Sunday's National League Betting Cheat Sheet
By Covers.com
Colorado Rockies at Miami Marlins (-102, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa has won three consecutive starts, surrendering five runs in 18 1/3 innings over that stretch.
Cold batting stat: Members of the Rockies roster are a collective 5-for-21 with zero home runs against Miami starter Jacob Turner.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-80s with a 50 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms, so the roof at Marlins Park may be closed. Wind will blow from right to left field at 9 mph.
Key betting note: The Marlins have won seven of their last eight games with umpire Rob Drake behind home plate.
Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds (-195, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Reds left-hander Tony Cingrani has allowed more than three runs just once in 16 starts and five relief appearances this season.
Hot batting stat: Cincinnati OF Jay Bruce, who enjoyed Saturday off after making 90 straight starts, is 6-for-14 with four homers and eight RBIs lifetime against Milwaukee starter Marco Estrada.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-80s with sunny skies. Wind will blow from right to left field at 4 mph.
Key betting note: Milwaukee is 12-2 in Estrada's last 14 starts against the NL Central.
Arizona Diamondbacks at Philadelphia Phillies (+131, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin tossed 6 1/3 innings of one-run, four-hit ball in his previous outing against Philadelphia back on May 9.
Cold batting stat: Eric Chavez and Cody Ross are the only members of the Arizona roster with hits off Phillies starter Tyler Cloyd.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-80s with sunny skies. Wind will blow ut to center field at 5 mph.
Key betting note: Arizona is 22-4 in Corbin's last 26 starts.
Atlanta Braves at St. Louis Cardinals (-133, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Braves left-hander Mike Minor is 6-2 with a 2.51 ERA and just five home runs allowed in 11 road starts.
Hot batting stat: Cardinals OF Carlos Beltran is 4-for-10 with a homer against Minor.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-80s with sunny skies. Wind will blow from right to left field at 6 mph.
Key betting note: The over is 6-1 in Minor's last seven road starts against a team with a winning record.
Pittsburgh Pirates at San Francisco Giants (+120, 7.5)
Cold pitching stat: Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong is 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in four career starts against the Pirates.
Hot batting stat: Pirates 2B Neil Walker has had Vogelsong's number, going 7-for-13 with four doubles against him.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-60s with partly cloudy skies. Wind will blow out to left-center field at 12 mph.
Key betting note: The under is 8-0 in Pittsburgh's last eight Sunday games.
Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres (-152, 7)
Cold pitching stat: Padres right-hander Andrew Cashner is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in one start and two relief appearances against the Cubs.
Hot batting stat: Members of the Cubs roster have a .304/.448/.609 slash line in 23-at bats versus Cashner.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-70s with partly cloudy skies. Wind will blow from left to right field at 6 mph.
Key betting note: The Cubs have lost the third game of a series seven straight times.
Interleague
Detroit Tigers at New York Mets (+126, 7.5)
Cold pitching stat: Detroit right-hander Rick Porcello's only career start against the Mets was a forgettable one, as he was torched for seven runs on 11 hits over 3 2/3 innings.
Hot batting stat: Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera is on his way to becoming the first player in league history to win two of the three Triple Crown categories the year after leading in all three. Cabrera sits first in average and RBIs and ranks second to Chris Davis in home runs.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-70s with sunny skies. Wind will blow out to center field at 6 mph.
Key betting note: The under is 10-3 in umpire Jim Wolf's last 13 games behind home plate.
Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers (+100, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Red Sox right-hander Jake Peavy has victimized the Dodgers in his career, sporting a 13-2 mark with a 2.27 ERA in 24 starts.
Cold batting stat: Dodgers OF Andre Ethier is 5-for-33 with 10 strikeouts against Peavy.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-80s with partly cloudy skies. Wind will blow out to center field at 5 mph.
Key betting note: The Dodgers are 7-0 in lefty Chris Capuano's last seven starts.
Sunday's American League Betting Cheat Sheet
By Covers.com
Minnesota Twins at Cleveland Indians (-175, 8.5)
Hot pitching stat: Indians left-hander Scott Kazmir has registered quality starts in all three meetings with Minnesota in 2013, allowing three earned runs over 19 innings in that span.
Cold batting stat: Twins 1B Justin Morneau is hitting .217 in 23 career-at bats against Kazmir, but does have a pair of home runs.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-70s with sunny skies. Wind will blow out to right field at 6 mph.
Key betting note: Minnesota has won eight of its last 11 home games with umpire James Hoye behind home plate.
Oakland Athletics at Baltimore Orioles (-122, 9)
Cold pitching stat: Orioles right-hander Scott Feldman is 4-6 with a 6.37 ERA in 12 career starts and nine relief appearances against the Athletics.
Cold batting stat: Athletics 2B Alberto Callaspo has one hit in 15 at-bats against Feldman.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-80s with sunny skies. Wind will blow from right to left field at 5 mph.
Key betting note: The Athletics are 7-1 in their last eight Sunday games.
New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (-143, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Rays RH Alex Cobb is 3-1 with a 2.21 ERA in five career starts against the Yankees, highlighted by 8 1/3 sensational innings in an 8-3 win on May 26.
Cold batting stat: Tampa Bay OF Matt Joyce is 3-for-23 with eight strikeouts lifetime against Yankees starter Ivan Nova.
Weather: Dome.
Key betting note: The under is 7-1 in Nova's last eight starts against the Rays.
Toronto Blue Jays at Houston Astros (+125, 8.5)
Hot pitching stat: Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle spun a two-hit shutout against the Astros in their previous encounter July 25.
Cold batting stat: Members of the Astros roster are a combined 6-for-45 with zero home runs and zero RBIs against Buehrle.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-80s with a 50 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. Wind will blow from right to left field at 11 mph.
Key betting note: The under is 12-3-1 in Buehrle's last 16 starts on four days' rest.
Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox (+142, 7.5)
Cold pitching stat: Texas right-hander Matt Garza has allowed six home runs in six starts since joining the Rangers in a trade with the Cubs.
Hot batting stat: Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler has dominated Chicago starter John Danks, hitting .393 with four home runs in 28 at-bats against him.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-80s with partly cloudy skies. Wind will blow from right to left field at 8 mph.
Key betting note: The White Sox are 0-6 in Danks' last six starts on four days' rest.
Los Angeles Angels at Seattle Mariners (+117, 7.5)
Cold pitching stat: Angels right-hander Jered Weaver has been pounded in consecutive losses to the Yankees and Indians, coughing up 13 runs on 17 hits in 11 innings over that stretch.
Hot batting stat: Angels OFs Josh Hamilton and Mike Trout are a combined 11-for-19 with two homers and six RBIs against Seattle starter Aaron Harang.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-70s under mostly cloudy skies. Wind will blow in from left field at 5 mph.
Key betting note: The under is 8-1-2 in Weaver's last 11 starts versus the Mariners.
Interleague
Washington Nationals at Kansas City Royals (-120, 8)
Hot pitching stat: Nationals right-hander Dan Haren is 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA in his last five starts.
Cold batting stat: Royals OF Alex Gordon is 2-for-13 lifetime against Haren.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-80s under sunny skies. Wind will blow out to left field at 11 mph.
Key betting note: The under is 5-1-1 in Royals right-hander Ervin Santana's last seven home starts.
Sunday Night Baseball: Red Sox at Dodgers
By Covers.com
A potential World Series preview will be on display when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Boston Red Sox on Sunday Night Baseball.
PEAVY PITCHING FOR BOSTON
Jake Peavy is making his fifth start for the Red Sox on Sunday night. Three of those five starts have been on the road with the righty giving up 9 runs and 20 hits to the Giants, Blue Jays, and Royals. Peavy is making his eighth start against the National League this season despite playing for two different American League squads. He has allowed 4 earned runs or more in five of his last eight starts and he only has eight strikeouts in his last three outings. Peavy has not made it past the 7th inning in eight straight starts.
CAPUANO CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE
Chris Capuano is 4-6 with a 4.70 ERA and 1.44 WHIP this season for the Dodgers. He has allowed 13 runs and 26 hits in his last three starts against the Marlins, Mets, and Rays. He is making his fifth start against the American League this season. Capuano got rocked by the Blue Jays, Angels, and Rays in two of those outings while beating the Yankees in New York. The southpaw is on an incredibly odd run of either giving up 3 runs or more or allowing zero runs in 11 straight starts.
INJURY REPORT
The Dodgers are a pretty healthy team, however they are without Josh Beckett and Chad Billingsley for the rest of the season. Beckett is dealing with a neck issue, while Billingsley had Tommy John surgery. Matt Kemp will likely rejoin the team sometime in September due to a left ankle sprain.
Boston’s injury list is a lot longer with Matt Thornton, Clay Buchholz, Andrew Bailey, Andrew Miller, and Joel Hanrahan all missing right now. Buchholz is expected back next month, while Thornton is out with a right oblique strain and currently on the 15-day disabled list.
TRENDS
Red Sox are 6-2 their last 8 in Game 3 of a series
Red Sox are 6-2 Under in their last 8 Sunday games
Dodgers are 7-0 in Capuano’s last 7 starts
Dodgers are 7-2 Under in their last 9 Sunday games
HITTERS TO WATCH
Andre Ethier 5-for-33 vs. Peavy
Hanley Ramirez 1-for-13 vs. Peavy
Shane Victorino 3-for-8 vs. Capuano
Jonny Gomes 2-for-9 vs. Capuano
Top 3: Sunday Pitchers Facing Former Division Foes
By Covers.com
Starting pitchers never forget a former division rival - even after moving on to another team. Some have gone on to fare well against their one-time foes, while others have struggled.
Here are three Sunday pitchers who have had varying degrees of success against their ex-nemeses:
Scott Feldman, Baltimore Orioles (10-9, 3.94 ERA)
Feldman broke into the majors with the Texas Rangers - making him all-too-familiar with Sunday's opponent, the Oakland Athletics. The towering right-hander would probably rather face a different club; he's just 4-6 with a 6.37 ERA in 12 starts and nine relief appearances against the A's.
The Orioles and Athletics wrap up a three-game series at Camden Yards Sunday.
Matt Garza, Texas Rangers (9-2, 3.59 ERA)
Garza spent his first two big-league seasons with the Minnesota Twins, and will face a former rival in the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Garza is 3-3 with a 4.17 ERA in eight career starts against the White Sox, but limited them to two runs on five hits over seven innings in their last encounter July 8.
The Rangers and White Sox conclude a three-game set in Chicago on Sunday.
Jake Peavy, Boston Red Sox (9-5, 4.25 ERA)
Peavy was one of the top pitchers in the National League with the San Diego Padres a few years back - a fact that isn't lost on the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 32-year-old right-hander has crushed the Dodgers over his career, going 13-2 with a 2.27 ERA in 24 starts.
The Red Sox and Dodgers finish their three-game interleague series Sunday night in Los Angeles.
Sunday Afternoon Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Athletics at Orioles
Probables: S. Gray (1-1, 1.44 ERA) vs. M. Gonzalez (8-6, 3.81 ERA)
Series recap: These two teams have played a pair of contrasting contests in the first two games with each team winning once. Baltimore rallied for a 9-7 triumph on Friday, while Oakland used a ninth-inning homer to shock the O's on Saturday, 2-1 as short road underdogs.
Pitching notes: Sonny Gray looks to be the future of this Oakland rotation, putting together an ERA of 1.44 through three starts. The A's fell as nearly $2.00 home favorites in his last outing, a 7-4 defeat to the Mariners even though Gray scattered two hits and two runs in seven innings. Gray lost his lone road start at Toronto as a short underdog, 5-4, as the A's have scored at least four runs in each of his three starts.
The Orioles are riding seven consecutive 'overs' when Scott Feldman takes the mound, while the righty snapped a three-start skid in his last outing against the Rockies. In Feldman's five starts at Camden Yards, the average amount of runs scored is 11, which could point to another 'over.'
Yankees at Rays
Probables: I. Nova (7-4, 3.17 ERA) vs. A. Cobb (8-2, 2.85 ERA)
Series recap: The Rays grabbed the first two games against their division rivals, including a 4-2 victory as a $1.70 home favorite on Saturday. Tampa Bay improved to 5-1 the last six meetings with New York, as the Rays stayed two games behind the Red Sox in the AL East race.
Pitching notes: The Yankees have won each of Ivan Nova's last four starts, even though only one of those victories came away from the Bronx. His last loss came at home to the Rays on July 27, a 1-0 defeat as a short favorite. New York has drilled the 'over' in each of Nova's past two trips to the mound following a four-start 'under' stretch.
Alex Cobb has looked dynamic in two starts since returning to the mound following a line-drive to the head back in June. The Tampa Bay right-hander has allowed just three earned runs in his last two outings, victories over Seattle and Baltimore. Cobb shut down the Yankees in his previous meeting at Tropicana Field, tossing 8.1 innings in late May in an 8-3 triumph as a $1.20 favorite.
Nationals at Royals
Probables: D. Haren (8-11, 4.64 ERA) vs. E. Santana (8-7, 3.13 ERA)
Series recap: Washington rallied from a 6-0 deficit to stun Kansas City on Friday night, 11-10. The Nationals won their fifth straight game last night in dominating fashion, a 7-2 blowout of the Royals, as Kansas City has dropped seven consecutive contests.
Pitching notes: Following an 11-start stretch without a victory, Dan Haren has rebounded nicely with wins in four of his last five outings. Haren has allowed just five earned runs in his past five starts, while grabbing road favorite wins at Kansas City and Chicago.
On the flip side, the Royals won five consecutive starts made by Ervin Santana after the All-Star break, but the right-hander has failed to win each of his last two outings as a heavy favorite. Kansas City owns a 3-0 record in Santana's previous three starts as home 'chalk' of $1.20 or less, while beating Boston, Baltimore, and Oakland in this stretch.
Braves at Cardinals
Probables: M. Minor (12-5, 3.06 ERA) vs. L. Lynn (13-7, 3.97 ERA)
Series recap: Atlanta swept St. Louis at Turner Field last month, but the Cardinals have picked up revenge by winning the first three meetings of a four-game set. St. Louis topped Atlanta on Saturday, 6-2, the third straight game in which the Cards have limited the Braves to two runs or less.
Pitching notes: Mike Minor lasted just 1.2 innings in his last start against the Nationals, while allowing four earned runs in an 8-7 defeat. The Atlanta southpaw quieted the St. Louis lineup at Turner Field on July 26 in a 4-1 win, as Minor scattered four hits in seven innings.
The Cardinals have alternated wins and losses in each of Lance Lynn's last seven starts, coming off a defeat as a road favorite at Milwaukee. Lynn has performed well during the day, as the Redbirds own a 5-1 mark in his matinee starts, while St. Louis is 4-1 when Lynn takes the mound at home off a loss in his last outing.
Red Sox at Dodgers
Probables: J. Peavy (9-5, 4.29 ERA) vs. C. Capuano (4-6, 4.70 ERA)
Series recap: The Dodgers grabbed the series opener, 2-0 in the first game back from an East Coast swing. Boston tripped up Los Angeles on Saturday as the Red Sox made a four-run first inning hold up in a 4-2 triumph as short road 'dogs.
Pitching notes: Jake Peavy has failed to win each of his last three starts, all of which have come on the road. The Sox blew a 2-0 lead in Peavy's previous outing at San Francisco, as the Giants walked off on a bases-loaded walk in a 3-2 win. Both the Red Sox and White Sox are a combined 0-6 in Peavy's last six road outings since mid-May.
The Dodgers have won each of Chris Capuano's previous seven outings, even though the southpaw has received five no-decisions in this span. Since the Dodgers were blown out by the Phillies in late June with Capuano on the mound, Los Angeles is 4-0 in the southpaw's last four starts at Chavez Ravine.
MLB: Streaks, Trends, Notes
Sportspic.com
Pittsburgh Pirates at San Francisco Giants
A.J. Burnett will try to give the Pirates some breathing room atop it's division with a victory over Giants when the two clubs complete a four game set at AT&T Park Sunday afternoon. Burnett off a sharp 7 innings of 4 hit 1 run ball in a victory over Padres' on Tuesday heads to the mound 6-8 on the season with a 3.09 ERA, 6-2 life-time record vs San Francisco. Basement dwelling Giants' counter with Ryan Vogelsong. The right-hander 2-4 on the campaign with a 6.29 ERA is 1-3 career vs Pirates. The defending World Series champs 8-15 at home since the break, 10-23 against the NL Central, 7-18 as underdogs between $1.10 - $1.40 haven't got many compelling numbers going their way. However, if you're into playing underdogs you can make a case for San Fran knowing Giants are 4-2 at home w/Vogelsong and that Pirates Burnett has a 3-9 TSR on the road, has won back-2-back games only once this season, heads to the hill with a lowly 2-6 TSR following an ultra quality starts (=>7 In, =<2 runs) and sports a 2-4 TSR on the road in day games.