Armadillo is remodeling his site and doesn't have today's games up yet, if they show up I will post them.
MLB: Streak, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox
Boston and Detroit conclude a three-game series Wednesday afternoon at Fenway Park with with Red Sox looking to avoid being swept. According to the opening betting odds at Sports Interaction, the Red Sox enter this contest as -$1.30 home favorites, with a run total of 10.5 across all shops.
Southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez carrying a 2-4 record, 6.70 ERA toes the rubber for Boston. Rodgriguez is 1-1 since returning from Triple-A Pawtucket spinning 12 1/3 innings of 3-run ball. Fenway has not been kind to the portsider, he's 0-3 in four starts in front of the home audience with Red Sox dropping all four contests.
Rodriguez trades pitches with Tigers' righthander Michael Fulmer off a rough outing giving up 5 runs over 5.0 innings tagged with a no-decision in Tigers 7-5 win at White Sox. Fulmer who has never faced Boston carries a 7-2 record, 2.80 ERA in an opposing park with Tigers 9-2 in his eleven starts.
Contrasting records of the two hurlers, Tigers would appear to be an easy choice. However, no team likes the embarrassment of their opponent sweeping them and Red Sox are one of the best in the situation, since they're 4-0 when avoiding a three game series sweep. Matching that, Red Sox have thrived recently in daylight hours at Fenway Park posting a sparkling 8-0 record.
Wednesday's Diamond Notes
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Hottest team: Yankees (8-2 last 10)
New York continues to make a push towards a potential Wild Card berth in the American League following a pair of impressive showings in Houston the last two nights. After a 2-1 victory over Dallas Keuchel on Monday, the Yankees knocked around Doug Fister in a 6-3 triumph last night behind a solid pitching performance from CC Sabathia. The Yankees have allowed three runs or less in nine of the past 10 contests, while locking up their third straight series victory on Tuesday. Masahiro Tanaka has lost his last two starts to the Astros, but the Yankees own a 7-0 record in his past seven outings since June 17.
Coldest team: Diamondbacks (3-7 last 10)
The Brewers broke open a 4-4 game with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday by scoring five runs in the eighth inning to capture a 9-4 victory. Arizona dropped 1-4 on its current road swing, while giving up at least six runs for the sixth straight game. In the past seven contests, not one Diamondbacks’ starting pitcher has made it out of the sixth inning, taxing an already depleted bullpen. Archie Bradley heads to the mound at Miller Park tonight for Arizona, as the right-hander has received a total of four runs of support in his past three outings with the D-backs going 1-2 in those contests.
Hottest pitcher: Danny Duffy, Royals (6-1, 3.14 ERA)
Kansas City may not make the World Series for the third straight season with the way it has been playing lately, allowing 19 runs in the first two losses of their series to the Angels. The Royals hope to turn around their luck with Duffy taking the hill as the southpaw is unbeaten in his last five starts. Duffy has put together four quality starts in this span, allowing two earned runs or less four times, including tossing 6.2 innings in a 3-1 victory over Texas last Friday. The Royals have yet to be swept at home this season, so Kansas City hopes to keep that streak with a victory tonight.
Coldest pitcher: Gerrit Cole, Pirates (5-6, 2.99 ERA)
In spite of a solid ERA, Cole hasn’t picked up a win since May 20 against the Rockies. Cole spent time on the disabled list with a tricep injury, but Pittsburgh has compiled an 0-5 record in his past five starts since beating Colorado, including a loss as a -240 home favorite against the Phillies his last time out. The Pirates own a 2-5 record in his seven starts at PNC Park this season, as Cole has failed to win in each of his two home interleague starts against the Tigers and Angels as Pittsburgh continues its series with Seattle tonight.
Biggest UNDER run: Orioles (14-0 last 14)
Baltimore saw its five-game winning streak come to a halt in Tuesday’s 6-3 defeat to Colorado, but the Orioles continued their remarkable ‘under’ streak, extending it to 14 in a row. Chris Tillman picked up a rare loss last night, allowing six earned runs in five innings of work, but the game remained ‘under’ the total of 9½. To be fair, Baltimore is cashing ‘unders’ recently on high totals with each of the last six games seeing totals of nine or higher. Orioles’ right-hander Dylan Bundy makes his third career start tonight, as he shut down a solid Cleveland lineup in his last outing by scattering five hits in five innings of a 5-1 win and going ‘under’ the total of 9½.
Biggest OVER run: Reds (3-0 last three)
Even though three straight games isn’t a streak that looks impressive, Cincinnati’s offense has picked things up of late. The Reds fell to the Giants last night, 9-7, but Cincinnati managed to score at least six runs for the sixth consecutive contest considering the Reds put up at least six runs only three times in its previous 17 games before this stretch. Cincinnati owns a 9-4 mark to the ‘over’ in its last 13 road games, but keeping that streak alive won’t be easy this afternoon, facing Cy Young candidate Madison Bumgarner and the Giants. Although Bumgarner is winless in his last two starts, he has compiled a fantastic 1.45 ERA in matinee action this season.
Matchup to watch: White Sox vs. Cubs
The “Crosstown Cup” is always entertaining in the Windy City, but the White Sox are taking center-stage after grabbing a pair of home victories over the Cubs. The Sox walked off past the Cubs on Monday, then turned to the suddenly-hot James Shields on Tuesday for a 3-0 shutout of the NL Central leaders.
The series shifts to the North side tonight for the next two games as the Cubs rely on the right arm of Jason Hammel for a victory. Hammel has won two straight starts following six consecutive outings without a victory, as the Cubs own a 6-2 mark in his eight starts at Wrigley Field. The White Sox have slumped to a 1-5 record in their past six road games as Anthony Ranaudo takes the mound. Ranaudo is making his first start with the White Sox, while his last Major League start came last June as a member of the Rangers in a 1-0 defeat to the Dodgers.
Betcha didn’t know: It’s getaway day for the Red Sox, who travel to the West coast following this afternoon’s contest against the Tigers. Boston tries to avoid the sweep after dropping a 9-8 decision on Tuesday as the Red Sox have yet to be swept in a series this season. In fact, the Sox possess a perfect 5-0 record in the final game of a series when trying to avoid the broom.
Biggest public favorite: Giants (-230) vs. Reds
Biggest public underdog: Tigers (+110) at Red Sox
Biggest line move: Orioles (-145 to -165) vs. Rockies