MLB: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians
Cleveland and Detroit meet in a four-game set at Progressive Field this weekend. Indians off a 10-7 loss at Kansas City take a 5-2 stretch, 11-5 run into the opener and are slated to hand the ball to Justin Masterson. The right-hander throwing his third shutout of the season last time out brings a 10-6 record, 3.48 ERA to the mound. Masterson 6-1 on home field over 9 starts (8-1 TSR) has not had much success vs Tigers posting a 2-7 mark over 12 starts (4-8 TSR). Detroit pounding Blue Jays 11-1 on Thursday building a slim 1 1/2 game lead over Cleveland have Rick Porcello toeing the rubber. Porcello looks to halt a three game slide in which he has given up 27 hit, 16 runs moving the mark to 4-6 on the campaign with a 5.21 ERA. Porcello 2-4 on the road (4-4 TSR) is 6-3 vs Indians in 17 life-time tries (10-7 TSR). Detroit sweeping the previous series with Cleveland and having won 6-of-8 encounters certainly presents a formidable challenge for the host. But, Tribe do have a few solid betting trends going their way. Tribe are 8-2 as home favorite opening a series, 4-0 opening a home series w/Masterson, 5-1 as home favorite following a loss the previous night.
MLB Trends for Series Starting 7/5
By Kyle Hunter
The 4th of July is now in the rear view mirror and we are just past the halfway point of the Major League Baseball season. The two Los Angeles teams are showing signs of life. The Angels are playing very well, but they have a ton of ground to make up in the AL West. Fortunately for the Dodgers, the NL West is a complete mess, and the Dodgers could vault into first place within weeks if they stay hot.
There will be a lot of key divisional matchups on the schedule this weekend. Detroit and Cleveland meet in Cleveland in what is a huge series for the Indians as they try to stay in touch in the AL Central. The Dodgers will be in San Francisco to take on the slumping Giants in what is an extremely heated rivalry.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 6-0 in their last 6 road games. Pittsburgh has the best record in baseball right now. They did lose two of their last three at home to the Phillies, but they’ll try to get back on the winning track at Wrigley Field this weekend. The Cubs are just 16-35 in their last 31 games against the NL Central.
The Atlanta Braves are 0-8 in Tim Hudson’s last 8 road starts. Hudson will start for the Braves Friday in Philadelphia. Cliff Lee will be on the mound for the Phillies. The Phillies are just 1-4 in Lee’s last 5 starts against the Braves.
Totals bettors should keep an eye on the under in Kansas City on Friday. The under is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings between the Athletics and the Royals. The under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Kansas City.
The under is 31-11-2 in Jeremy Hellickson’s last 44 home starts. Hellickson will start for the Rays on Friday against the slumping Chicago White Sox. The Rays are also 6-1 in Hellickson’s last 7 starts overall.
There are plenty of conflicting trends for the Tigers vs. Indians series this weekend in Cleveland. On Friday, Justin Masterson will start for the Indians. The Indians are 7-0 in Masterson’s last 7 starts. Rick Porcello will start for the Tigers in that game, and the Tigers are 1-5 in Porcello’s last 6 starts in Cleveland. At the same time, the Tigers are 5-0 in their last 5 games overall against the Indians.
Looking for a live dog to bet on this weekend? Be careful pulling the trigger on the Minnesota Twins. The Twins are 0-6 in their last 6 games as an underdog. Their opponent will be the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto is 6-0 in their last 6 games as a favorite.
The Dodgers are 7-1 in their last 8 games against the NL West. Los Angeles is 10-2 in their last 12 games. San Francisco is 1-9 in their last 10 games. Still, it is the Giants who have won four straight home games against the Dodgers.
The Colorado Rockies are 8-20 in their last 28 games at Arizona. The Rockies are 5-17 in their last 22 games during game one of a series. The under is also 18-6-2 in the last 26 games between the Rockies and Diamondbacks.
MLB Odds and Picks -- Masterson looks to tame Tigers
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
The Tigers won three games in a row at Toronto to take a slim 1.5-game lead over Cleveland in the AL Central, and tonight they'll get a chance to lengthen that margin in the beginning of a four-game set at Progressive Field against the Indians. However, Friday night would appear to be the most difficult of all the matchups for Detroit, as Justin Masterson takes the mound as a -125 favorite over Rick Porcello.
The Tigers beat Masterson 4-1 at Detroit on June 9, but tonight should be a different story just because of Masterson being at home and coming off a great outing. He tossed his major league leading third shutout of the season Sunday at Chicago, and while he's been up and down on the road all season, he's been almost unbeatable at home. The Indians have won his past seven home starts and eight of nine this season.
Detroit has won six of eight meetings against Cleveland this season, including a three-game sweep that was culminated by beating Masterson. At the time, it gave the Tigers a 5.5-game lead in the division. Since then, the Indians have won 15 of 23 while Detroit has gone 11-12. The Indians briefly took over first place by a half-game on Tuesday, but two straight losses at Kansas City have Cleveland 1.5 games out now.
The bad news for Masterson is that he is only 2-7 with a 5.45 ERA in 12 career starts against the Tigers. Miguel Cabrera and Torii Hunter have combined to hit .368 with five homers against Masterson.
The bad news for Detroit is that Porcello (4-6, 5.21 ERA) is pitching. He's lost three straight starts while compiling an 8.82 ERA. We think Porcello is the bigger component today in liking the Indians to do well. The Cleveland bats -- led by Jason Kipnis, who's hitting .462 during a 15-game hitting streak -- will do enough damage to keep Masterson's home winning streak going.
Don't expect much runs by the Bay
The Dodgers are tearing the cover off the ball lately. Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez all had a field day in Colorado, winning two of three, but things should be a little different tonight at AT&T Park when they renew their rivalry with the Giants.
The total in tonight's game is 6.5, with some of the low number based on Matt Cain pitching well lately and Hyun-Jin Ryu being solid in almost every outing. But perhaps the biggest reason is that the Giants simply aren't hitting the ball. San Francisco has scored only 26 runs while losing 11 of their past 13 games. Tonight we shouldn't expect that trend to change much.
The problem here is keeping the Dodgers bats quiet, but Cain has usually taken care of business against them. In his last 11 starts against the Dodgers, Cain has gone 5-0 with a 1.93 ERA. He's held the Dodgers to one run or fewer in six of those starts. Look for Cain to be at his best and keep the Giants within striking distance late. This has the look of being a 1-1 game going to the eighth inning where the win will be up for grabs.
Friday selections:
Indians (Masterson) -125 vs. Tigers
Giants/Dodgers UNDER 6.5 (EV)
Pirates (Liriano) -127 at Cubs
Mets (Wheeler) +112 at Brewers
Season to date record: 156-155-2 (+420)
Friday's National League Betting Cheat Sheet and Tips
By Covers.com
Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs (126, 7.5)
Hot pitcher: Few pitchers can match the string of performances turned in last month by Pittsburgh starter Francisco Liriano, who went 4-2 despite yielding a total of nine runs in six starts. Perhaps the best of those stellar outings came at the expense of the Cubs at Wrigley Field, when the 29-year-old Venezuelan allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory.
Cold pitcher: Cubs lefty James Russell allowed two runs and blew a save in his last appearance vs. the A’s. He has surrendered four runs in his last two innings pitched.
Weather: Temperatures in the low-80s and clear skies. Winds will blow out to left field at 8 mph.
Key betting stat: The Pirates have won six straight road games.
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies (-149, 7)
Hot pitcher: Phillies starter Cliff Lee ranks fifth in the NL in strikeouts (115) and ninth in ERA, and the 34-year-old already has surpassed last season’s win total of six. He finished 3-0 with 52 strikeouts in six June starts - including fanning 10 in a no-decision Saturday at Los Angeles.
Cold pitcher: After defeating the New York Mets on May 5, Atlanta starter Tim Hudson has posted a 0-6 mark in his past 10 starts.
Weather: Temperatures in the low-80s and clear skies. Winds will blow out to center field at 10 mph.
Key betting stat: The Braves are 0-8 in Hudson’s last eight road starts.
San Diego Padres at Washington Nationals (-148, 7.5)
Hot pitcher: Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez has posted six straight quality starts and is coming off one of his best starts of the season, when he allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings at the New York Mets.
Cold pitcher: Padres righty Tyson Ross has yielded seven runs over his past two appearances.
Weather: Temperatures in the high-80s and clear skies. Winds will blow out to center field at 10 mph.
Key betting stat: San Diego has totaled seven runs during its current six-game losing streak.
New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers (-117, 9)
Hot pitcher: Mets right-hander Carlos Torres has only allowed one run in 13 2/3 innings of work this season.
Cold pitcher: Mets starter Zack Wheeler followed up a four-run effort versus the Chicago White Sox with a five-run performance against Washington on Sunday. A lack of control has hindered Wheeler, who has surrendered three homers in his last two starts and 10 walks overall.
Weather: Roof will likely be open. Temperatures in the mid-70s and partly cloudy skies. Winds will blow in from right field at 7 mph.
Key betting stat: Mets are 7-1 in their last eight games following a loss.
Miami Marlins at St. Louis Cardinals (-163, 8.5)
Hot pitcher: Miami starters have allowed three runs or fewer in 16 of the past 17 games. Jacob Turner gets the ball tonight.
Cold pitcher: Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook is 2-2 with a 5.32 ERA in four starts since coming off the disabled list with right elbow inflammation. He was hit hard Sunday at Oakland, allowing six runs on 10 hits in four innings.
Weather: Temperatures in the high-70s and clear skies. Winds will blow out to left field at 5 mph.
Key betting stat: The Marlins are 5-1 in their last six games as an underdog.
Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks (-123, 8.5)
Hot pitcher: Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa has won six of his last seven decisions and has yielded fewer than three runs eight times in his last 11 starts.
Cold pitcher: Skaggs is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Reno to make his fourth start of the season. The 21-year-old lost his most recent outing June 9, surrendering five runs in five innings against San Francisco. Skaggs also yielded five runs at St. Louis five days earlier after scattering three hits over six scoreless innings in a victory over Texas in his season debut May 27.
Weather: Roof could be closed due to extreme temperatures.
Key betting stat: The over is 5-0-1 in the Diamondbacks’ last six overall.
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants (-126, 6.5)
Hot pitcher: Giants closer Sergio Romo racked up five saves and was the owner of a sparkling 1.00 ERA in June.
Cold pitcher: Dodgers righty Brandon League has been touched up in each of his last three appearances, surrendering five earned runs in the process.
Weather: Temperatures in the mid-50s and partly cloudy skies. Winds will blow out to left field at 13 mph.
Key betting stat: San Francisco has scored fewer than three runs in 10 of its last 13 games.
Friday's American League Betting Notes and Tips
By Covers.com
Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians (-137, 8.5)
Hot pitcher: Indians starting pitcher Justin Masterson tossed his third shutout of the campaign on Sunday at Chicago, limiting the White Sox to six hits with a walk and eight strikeouts. The 28-year-old, who has blanked Chicago twice this year, is a stellar 6-1 with a 2.29 ERA in nine home starts.
Cold pitcher: Tigers starter Rick Porcello is looking to end his personal losing streak, which reached three starts when he allowed three runs over six innings at Tampa Bay on Sunday. That outing was considerably better than his previous two, in which he surrendered a combined 13 runs and 19 hits over 10 1/3 frames.
Weather: Temperatures in the high-70s and a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Winds will blow out to right field at 10 mph.
Key betting stat: The Indians are 7-0 in Masterson’s last seven home starts.
Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees (-101, 9)
Hot pitcher: Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez recorded his fourth win in five starts after allowing three runs and striking out nine over 6 2/3 innings versus Cleveland on June 27. The 29-year-old Mexican pitched well in his last outing against New York, but his sterling seven-inning performance only netted him a no-decision.
Cold pitcher: Yankees righty Preston Claiborne was touched up for two earned runs in three hits in his last relief appearance.
Weather: Temperatures in the mid-70s and clear skies. Winds will blow out to left field at 10 mph.
Key betting stat: The Orioles have taken the last five meetings with the Yankees.
Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays (-172, 9)
Hot pitcher: Blue Jays reliever Steve Delabar hasn’t been tabbed with an earned run since May 26 (14 innings).
Cold pitcher: Twins starter Kevin Correia has just one victory in his last six turns despite allowing three runs or fewer in four of those outings. He's 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA in 13 career innings against the Blue Jays.
Weather: Roof should be closed due to thunderstorm risk. If not, winds will blow out to right field at 8 mph.
Key betting stat: The under is 6-0 in Toronto starter Mark Buehrle’s last six starts overall.
Chicago White Sox at Tampa Bay Rays (-194, 8)
Hot pitcher: Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson was 5-1 in June and has yielded only three runs over 19 innings to win his last three outings against Boston, Toronto and Detroit.
Cold pitcher: White Sox starter Dylan Axelrod is winless since May 26 and has been touched up for 18 runs over 20 2/3 innings in his last four starts.
Weather: Dome.
Key betting stat: The over is 5-0-1 in the last six meetings between the clubs.
Houston Astros at Texas Rangers (-199, 9.5)
Hot pitcher: Texas closer Joe Nathan has converted 12 consecutive save opportunities and is 28-for-29 on the season.
Cold pitcher: Rangers starter Nick Tepesch last won against Houston on May 12 and has since gone 0-3 in an eight-start span. Tepesch has allowed five or
more runs five times this season, going 0-4 in those starts.
Weather: Temperatures in the low-90s and clear skies. Winds will blow in from center field at 8 mph.
Key betting stat: The under is 6-1 in the Astros’s last seven road games.
Oakland Athletics at Kansas City Royals (105, 8.5)
Hot pitcher: Athletics closer Grant Balfour is 21-for-21 in save chances this season and has converted 39 in a row, leaving him one shy of matching Dennis Eckersley's franchise record.
Cold pitcher: The long ball has been a concern for A’s starter Tom Milone, who has allowed at least one in each of his last eight starts and 12 overall during that span.
Weather: Temperatures in the mid-80s and clear skies. Winds will blow out to left field at 11 mph.
Key betting stat: The Athletics are 1-6 in their last seven games as a road favorite.
Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels (-132, 8.5)
Hot pitcher: Angels starter C.J. Wilson has earned four straight wins and is coming off a seven-inning effort at Houston in which he allowed an unearned run on three hits and struck out 10. The veteran lefty’s last loss came in the second game of that doubleheader at Boston on June 8, when he yielded four runs (three earned) on eight hits in five innings.
Cold pitcher: Red Sox righty Andrew Bailey has allowed at least one run in five of his last six appearances.
Weather: Temperatures in the low-70s and clear skies. Winds will blow out to right field at 6 mph.
Key betting stat: The over is 7-1 in the last eight meetings between the clubs.
INTERLEAGUE
Seattle Mariners at Cincinnati Reds (-194, 8.5)
Hot pitcher: Mariners right-hander Aaron Harang is 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in five road starts this season.
Cold pitcher: Reds starter Mike Leake is 5-1 with a 1.31 ERA over his last nine starts. He has allowed five or fewer hits five times during the stretch.
Weather: Temperatures in the high-70s and a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Winds will blow in from right field at 8 mph.
Key betting stat: The under is 8-1-1 in the Reds’ last 10 home games.