NLCS Betting Preview: Giants at Cardinals
By Covers.com
San Francisco Giants at St. Louis Cardinals (-122, 7)
Series tied 1-1.
The San Francisco Giants evened the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at one game apiece Monday, with the tone of the series changing dramatically after Matt Holliday’s hard slide into second baseman Marco Scutaro in the first inning. Scutaro stayed in the game and hit a bases-clearing single in the fourth inning before leaving in the fifth for X-rays on his left hip, which were negative. The aggressive slide appeared to ignite the Giants, who went on to snap a three-game postseason home losing streak with the 7-1 victory. If Scutaro is forced to miss any time, former Cardinals infielder Ryan Theriot would start at second base. Theriot is 12-for-22 lifetime against Kyle Lohse, St. Louis’ Game 3 starter.
The Cardinals are looking for more consistency as they head back to St. Louis. They’ve had only 11 hits in three playoff losses while scoring 41 runs in their five wins. Right fielder Carlos Beltran hit two doubles in three at-bats Monday for his 13th career multihit postseason game, and he is 12-for-29 (.414) this postseason. Holliday appeared rattled after his slide in the first inning, going hitless in his next three at-bats and committing a critical error in the fourth. The Cardinals’ bullpen has been outstanding during the playoffs, but has worked 34 innings in eight games. Ryan Vogelsong gave the Giants’ bullpen some much-needed rest when he tossed seven strong innings in Game 2.
WEATHER: Thunderstorms are in the forecast with a 78 percent chance of rain. Winds are expected to blow SW at 13 mph and temperatures will fall into the low 60s.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (1-1, 5.06 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Kyle Lohse (1-0, 2.13)
Cain is seeking his first quality outing of the postseason after failing to escape the sixth inning in his previous two starts. He is 2-3 with a 4.94 ERA in eight career starts against the Cardinals, including 1-1 with a 6.94 ERA in two outings this season. Holliday is 8-for-40 with 10 strikeouts against Cain, who will be pitching on five days’ rest. When starting on five days' rest this season, Cain lost only once in 12 outings while posting a 2.42 ERA.
Lohse has allowed two runs on eight hits over 12 2/3 innings in two starts this postseason, including Game 4 of the NL Division Series against Washington when he yielded one run over seven frames. Lohse led the Cardinals in starts and innings during the regular season, and he was 8-1 in 16 home starts with a 2.33 ERA. He’s 3-2 with a 3.78 ERA in five career starts against the Giants, who are set to face him for the first time this season.
TRENDS:
* Over is 5-2 in the last seven meetings.
* Giants are 10-1 in Cain's last 11 starts as road underdogs.
* Cardinals are 7-0 in their last seven games following a loss.
UMP TRENDS - Bill Miller:
* Over is 7-3 in Millers last 10 games behind home plate.
* Giants are 5-1 in their last six games with Miller behind home plate.
* Home team is 10-3 in Millers last 13 games behind home plate.
WALK-OFFS:
1. In the last five postseason games, the Giants' bullpen has allowed two earned runs on 13 hits, with 19 strikeouts in 22 innings, for a 0.82 ERA.
2. National League teams are 3-10 at home during this postseason.
3. Giants RHP Tim Lincecum is expected to make his first start of the postseason in Game 4 after allowing one run on three hits with nine strikeouts in three relief appearances.
MLB Playoffs
Lohse is 3-0, 2.84 in his last five starts; he didn't pitch against the Giants this year. Cardinals won seven of his last ten home starts, are 6-3 in last nine home games overall. Giants won four of last five road games; visitors are 6-1 in their playoff games this fall. Cain inferred that he might throw at Holliday after his slide into second base hurt Scutaro's leg in Game 2. Cain is 1-1, 4.60 in his last three starts; he didn't finish 6th inning in any of them; he is 1-1, 6.94 in two starts vs St Louis this season.
Scherzer is 5-1, 1.52 in his last 10 outings, but has been hampered by injuries; would expect quick hook on him once he gets past 5th inning; he allowed three runs in 4.2 IP in his only start vs Bronx this year. Sabathia is 4-0, 1.52 in his last five starts; he is 3-0, 4.15 in three starts vs Detroit this season. Bombers scored in only two of 30 series innings. Visiting teams are 16-11 in playoffs so far this month. Aside from Valverde, Tiger pitchers have allowed one run in their last 48.2 innings. Detroit won its last seven home games.
Armadillosports.com
SAN FRANCISCO (98 - 71) at ST LOUIS (93 - 77) - 4:05 PM
MATT CAIN (R) vs. KYLE LOHSE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 21-11 (+13.3 Units) against the money line in October games over the last 3 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 53-39 (+14.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 98-71 (+20.1 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 49-35 (+17.6 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 98-71 (+20.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 483-473 (+49.0 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters since 1997.
SAN FRANCISCO is 9-2 (+10.2 Units) against the money line in road games in playoff games over the last 3 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 37-30 (+16.5 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 93-77 (-2.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ST LOUIS is 10-17 (-9.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less this season.
ST LOUIS is 93-77 (-2.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
ST LOUIS is 60-58 (-12.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
ST LOUIS is 30-38 (-15.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN FRANCISCO is 4-4 (+0.7 Units) against ST LOUIS this season
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.7 Units)
MATT CAIN vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
CAIN is 2-3 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 4.94 and a WHIP of 1.415.
His team's record is 3-5 (-2.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-4. (-0.3 units)
KYLE LOHSE vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
LOHSE is 3-2 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 3.78 and a WHIP of 1.290.
His team's record is 3-2 (+0.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-3. (-1.2 units)
NY YANKEES (98 - 71) at DETROIT (93 - 76) - 8:05 PM
C.C. SABATHIA (L) vs. MAX SCHERZER (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 6-6 (-0.5 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
7 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.8 Units)
C.C. SABATHIA vs. DETROIT since 1997
SABATHIA is 18-12 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 4.48 and a WHIP of 1.299.
His team's record is 22-15 (+0.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 21-16. (+3.6 units)
MAX SCHERZER vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
SCHERZER is 4-1 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 2.73 and a WHIP of 1.382.
His team's record is 4-1 (+4.5 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-4. (-3.3 units)
SAN FRANCISCO vs. ST. LOUIS
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Francisco's last 6 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Francisco's last 7 games when playing St. Louis
The total has gone OVER in 5 of St. Louis's last 6 games
St. Louis is 17-7 SU in its last 24 games
NY YANKEES vs. DETROIT
NY Yankees are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing Detroit
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of NY Yankees's last 7 games
Detroit is 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing NY Yankees
Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
ALCS Betting Preview: Yankees at Tigers
By Covers.com
New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers (-105, 7)
Detroit leads series 3-0
The New York Yankees turn to their ace as they attempt to stave off elimination and extend the American League Championship Series when they take on the Detroit Tigers in Game 4 at Comerica Park on Wednesday.
New York dropped a 2-1 decision Tuesday as ace Justin Verlander tossed 8 1/3 superb innings to give Detroit a 3-0 series lead. Delmon Young belted a solo home run and Miguel Cabrera extended his LCS hitting streak to a major league-record 16 games with an RBI double for the Tigers, who are one victory away from their 11th World Series appearance.
Young's blast was his franchise-record seventh postseason homer and fifth in eight games against New York, which calls upon CC Sabathia to help avoid a sweep. The Yankees have been let down by their offense during the playoffs. Robinson Cano is hitting .083 (3-for-36) as he ended an 0-for-29 drought - the longest in one postseason in major league history - in the ninth inning Tuesday and Curtis Granderson has gone 3-for-29 (.103) with 15 strikeouts. Alex Rodriguez, who has been benched in two of the last five playoff games and been removed for a pinch hitter in the other three, is batting .130 (3-for-23) with 12 strikeouts while Nick Swisher is 4-for-26 (.154).
The Tigers, who have not won a world championship since 1984, are seeking their first World Series berth since 2006, when they lost in five games to the St. Louis Cardinals.
WEATHER: The forecast is calling for a 72 percent chance of rain later in the evening while temperatures will fall into the high 50s. Winds are expected to blow south at 11 mph.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (2-0, 1.53 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Max Scherzer (0-0, 0.00)
Sabathia registered two of New York's three victories over Baltimore in the AL Division Series, including a four-hitter in the decisive Game 5 on Friday. The 32-year-old, who is 3-2 with a 5.20 ERA in six career ALCS starts, went 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA against the Tigers this season and 2-0 at Comerica Park. But Sabathia struggled versus Detroit in last year's ALDS, allowing six runs over 8 2/3 innings in two starts and a relief appearance.
Scherzer pitched well in Game 4 of the ALDS against Oakland, allowing an unearned run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings while walking one and striking out eight. The 28-year-old, who finished second to Verlander for the major-league lead in strikeouts with 231, took the loss in his only start of the season against New York on April 29 after yielding three runs on seven hits and seven walks in 4 2/3 innings. Scherzer tossed six scoreless innings in a victory over the Yankees in Game 2 of last year's ALDS.
TRENDS:
* Tigers are 4-1 in Scherzers last five starts vs. Yankees.
* Under is 4-1 in Scherzers last five starts vs. Yankees.
* Yankees are 4-1 in Sabathias last five starts vs. Tigers.
* Over is 4-1 in Sabathias last five starts vs. Tigers.
* Yankees are 2-5 in the last seven meetings.
UMP TRENDS - Jeff Nelson:
* Over is 3-1-1 in Nelsons last five games behind home plate.
* Yankees are 4-1 in their last five games with Nelson behind home plate.
* Tigers are 2-5 in their last seven games with Nelson behind home plate.
WALK-OFFS:
1. New York has scored all five of its runs in this series and 11 of its 21 in the postseason in the ninth inning.
2. Detroit's starting pitchers had tossed 37 2/3 straight innings in the series without allowing an earned run before Eduardo Nunez's homer off Verlander in the ninth Tuesday. It is the longest streak since the 44-inning run by the starters for the 1905 New York Giants.
3. Verlander came within three outs of becoming the first pitcher to throw consecutive playoff shutouts since Orel Hershiser accomplished the feat in 1988 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.