National League
Rockies @ Mets
Anderson is 3-0, 4.42 in his last three starts (under 6-2). He is 0-2, 3.86 in two road starts.
deGrom is 3-1, 2.92 in his last four starts; under is 7-2 in his last nine. New York is 7-2 in his home starts.
Colorado won six of its last seven games; under is 9-2-1 in their last 12 games. Rockies are 9-8 in road series openers. Mets lost five of last six home games; under is 7-2 in last nine games at Citi Field. New York is 12-4 in home series openers.
Diamondbacks @ Brewers
Ray is 1-4, 5.40 in his last six starts (under 4-1-1). Arizona is 2-7 in his home starts.
Davies is 2-0, 1.35 in his last three starts; five of his last seven stayed under. Milwaukee is 6-1 in his last seven home starts.
Arizona lost 19 of its last 25 games; six of their last eight road games stayed under. Brewers won three of last five games; under is 8-3-1 in last 12 games at Miller Park.
Phillies @ Braves
Nola is 0-5, 11.57 in his last seven starts; over is 6-1-1 in his last eight. Phillies split his ten road starts.
Wisler is 1-3, 8.86 in his last four starts; over is 9-3 in his last 12. Braves are 3-5 in his road starts.
Phillies lost four of last five games, are 7-10 in road series openers. Under is 9-4 in their last 13 games. Atlanta is 4-8 in last 12 games but won last two; they’re 6-10 in home series openers. Six of last nine games at Turner Field went over.
Cardinals @ Marlins
Wacha is 0-0, 4.32 in his last three starts; over is 11-3 in his last 14 starts. Cardinals are 4-5 in his road starts.
Fernandez is 2-0, 2.21 in his last three starts; under is 8-5 in his last 13. Miami is 9-2 when he starts at home.
Cardinals won four of last five road games, are 6-9 in road series openers. Under is 4-1-1 in their last six road games. Miami won eight of last 11 home games; they’re 8-9 in home series openers. Six of last nine Marlin home games stayed under.
Nationals @ Giants
Roark is 3-1, 2.91 in his last five starts; five of his last six stayed under. Nationals won five of his last six road starts.
Cueto is 4-1, 3.47 in his last seven starts (over 5-2). Giants are 7-2 in his home starts.
Nationals lost six of last nine games; they’re 8-8 in road series openers. Four of last five Washington road games stayed under. San Francisco lost nine of last 11 games, is 8-8 in home series openers. Four of last five Giant home games stayed under the total.
American League
Royals @ Rangers
Ventura is 0-4, 6.33 in his last five starts; over is 10-4 in his last 14. Royals are 3-7 in his road starts.
Hamels is 2-0, 1.35 in his last two starts; over is 4-1-1 in his last six. Rangers won seven of his nine home starts.
Kansas City lost six of last eight games, is 4-12 in road series openers. Under is 11-3-1 in their last 15 road games. Texas lost five of last eight home games, is 9-6 in home series openers. Over is 9-2 in last 11 Texas home games.
Red Sox @ Angels
Price is 1-3, 4.01 in his last five starts; under is 3-1-1 in his last five. Boston is 5-4 in his road starts.
Weaver is 2-2, 5.64 in his last four starts; over is 7-1-1 in his last nine. Angels are 4-6 in his home starts.
Red Sox lost five of last six games, are 9-5 in road series openers. Last four Boston road games stayed under total. Angels won their last six home games, are 7-9 in home series openers. Over is 13-4 in Halos’ last 17 home games.
Orioles @ Twins
Jimenez is 0-2, 17.47 in his last two starts; over is 10-1 in his last 11. Orioles lost six of his seven road starts.
Gibson is 3-1, 3.58 in his last five starts (under 7-5). Minnesota is 3-4 in his home starts.
Orioles won five of last seven games, but lost last two; they’re 8-8 in road series openers. Minnesota lost four of last five home games; they’re 6-11 in home series openers.
Interleague
White Sox @ Cubs
Sale is 1-1, 5.85 in his last three starts; he missed his last start after being suspended by the team. White Sox are 5-5 in his last 10 starts, after winning his first nine- four of his last six stayed under.
Lackey is 0-4, 6.63 in his last six starts; under is 9-5 in his last 14. Cubs lost his last thee home starts.
Cubs lost three of last five games, under is 9-1-2 in Cubs’ last 12 games. White Sox won four of last five games; under is 7-3-3 in their last 13 games.
Teams won-lost records when this pitcher starts:
Col-NY– Anderson 4-4; deGrom 9-8
Az-Mil– Ray 6-14; Davies 9-8
Phil-Atl– Nola 7-12 (0-7 last 7); Wisler 5-14
StL-Mia– Wacha 10-10; Fernandez 14-5
Wsh-SF– Roark 11-9 (8-2 last 10); Cueto 17-3
KC-Tex– Ventura 9-10 (0-5 last 5); Hamels 15-5
Bos-LAA– Price 11-10; Weaver 8-11
Balt-Min– Jimenez 8-9; Gibson 5-7
CWS-Cubs– Sale 14-5; Lackey 10-10
Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning:
Col-NY– Anderson 2-8; deGrom 2-17
Az-Mil– Ray 4-20; Davies 4-17
Phil-Atl– Nola 9-19; Wisler 9-19
StL-Mia– Wacha 5-20; Fernandez 5-19
Wsh-SF– Roark 4-20; Cueto 6-20
KC-Tex– Ventura 5-19; Hamels 4-20
Bos-LAA– Price 8-21; Weaver 7-19
Balt-Min– Jimenez 8-17 (4 of last 5); Gibson 5-7
CWS-Cubs– Sale 6-19; Lackey 6-20
Armadillosports.com
MLB: Streak, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
St. Louis Cardinals at Miami Marlins
When a series of baseball betting trends point in one direction, the baseball handicapping industry takes notice. And, that's the case Thursday night when Miami Marlins host St. Louis Cardinals in game one of a four game set.
To say Jose Fernandez (12-4, 2.54 ERA) has been dominant at home would be an understatement. That dominance is reflected by the fact the righthander is 9-1 at his home park this season allowing two or fewer runs in nine of the eleven starts. Such success has not been limited to this season, in Fernandez's 37 starts at Marlins Park, he's 26-1 with Miami 32-5 in those games.
Within those staggering numbers, Marlins have emerged triumphant in 15 of his last 16 home series openers, are 24-4 as home chalk with Fernandez, 18-2 when he faces a team with a winning record.
Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers
Royals have collapsed of late with 14 losses in 20 games. No reason to think they'll turn things around in Texas hooking Ventura vs Hamels. Royals are winless in Ventura's last five starts, 1-5 in his last six road starts. On the other mound, Hamels has a sharp 18-4 record in thirty-four starts since joining Texas last August (26-8 TSR) including 9-1 at Globe Life Park with Rangers 13-3 in those sixteen home starts.
Thursday's Diamond Notes
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Hottest team: Cardinals (7-3 last 10)
St. Louis and New York went back and forth on Wednesday, but the Cardinals got the last laugh by scoring two runs in the ninth inning to edge the Mets, 5-4. The Redbirds grabbed two of three at Citi Field to win their fifth straight game in the favorite role, as St. Louis travels to Miami on Thursday to begin a four-game series. The Cardinals will be flipped to a heavy underdog against Marlins’ ace Jose Fernandez, who is nearly unbeatable at home. St. Louis dropped two of three at home to Miami two weeks ago, but the Cardinals have won six of their past nine games away from Busch Stadium.
Coldest team: Red Sox (1-5 last six)
Boston began its first homestand following the All-Star break with some success by sweeping a two-game series from San Francisco. However, the Red Sox split a four-game series with the last-place Twins, followed by getting swept in a three-game set by Detroit. The final two losses came by one run apiece, as the Sox were swept for the first time this season on Wednesday. The Red Sox venture west to southern California to begin a four-game set with the Angels as David Price is winless in four of his past five starts.
Hottest pitcher: Cole Hamels, Rangers (11-2, 2.87 ERA)
Texas can’t wait for July to end as the AL West leaders own a 7-15 record this month. Three of those victories came when Hamels took the mound as the former World Series MVP has allowed two runs (both unearned) in his last two starts. Hamels has given up one earned run or less in six of his last eight starts with both poor outings coming coincidentally against the Twins (10 earned runs in 8.1 innings). The southpaw faces the Royals for the second time in six days as Hamels tossed 5.1 innings of five-hit ball in a 7-4 triumph at Kansas City last Saturday.
Coldest pitcher: Matt Wisler, Braves (4-10, 4.92 ERA)
Atlanta finished off a tough road trip on a good note with consecutive victories at Minnesota. The Braves return home for a four-game series with the Phillies, as Atlanta was swept the last time it faced Philadelphia earlier this month. Wisler has been knocked around recently, allowing six runs in each of his past three starts, while Atlanta has compiled a 1-4 record in his last five outings. Somehow, Wisler’s only win in this stretch came as a +250 road underdog against the White Sox, but pitching at home hasn’t been profitable as Atlanta is 2-9 in the right-hander’s 11 starts at Turner Field.
Biggest UNDER run: Orioles (15-0 last 15)
Sooner or later, Baltimore has to cash an ‘over.’ But this incredible ‘under’ streak by the Orioles continued in Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat to the Rockies on a 9 total. The oddsmakers keep putting up high totals on Baltimore in spite of this long ‘under’ streak with seven straight games listed at 9 or higher. The Orioles are put in a tough scheduling spot on Thursday by having to travel to Minnesota for a make-up game before a crucial series at Toronto this weekend. The last time the Orioles finished ‘over’ the total came on July 9 against the Angels, as Ubaldo Jimenez started for Baltimore in that 9-5 defeat. Jimenez heads back to the mound on Thursday as eight of his previous nine starts have sailed ‘over’ the total.
Biggest OVER run: Angels (6-2-1 last nine)
Los Angeles returns home following a 2-4 road trip, as the last two games at Kansas City saw a combined 13 and 12 runs scored. The Angels don’t have many pitchers to rely on at this point as Jered Weaver takes his 5.32 ERA to the mound against the Red Sox. Los Angeles has played well at home of late by winning six straight games, while scoring at least seven runs five times on that homestand. The Angels and Red Sox are playing their second series this month as two of the three meetings at Fenway Park finished ‘over’ the total, including L.A. posting a 21-spot in the middle contest of that set.
Matchup to watch: Nationals vs. Giants
These two division leaders are meeting up for the first time this season as they begin a crucial four-game series at AT&T Park. The home team won all seven meetings in 2015, including San Francisco pulling off a four-game sweep of Washington last August. The Giants ended the first half of this season by owning the best record in baseball, but San Francisco has stumbled to a 2-9 record, including dropping two of three at home to Cincinnati. Johnny Cueto is in the mix for the Cy Young award in the National League, as the Giants own a 7-2 record in his nine home starts as he takes the mound on Thursday.
Washington squandered a late lead in Tuesday’s loss at Cleveland, but the Nationals rebounded with a 4-1 victory on Wednesday. The Nationals won the first two games after the break against the Pirates, but Washington has dropped six of its past nine contests. Tanner Roark allowed five earned runs in five innings of a 5-3 setback as a -240 home favorite against the Padres in his last outing. The Washington right-hander has pitched well this season as the Nationals have compiled a 7-2 record in past nine starts.
Betcha didn’t know: Chris Sale heads to the hill for the first time since cutting up throwback jerseys prior to his start last Saturday. Sale served a five-day suspension for that stunt as he looks for his 15th win of the season when the White Sox and Cubs wrap up the “Crosstown Cup” at Wrigley Field. The White Sox ace shut down the Cubs in two starts last season, striking out 25 batters in 14 innings and allowing only seven hits and one earned run.
Biggest public favorite: Red Sox (-175) at Angels
Biggest public underdog: White Sox (+120) at Cubs
Biggest line move: Orioles (+110 to +100) at Twins
Nats, Giants clash in SF
By Sportsbook.ag
WASHINGTON NATIONALS (59-42) at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (59-42)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Washington +125, San Francisco -135, Total: 7.0
The Giants will be hoping to end their recent struggles with a home victory over the Nationals on Thursday.
Both the Nationals and Giants come into this game playing some poor baseball as of late. Washington has lost four of its past six games coming into this one and San Francisco has won just two of its past 11 games. Both teams can really use a change of fortune and the starting pitching battle will come a long way in determining the outcome of this one.
On the mound in this game will be RHP Tanner Roark (9-6, 3.05 ERA, 110 K) for the Nationals and RHP Johnny Cueto (13-2, 2.53 ERA, 128 K) for the Giants. Cueto has been incredible all year, but Roark is more than capable of holding his own for Washington.
This is the first meeting between these two teams on the season, but they have split victories in 18 games over the past three seasons.
One trend worth pointing out for this game is that the Giants are 16-2 against the money line with Cueto on the mound as a favorite of -110 or higher this season. They are also a remarkable 8-0 when he’s on the mound with a money line of -100 to -150 as well.
Tanner Roark has had an up and down season for the Nationals, but he is capable of shutting down his opponents when he has his best stuff and Washington could really use that on Thursday. Roark did, however, struggle his last time out, allowing five earned runs in just five innings of work against the Padres. He allowed two homers in that game and will need to avoid the long ball in this one.
Offensively, the guys to keep an eye on for the Nationals are OF Trea Turner (.319, 0 HR, 6 RBI), 2B Daniel Murphy (.354, 20 HR, 75 RBI) and OF Bryce Harper (.237, 20 HR, 55 RBI). Turner is coming off of a great game for Washington, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI against the Indians on Wednesday.
If he can keep hitting then this lineup is a lot more dangerous than it was before his call-up. Murphy is also hot for the Nationals, as he has seen his average rise from .348 to .354 over the past 10 games. In that time, Murphy has racked up four homers and 11 RBI as well.
He’ll look to stay hot in this one and Harper will be the opposite, as he needs to turn things around for the Nats. He has not gotten a hit in the past five games and the team needs that to change or it will not get back to its winning ways.
Johnny Cueto has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season and his team could really use another big performance from him in this one. The Giants are struggling right now and desperately need a victory to turn things around on Thursday.
Cueto was solid his last time out, allowing no earned runs in six innings of work against the Yankees on Jul. 23. He struck out nine batters in that game and San Francisco would surely sign up for another performance like that in this game.
Offensively, the Giants will be counting on C Buster Posey (.285, 12 HR, 47 RBI) and SS Brandon Crawford (.272, 9 HR, 63 RBI) in this game. Posey has been solid against Roark in their brief history against one another, going 3-for-6 with a double and an RBI against the righty. Crawford, meanwhile, is just 1-for-5 against Roark, but that one hit was a triple.
San Francisco will be hoping that both guys can come through with an extra base hit or two in this one. The two of them can also really use a confidence boost after combining to go 0-for-8 last game.