Yanks, Red Sox hook up
By Sportsbook,ag
Boston (5-7) at New York (6-6)
Sportsbook.ag Line New York -110; Total 9
The Red Sox and Yankees wrap up a four-game set on Sunday night in the Bronx.
Boston dropped to the bottom of the AL East after a loss in the opening game of this series and has scored just 3.6 runs per game through Thursday’s contest. The Red Sox have relied on two of their newer players early on this season as rookies OF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.364, 5 RBI) and SS Xander Bogaerts (.314) have been hitting very well. The worry the Yankees have had over the past few seasons was pitching depth, but so far their starters have looked great, and it has been their offense that has hit a wall. After their 4-1 victory against Boston on Thursday, they are averaging just 3.7 runs per game on the season, while getting lightning-in-a-bottle from 3B Yangervis Solarte (.387, 7 RBI, 6 doubles).
Meanwhile, 1B Kelly Johnson leads the team with two home runs. Two youngsters will face-off in Sunday's finale, as 26-year old LHP Felix Doubront (1-1, 9.00 ERA) and 27-year old RHP Ivan Nova (1-1, 8.68 ERA) both attempt to bounce back from very poor starts in their last outings. With Thursday’s loss, Boston has now gone 30-26 in this matchup since the beginning of the 2011 season and was even better last year, going 13-6 against their arch nemesis.
Felix Doubront has done well enough to stay in the Red Sox rotation for his third straight year now, but will need to show more improvement if he plans on staying there. His strikeout rate dropped from 9.3 K/9 in 2012 to 7.7 K/9 in 2013, and he has started this season with six strikeouts in eight innings. He could not put it together in his last start, lasting just 2.2 innings while giving up six hits and five runs and issuing more walks (3) than strikeouts (2). Doubront has pitched in 12 career games (8 starts) against the Yankees, putting together a 3-2 record with a 4.17 ERA (1.37 WHIP) and allowing eight home runs in 49.2 innings.
OF Alfonso Soriano has only five at-bats against Doubront, but has three hits and two home runs (6 RBI) against him, while 1B Kelly Johnson (4-for-13) has also done well. Meanwhile, SS Derek Jeter (2-for-14) and OF Brett Gardner (2-for-12) have not been able to get to him just yet. Coming into this four-game series, the Red Sox bullpen had a 3.34 ERA (1.28 WHIP) while not allowing a run on the road. Koji Uehara (0.00 ERA, 2 saves) has continued to dominate opposing teams’ hitters and has a career 2.42 ERA (0.81 WHIP) while giving up three home runs over 26 career innings facing the Bronx Bombers.
Ivan Nova impressed last year as he fooled opposing hitters with his knee-buckling curveball, but could not keep the pitch down in his last start, allowing a whopping seven runs on 10 hits in just 3.2 innings against the Orioles. He has really had trouble against Boston in eight career games (7 starts), posting a 2-3 record, 5.50 ERA (1.70 WHIP) and 6.9 K/9. Nova has gotten through just four frames in each of his past two starts against the Red Sox, allowing a total of eight runs (7 ER) on 11 hits while the Yankees have lost both contests. DH David Ortiz (6-for-16, 1 HR, 4 RBI) and OF Daniel Nava (4-for-10, 2 doubles) have not been fooled when facing Nova, while rookies Jackie Bradley Jr. and Xander Bogaerts have combined to face him only three times, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. The biggest weak spot on New York’s roster has been its bullpen, and coming into this series they have compiled a 4.81 ERA (1.40 WHIP) while being perfect in three save opportunities. Shawn Kelley (0-1, 4.15 ERA, 1 save) has been pushed into the role as closer with David Robertson (groin) hitting the DL, but David Phelps (0-0, 6.00 ERA, 1 save) earned the save in Thursday's victory with 2.1 perfect innings of relief.
MLB: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees
A series finale of the never-lacking-for-hype rivalry between New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox continues in the Bronx Sunday night. Despite winning 2-of-3 so far this series the Yankees remain on a 8-14 skid vs Red Sox including 5-8 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees send Ivan Nova (1-1, 8.68 ERA) to the bump trying to recover from a 3.2 inning 10 hit 7 run spanking at the hands of Orioles last time out. Meanwhile, Bosox offer Felix Doubront (1-1, 9.00 ERA) also trying to shake off a horrid start that saw the lefty smacked for 6 hits, 5 runs over 2.2 innings of work in a loss to Texas. Saturday the clubs lit up the score board for 11 runs and there’s always a certain danger in baseball betting that scoring the following night may dry up as a result. However, with both starters in suspect form there is an 'Over'-Whelming chance runs will once again come early, often making 'Over' a good play. Keep in mind, Yankees have hit the 'Over' in 6-of-7 vs Red Sox with Nova starting, BoxSox are 6-2 'Over' in Doubront's last eight starts including 2-0 'Over' facing Bronx Bombers.
Sunday's National League Betting Cheat Sheet
By Covers.com
Miami Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies (-120, 8.5)
Hot pitching stat: Five of the nine runs Henderson Alvarez has allowed this season have been unearned.
Cold batting stat: Giancarlo Stanton has struck out seven times against Kyle Kendrick during their lifetime series.
Weather: Partly cloudy and 61 degrees.
Key betting note: Phils have won 12 of their last 15 against Miami.
Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves (109, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Washington's Gio Gonzalez is hot out of the gate with a 2-0 record and a .75 ERA
Hot batting stat: BJ Upton ended a home run drought dating back to last August yesterday.
Weather: Currently unavailable.
Key betting note: Atlanta own the Nationals in recent history, holding a 21-7 record over the last 28 games.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers (-155, 8)
Hot pitching stat: Charlie Morton is 2-0 with a .66 ERA in hist two starts against the Brew.
Hot batting stat: Ryan Braun is looking to build off a three home run explosion he posted against the Phillies this week.
Weather: Cold with weather in the high 40's.
Key betting note: Milwaukee's +25 run differential is seven better than any other team in the majors as the Brewers are the hottest team in the majors.
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals (-220, 7)
Hot pitching stat: Michael Wacha has built off a breakout 2013 with two quality starts for St. Louis, finishing 1-0 with a .72 ERA to date.
Hot batting stat: Nate Scherholtz is 6-for-9 with three doubles in the series.
Weather: Partly cloudy with a potential high of 69.
Key betting note: Over is 4-1 in the Cards last five games.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks (115, 8)
Cold pitching stat: Trevor Cahill is already off to a nightmare 2014, holding an 0-3 record and a 7.90 ERA.
Hot batting stat: Arizona have struck out 23 times in the first two games of the weekend series.
Weather: Sunny and warm.
Key betting note: Los Angeles have won 11 of their last 14 against the Diamondbacks.
Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants (-153, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Tim Hudson has turned back the clock for San Fran, going 2-0 to start 2014 for the Giants.
Hot batting stat: Rockies are on a five game winning streak against righties.
Weather: Cloudy and 53.
Key betting note: Rockies are 5-2 in their last seven against the NL West.
Interleague
Tampa Bay Rays at Cincinnati Reds (-137, 7.5)
Cold pitching stat: Reds' starter Tony Cigrani only made it through four innings in his last start, needing 88 pitches to make it through 12 outs after giving up three runs in the first inning.
Hot batting stat: Evan Longoria is continuing to be key for the Rays with hits in 10 of Tampa Bay's 12 games so far.
Weather: 16 MPH winds from the South.
Key betting note: Cincy are currently one of the coldest teams in baseball and are just 3-8 on the season.
Detroit Tigers at San Diego Padres (128, 6.5)
Hot pitching stat: Max Scherzer is 13-3 on the road facing teams with losing records as of late.
Cold batting stat: Key Padres stars Carlos Quentin and Cameron Maybin are still out of the lineup for San Diego.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-60s.
Key betting note: Under is 7-1 in the last eight road games for the Tigers with a total of 6.5 or lower.
Sunday's America League Betting Cheat Sheet
By Covers.com
Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles (-113, 8.5)
Hot pitching stat: Veteran Mark Buehrle has been locked in during April. The former White Sox ace is 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA in what has the makings of a return to his youthful form.
Cold batting stat: Jose Bautista is batting just .077 against Ubaldo Jiminez lifetime.
Weather: Calm and cool in the mid fifties.
Key betting note: The first two games of the weekend set have went Under easily in a 2-0 Toronto win Friday and a 2-1 extra innings victory on Saturday.
Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (-110, 9)
Hot pitching stat: Ivan Nova has done well to keep the ball inside the park against the Red Sox historically, against the current Boston lineup only David Ortiz has a home run to his name against Nova.
Hot batting stat: Alfonsio Soriano has a .600 average and two home runs lifetime against projected Red Sox starter Felix Doubront.
Weather: Cool and calm April weather on the East Coast. 55 degrees and little wind is the early forecast.
Key betting note: Despite Nova's ability to keep the ball in the park against the Red Sox current batters, the Over is 6-1 in Nova's recent starts in the New York-Boston Rivalry.
Houston Astros at Texas Rangers (-170, 9)
Cold pitching stat: Houtson are 0-6 in Oberholtzer's last starts.
Hot batting stat: Chris Carter is batting .575 lifetime with two home runs against Martin Perez.
Weather: High winds at 17 mph.
Key betting note: Rangers are 12-1 in last 13 games as favorites.
Kansas City Royals at Minnesota Twins (120, 8.5)
Hot pitching stat: Jason Vargas first start of the season finished with eight strikeouts and a 1.20 ERA.
Cold batting stat: Justin Maxwell is 0-for-6 lifetime against Twins starter Kevin Correira,
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low 60's.
Key betting note: Twins are 0-5 in Correira's last five starts against KC.
Cleveland Indians at Chicago White Sox (-120, 9)
Hot pitching stat: Both starting pitchers in Sunday's matinee are coming off quality starts.
Cold batting stat: Chicago slugger Adam Dunn has yet to record a home run or RBI in his history with Indians starter Kluber over 11 career at bats.
Weather: Calm winds and cool weather at 57 degrees.
Key betting note: Indians are on a 9-2 streak in Chicago.
Oakland Athletics at Seattle Mariners (115, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Scott Kazmir has allowed just nine hits over 13 1/3 innings of work this season, striking out 10 batters during two wins off the hop for the A's.
Cold batting stat: Mariners were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position during Saturday's loss.
Weather: Calm and mid fifties.
Key betting note: Oakland are 4-1 on the road to date in 2014.
Interleague
New York Mets at Los Angeles Angels (-171, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: The Mets bullpen blew a three run lead last night, but still managed to hold onto an extra innings win.
Hot batting stat: Mike Trout if is 7-for-14 with two home runs against Bartolo Colon.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-50s.
Key betting note: Los Angeles struggled with interleague play last season, finishing with a mediocre 10-10 record.