-3 last 12 home (3-0 this season)
Key Day/Month Stat: Twins 12-1 home Fridays; Tigers 4-12 Fridays
Best Arm in the Series: Twins’ Slowey 4-0, 4.57 ERA career starts
Worst Arm in the Series: Tigers’ Jackson 1-3, 6.99 ERA career starts
Weekend Series - Rays vs Rangers
As Wimbledon betting fans await the epic Williams-sisters clash on Saturday, baseball has some big matchups of its own this weekend. The streaking Rays visit the struggling Rangers in a series that looks close on paper but may be lopsided in the end. Let’s make some picks.
Saturday, July 4, 8:05 p.m. ET
David Price (2-2, 3.93) vs Vicente Padilla (6-4, 4.75)
It could be Déjà vu for Texas come Saturday. Rookie David Price’s makeup is an exaggerated version of Kazmir’s – even more electric stuff and even more trouble hitting the plate. Price dominates or struggles depending on the style of lineup he faces in baseball betting, and the Rangers are just the type of team he dominates. Don’t expect mediocre Vicente Padilla to survive the Rays’ onslaught, either.
Edge: Rays
Sunday, July 5, 8:05 p.m. ET
Jeff Niemann (7-4, 3.95) vs Scott Feldman (6-2, 4.09)
It’s been a dream season for young Jeff Niemann, who has allowed three or fewer runs in 12 of his 15 starts. That said, he may be due to lay an egg. Power-hitting teams like the Red Sox and Yankees gave him trouble and, while the Rangers have slumped badly, they still have plenty of pop from the likes of Michael Young and Nelson Cruz. Scott Feldman has pitched as strongly as Niemann this season and pitches fairly well at home (3.91 ERA). Unlike Niemann, Feldman seems unflappable against potent attacks, as he handled the Yankees and Angles well this season. The Rangers will get on the board Sunday.
Edge: Rangers