Wednesday's National League Betting Cheat Sheet
By Covers.com
Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds
Cold pitching stat: Pittsburgh is 2-5 in left-hander Francisco Liriano's last seven starts on four days rest.
Cold batting stat: Members of the Pirates' roster are hitting just .189 in 148 at-bats versus Reds starter Johnny Cueto.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-50s with partly cloudy skies and wind blowing in from center field at 7 mph.
Key betting note: Under is 9-2 in Cueto's last 11 turns in the third game of a series.
St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers
Hot pitching stat: Brewers right-hander Wily Peralta allowed two runs on four hits over seven innings to earn the win in his previous start.
Hot batting stat: Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter is 5-for-9 with a home run lifetime against Peralta.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-40s under partly cloudy skies with wind blowing in from right field at 16 mph.
Key betting note: St. Louis is 9-2 in starter Joe Kelly's last 11 starts on four days rest.
New York Mets at Arizona Diamondbacks
Cold pitching stat: Arizona is 1-5 in starter Brandon McCarthy's last six home starts.
Cold batting stat: Diamondbacks infielder Martin Prado has just four hits in 23 all-time at-bats versus Mets starter Dillon Gee.
Weather: Sunny skies are in the forecast with temperatures approaching 90 and wind blowing out to right field at 7 mph.
Key betting note: Over is 9-2-1 in Gee's last 12 starts against the National League West.
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies
Cold pitching stat: Phillies starter A.J. Burnett has allowed 11 runs and issued 14 free passes in 16 innings so far in 2014.
Cold batting stat: Braves outfielder B.J. Upton is 9-for-46 with 17 strikeouts in his career versus Burnett.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-40s with clear skies and wind blowing in from right field at 5 mph.
Key betting note: Under is 10-4 in Atlanta starter Julio Teheran's last 14 outings against division opponents.
Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins
Hot pitching stat: Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez is 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two career starts against the Nationals.
Cold batting stat: Washington infielder Ian Desmond is 0-for-6 and has struck out five times against Fernandez.
Weather: Fans face a 30 percent chance of rain with temperatures in the high-70s and wind blowing in from right field at 5 mph.
Key betting note: The Marlins are 7-0 in Fernandez's last seven starts against teams with winning records.
Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres
Hot pitching stat: Padres starter Andrew Cashner has held opposing hitters to a .137 average through three starts.
Cold batting stat: San Diego third baseman Chase Headley is batting .222 with 11 strikeouts in 36 at-bats against Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa.
Weather: Partly cloudy skies are expected with temperatures in the low-to-mid-60s and wind blowing out to right-center field at 5 mph.
Key betting note: Colorado is 10-2 in De La Rosa's previous 12 starts against the National League West.
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants
Cold pitching stat: Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong has surrendered eight runs over nine innings in his first two starts.
Hot/Cold batting stat: Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez has just two hits in 15 career at-bats against Vogelsong.
Weather: Sunny skies are in the forecast with temperatures in the high-50s and wind blowing out to center field at 8 mph.
Key betting note: Under is 4-1 in Vogelsong's last five home starts versus Los Angeles.
Wednesday's American League Betting Cheat Sheet
By Covers.com
Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles
Hot pitching stat: The Rays are 8-2 in left-hander David Price's last 10 road starts against teams with losing records.
Hot batting stat: Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters is a .368 career hitter in 38 at-bats against Price.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-40s with clear skies and wind blowing in from left field at 14 mph.
Key betting note: Under is 9-1 in Orioles starter Chris Tillman's last 10 starts on four days rest.
Cleveland Indians at Detroit Tigers
Hot pitching stat: Indians right-hander Danny Salazar has racked up 14 strikeouts over his first 9 1/3 innings of the season.
Cold batting stat: Cleveland second baseman Jason Kipnis is 0-for-10 with six strikeouts against Detroit starter Drew Smyly.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-30s under partly cloudy skies with wind blowing in from left-center field at 11 mph.
Key betting note: Over is 4-0 in Salazar's last four starts against division foes.
Seattle Mariners at Texas Rangers
Hot pitching stat: Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish has collected 15 strikeouts in 15 scoreless innings to open the season.
Cold batting stat: Texas outfielder Alex Rios is 7-for-32 with 12 strikeouts lifetime versus Mariners ace Felix Hernandez.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-60s under partly cloudy skies with wind blowing in from right-center field at 11 mph.
Key betting note: Under is 6-1-1 in Hernandez's last eight Wednesday starts.
Boston Red Sox at Chicago White Sox
Cold pitching stat: Red Sox right-hander Clay Buchholz has surrendered 10 runs in 10 1/3 innings through his first two starts.
Hot batting stat: White Sox slugger Paul Konerko is 7-for-15 with a homer in his career against Buchholz.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-40s with partly cloudy skies and wind blowing from right to left field at 16 mph.
Key betting note: Boston is 23-5 in Buchholz's last 28 starts against the American League Central.
Toronto Blue Jays at Minnesota Twins
Hot pitching stat: Toronto is 5-1 in knuckleballer R.A. Dickey's last six starts on five days rest.
Cold batting stat: Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion is 1-for-12 lifetime against Twins starter Mike Pelfrey.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-30s with an 81 percent chance of snow and wind blowing from left to right field at 11 mph.
Key betting note: Under is 6-1 in Dickey's last seven starts on grass.
Kansas City Royals at Houston Astros
Cold pitching stat: Houston is just 1-2 in left-hander Dallas Keuchel's last 13 starts on five days rest.
Hot batting stat: Royals outfielder Norichika Aoki is 3-for-8 with four RBIs versus Keuchel.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-60s under partly cloudy skies with wind blowing out to left field at 9 mph.
Key betting note: Under is 9-1-1 in Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie's last 11 road outings.
Oakland Athletics at Los Angeles Angels
Hot pitching stat: Athletics are 5-1 in starter Tommy Milone's last six road outings versus teams with losing records.
Cold batting stat: Angels outfielder Mike Trout is 3-for-16 with six strikeouts in his career against Milone.
Weather: Sunny skies are in the forecast with temperatures in the mid-60s and wind blowing out to center field at 6 mph.
Key betting note: Over is 11-4 in umpire Tim Timmons' last 15 games behind home plate.
Interleague
Chicago Cubs at New York Yankees, Game 1
Hot pitching stat: Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka has racked up 18 strikeouts through his first 14 major-league innings.
Hot batting stat: Yankees second baseman Brian Roberts has seven hits in 17 lifetime at-bats versus Cubs righty Jason Hammel.
Weather: Clear skies are expected with temperatures in the mid-40s and wind blowing from left to right field at 7 mph.
Key betting note: Over is 7-0 in Chicago's last seven games.
Chicago Cubs at New York Yankees, Game 2
Hot pitching stat: Cubs left-hander Travis Wood has struck out 17 batters in just 12 1/3 innings to open the campaign.
Hot batting stat: Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran is 6-for-20 with a homer against Wood.
Weather: Clear skies are expected with temperatures in the mid-40s and wind blowing from left to right field at 7 mph.
Key betting note: Under is 5-0-1 in Wood's last six road starts.
MLB: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Chicago Cubs at New York Yankees
The Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees step out of their comfort zone for a mini two game inter-league set at Yankee Stadium. Cubs off to a 4-8 (-$355) start look to newly acquired Jason Hammel in the opener. The right-hander heads to the mound 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA surrendering 5 hits, 4 runs with 11 K's, 2 walks over 13 2/3 innings. Well to note, Hammel had a 3-0 TSR vs Yankees tossing for Orioles last season. Yankees 7-6 (-$67) on the campaign counter with their prize hurler Masahiro Tanaka. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA in his first two major league starts allowing 13 hits, 6 runs, 2 long-ball with 18 strikeouts, one walk over 14 innings. Yankees with Masahiro Tanaka on the mound and at home will attract a lot of backers even at the whopping -$2.05 price tag. But were not in the camp knowing Yankees have been a poor bets laying => $1.80 posting a 3-6 mark and just 5-5 at home vs the Senior league last year. Cubbies good bets on the road last year in inter-league play winning 6-of-10 away from Wrigley Field were taking the underdog here.
Washington Nationals at Miami Marlins
Routing Nationals 11-2 yesterday to even things up in the current series the Miami Marlins look to Jose Fernandez (2-1, 3.78 ERA) in the rubber match. Miami just 1-4 vs Washington this season, 3-13 vs Nationals since mid-July last year have a great opportunity to improve the horrific series record. Miami has thrived in the position they are in tonight. The Marlins are a near perfect 10-1 as home favorite with their ace hurler and sport a perfect 2-0 mark vs Washington in Fernandez's two carrier starts with the right-hander allowing just 5 hits 1 run over 13 innings of work. Fernandez matching pitches with Tanner Roark (1-0, 591 ERA) sets the table. Nationals are 3-3 on the road with Roark but dress them up as underdogs as is the case in the finale they're 0-3 with the hurler.
MLB Odds and Picks
By: Micah Roberts
Sportingnews.com
LAS VEGAS -- Masahiro Tanaka has been everything as advertised in his first two outings, and he may have even surprised some with his accuracy and ability to set up hitters with two strikes and keep them guessing with a wide array of pitches that includes a lethal fastball, slider, splitter and cutter. Through two games, he’s struck out 18, the most in Yankees history in a pitcher’s first two starts with the team. Maybe best of all is that he’s only walked one.
However, Tanaka hasn’t exactly rolled through lineups like he did in Japan, as opposing teams have jumped on him within the first two innings. In his Yankees debut at Toronto, he was staked a two-run first-inning lead and let it slip away, including serving up a home run to the first batter he faced. The Yankees came back to win the game, 7-3. In his Yankee Stadium debut Wednesday, he allowed a three-run homer in the second, but settled down and eventually get the no-decision in the 5-4 loss to Baltimore.
The Yankees (7-6) may be only 1-1 behind him this season, but have to be thrilled with only five earned runs in 14 combined innings, and his strike out-to-walk ratio is a great sign of better things to come for the $155 million rookie import.
Today he takes the mound as a huge -200 favorite in the first game of a day/night doubleheader (1:05 p.m. ET) against the team he spurned in negotiations on his way to America. The Chicago Cubs wanted him badly, but they didn’t have the same vision for him coming out of the gate and wanted to bring him along slowly through the minors.
It probably wasn’t a hard decision for Tanaka. Let’s see, the team with the most World Series championships wants you to play right away, while a team that hasn’t won one since 1908 wants to waste a year or two of your prime years in the minors.
The Cubs (4-8) don’t look any better than the team that finished 66-96 and dead last in the tough NL Central in 2013. But there have been two shining stars through the first two weeks and both will be on display today. Emilio Bonifacio has been tearing the cover off the ball, hitting .392, while also stealing seven bases in eight attempts.
But the best story of all for the Cubs has been Jason Hammel, who has beaten the Pirates twice this season, allowing only four runs while striking out 11 and walking two. He’s healthy and feeling good and has also had great recent success against the Yankees while pitching for Baltimore. Last season, the Orioles were 3-0 against the Yankees behind Hammel, where he allowed only five earned runs in 17 2/3 innings or work.
Yankee Stadium is also the site of Hammel’s biggest career start -- pitching the fifth and deciding game of the 2012 ALDS. He pitched well in the game, allowing only two runs in 5 2/3 innings, but the Yankees won 3-1.
This is a great spot to side with the pitcher who is rolling against a team still trying to figure some things out.
Getaway day
All 14 of the Cardinals’ games so far have been against NL Central foes, and the Brewers -- fresh off an eight-game win streak -- have been St. Louis’ latest victim. After winning nine straight, the Brewers have lost two in a row to the defending NL Champs. However, this looks like a spot for Milwaukee to salvage at least one game of the series.
Imagine the deflation in the Brewers locker room if they lose this game, and imagine what the experts will say. "Yeah, they went on a nice April run, but when they met one of the best, they fell by the wayside."
Look for the Brewers to stand tall and battle, and for Wily Peralta to get the win.
Wednesday selections:
Cubs (Hammel) +180 at Yankees
Brewers (Peralta) -110 vs. Cardinals
Dodgers/Giants OVER 8 (-115)
Mariners/Rangers UNDER 7 (-125)
Royals (Guthrie) -120 at Astros
Wednesday's AL Tips
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Mariners at Rangers (-125, 7)
Seattle: 7-6
Texas: 7-7
These two AL West rivals have split the first two contests of this four-game set in Arlington, as the Rangers dominated the Mariners on Tuesday, 5-0 to cash as $1.60 home favorites. Texas has now alternated wins and losses in its last 10 games, as the Rangers have won consecutive contests just one this season. Seattle has cashed the ‘under’ in five of the past six games, while scoring one run or less four times in this stretch.
Yu Darvish (1-0, 0.00 ERA) has put together two terrific starts so far, striking out 15 batters in 15 scoreless innings, as the Rangers have beaten the Rays and Astros. Eight of Darvish’s last nine home starts have finished ‘under’ the total since last July, while the Texas right-hander is 3-0 in his career at home against Seattle.
Felix Hernandez (3-0, 2.11 ERA) is back to his Cy Young award ways after giving up just four earned runs in his first three wins. King Felix has beaten the A’s twice and the Angels so far, while owning an incredible 30/2 strikeout to walk ratio. The Mariners lost two of Hernandez’s three starts against the Rangers in 2013, as the lone victory came in extra innings.
Royals (-120, 8½) at Astros
Kansas City: 5-7
Houston: 5-9
The Royals finally broke through on the road following six straight losses, as Kansas City doubled up Houston last night, 4-2. Kansas City has won five of the past seven meetings with Houston since last season, but Ned Yost’s team is seeking back-to-back victories for just the second time this season. The Astros have dropped three of their past four games, while plating just two runs in the three defeats.
Jeremy Guthrie (2-0, 3.55 ERA) is making his first road start of the season after beating the White Sox and Rays at home. Kansas City won two of Guthrie’s three away starts in 2013, but the only defeat came at Houston as a $1.60 favorite, 6-5, as the righty allowed six earned runs in just five innings of work.
The Astros send out Dallas Keuchel (1-1, 3.75 ERA), who is coming off a terrific start at Toronto. Keuchel scattered five hits and one earned run in seven innings of a 6-4 victory as a $1.80 underdog over the Blue Jays to even his record at 1-1. Houston owns a 1-5 record in Keuchel’s previous six starts at Minute Maid Park as an underdog since last July.
Blue Jays (-140, 8) at Twins
Toronto: 8-6
Minnesota: 6-7
After trailing 2-0 for the first five innings last night, the Blue Jays exploded for two big innings to rout the Twins, 9-3 as short road favorites. Toronto has won nine of the past 10 meetings with Minnesota, including each of the last four visits to Target Field. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Twins, as Minnesota fell to 1-4 in series openers this season.
The Jays look to improve on a 5-3 road record tonight as R.A. Dickey (1-2, 5.30 ERA) takes the mound. The knuckleballer blanked the Yankees in his second start of the season, but Dickey has allowed 11 earned runs in losses to the Astros and Rays. Toronto is 1-4 in Dickey’s five starts as a road favorite, but the lone victory came at Target Field last September in a 6-5 triumph.
Mike Pelfrey (0-2, 7.84 ERA) has been racked in two losses to the Indians and A’s, as the Minnesota right-hander tries to get on track tonight. Pelfrey yielded six earned runs in five innings of a 6-1 home defeat to Oakland last Thursday, the seventh defeat in his last eight starts dating back to last August. Pelfrey split a pair of starts against Dickey and the Jays in 2013, which included a stellar effort as a $1.80 road underdog in a 6-0 shutout, tossing six scoreless innings.
Red Sox (-140, 8) at White Sox
Boston: 5-9
Chicago: 8-6
The defending champion Red Sox have struggled out of the gate, losing eight of their past 11 contests. Boston lost in walk-off fashion on Tuesday night to Chicago, 2-1 as $1.40 favorites, the second consecutive victory in the final at-bat for the White Sox. Chicago is seeking its first winning streak of three games this season, while putting together a solid 6-2 record at U.S. Cellular Field.
Clay Buchholz (0-1, 6.97 ERA) has not been sharp in two starts for Boston, giving up 10 runs (eight earned) and 20 hits in just 10.1 innings of work. Buchholz put together one of his best starts last season against the White Sox, allowing five hits and one earned run in seven innings of a 6-2 triumph at Chicago as a $1.40 favorite.
The Sox send out southpaw John Danks (1-0, 4.15 ERA), who is coming off his first victory of the season against the Indians last Thursday. Danks led the Sox to a 7-3 home underdog win over Cleveland, giving up six hits and three earned runs in six innings of work. The left-hander didn’t fare well against Boston last season, allowing six runs and 11 hits in five innings of a 7-2 defeat at Fenway Park last August.