Sunday’s streaking and slumping pitchers
Covers.com
Streaking
James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays (9-7, 3.66)
The Devil Rays are leading the AL East and Shields is partly responsible for their success. He is 2-1 with a 2.78 ERA in his past three starts and is 7-1 with a solid 2.81 ERA at Tropicana Field.
In his last three starts, Shields has pitched 22.2 innings, striking out 16, while relinquishing just 11 earned runs on 15 hits. He also walked two in that span and is 2-0 and has a 2.25 career-ERA against the Detroit Tigers.
The Devil Rays are 20-6 in Shields’ last 26 home starts and are 4-1 in their last five meetings with the Tigers at Tropicana Field.
Slumping
Carlos Silva, Seattle Mariners (4-12, 5.95)
Silva has just one win in his last 10 starts and has relinquished 12 earned runs, three HRs and 19 hits in his last three starts in a mere 10.1 IP.
Silva is 0-1 in his past three starts with a 9.53 ERA and has relinquished eight ERs in eight IP in his last two at Safeco Field. The right-hander is also 1-4 and has a 4.50 career- ERA against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Mariners are 3-10 in their last 13 and are 1-7 in their last eight against the O’s. They are also 0-7 in Silva’s last seven at Safeco Field.
Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals (8-7, 3.98)
Greinke has relinquished 14 earned runs in just 16.1 IP in his past three starts. He is 1-2 in that span with a 7.71 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and .418 OBP.
Greinke is 3-1 at home with a 2.95 ERA but is coming off a 7-1 setback to the Detroit Tigers in which he surrendered five ERs in six IP. The right-hander has also relinquished seven HRs in his last 10 starts.
The Royals are 1-4 in Greinke’s last five starts the AL Central and are 3-9 in his last 12 against the Chicago White Sox.
Sunday's MLB Tip Sheet
By Brad Young
**Phillies (Myers) at Cardinals (Wellemeyer)**
-Caesars Palace installed St. Louis as a $1.15 home ‘chalk’ over Philadelphia, with the total set at nine ‘over’ (minus $1.20). This National League matchup is slated to start at 8:05 p.m. ET.
-Philadelphia’s Brett Myers (4-9, 5.46 ERA) is off Tuesday’s victory over Washington as a $1.50 road favorite, 2-1. The 6-foot-4 right-hander went seven innings, allowing an unearned run on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
-The combined three runs never seriously threatened the nine-run closing total. The Phillies had dropped his previous six starts before upending the Nationals.
-Myers finagled a no-decision against the Cardinals June 15 despite surrendering six runs on eight hits (two home runs) with no walks and three strikeouts over six innings. The Phillies eventually dropped that contest as a $1.43 road ‘chalk,’ 7-6, while the combined 13 runs toppled the 10-run closing total.
-St. Louis right-hander Todd Wellemeyer (8-4, 4.13 ERA) is off back-to-back no decisions after Tuesday’s six inning effort against Atlanta. The six-year veteran was reached for two runs on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
-The Cardinals eventually prevailed as a $1.10 road underdog, 8-3, while the combined 11 runs eclipsed the 9½-run closing total. The ‘over’ is 3-1 his last four outings.
-The former Bellarmine pitcher in college fell to the Phillies June 13 as a $1.00 home selection, 20-2, lasting just 3 1/3 innings while surrendering eight runs on eight hits (three home runs) with three walks and three strikeouts. The combined 22 runs soared ‘over’ the 9½-run closing total.
**Diamondbacks (Davis) at Dodgers (Johnson)**
-Caesars Palace opened Los Angeles as a $1.15 home favorite over Arizona, with the total set at eight. This NL West contest is scheduled to begin at 4:10 p.m. ET.
-Arizona southpaw Doug Davis (4-5, 3.86 ERA) defeated San Diego Tuesday as a $1.15 road underdog, 3-0. The 32-year-old tossed 7 2/3 innings of scoreless ball on two hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
-The three runs failed to eclipse the 7½-run closing total, ending three straight ‘over’ outings for the veteran pitcher.
-Davis is 1-0 against the Dodgers this season in two starts, going a combined nine innings while yielding seven runs on 11 hits (one home run) with five walks and 10 strikeouts. The D’backs prevailed as a home ‘pick,’ 10-5, while losing as a $1.03 home underdog, 8-7. The ‘over’ prevailed in both matchups.
-Los Angeles pitcher Jason Johnson (1-0, 0.00 ERA) beat San Francisco Tuesday in his lone start of the season as a $1.22 home favorite, 2-0. The right-hander went six scoreless innings on five hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
-The two runs never seriously threatened the 7½-run closing total.
-Johnson, bouncing around the major leagues since 1997, has not started against the D’backs the past few seasons.
**Indians (Ginter) at Twins (Liriano)**
-Caesars Palace lists Minnesota as a $1.80 home ‘chalk’ over Cleveland, with the total set at nine ‘under’ (minus $1.20). First pitch for this American League Central contest is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET.
-Cleveland’s Matt Ginter (1-2, 4.20 ERA) has suffered consecutive setbacks after Tuesday’s loss to Detroit as a $1.15 home underdog, 8-5. The Mississippi State product lasted four innings, allowing four runs on eight hits (one home run) with a walk and three strikeouts.
-The combined 13 runs toppled the 10-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 2-1 his three starts.
-Ginter, out of the major leagues the last two years, has not started against the Twins recently.
-Minnesota’s Francisco Liriano (0-3, 11.32 ERA) has been called up from Triple-A Rochester after struggling with the Twins earlier this season.
-The left-hander went 10-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 118 innings this season for the Red Wings, going a solid 10-0 his last 11 starts with a 2.67 ERA with 80 strikeouts over 70 2/3 innings.
-Liriano fell to the Indians April 18 as a $1.10 home underdog, 4-0, going five innings while yielding three runs on four hits with five walks and three strikeouts. The four runs failed to topple the 8 ½-run closing total.
**Blue Jays (Purcey) at Rangers (Mendoza)**
-Caesars Palace opened Texas as a $1.20 home favorite over Toronto, with the total listed at 12. This contest is scheduled to start at 8:05 p.m. ET.
-Toronto pitcher David Purcey (1-1, 8.10 ERA) notched his first major league victory against Seattle July 26 as a $1.43 home ‘chalk,’ 8-3. The rookie left-hander went six innings, allowing three runs on seven hits (one home run) with a walk and four strikeouts.
-The combined 11 runs eclipsed the 9½-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash in all three of his starts.
-Purcey has never started against the Rangers in his brief major league career.
-Texas right-hander Luis Mendoza (1-4, 9.00 ERA) picked up a no-decision against Seattle Tuesday despite tossing a substandard 5 1/3 innings. The Mexico native was reached for six runs (five earned) on nine hits with no walks and a strikeout.
-The Rangers eventually prevailed as a $1.45 home ‘chalk,’ 11-10, while the combined 21 runs soared past the 11-run closing total. The ‘over’ is now 6-1 his last seven starts.
-Mendoza fell to the Blue Jays April 12 as a $1.40 home underdog, 4-1, going five innings while surrendering four runs (one earned) on eight hits with three walks and a strikeout. The combined five runs went ‘under’ the nine-run closing total.
vegasinsider.com.
Sunday's MLB Research
By IndianCowboy
Angels vs. Yankees
The Yankees took care of business yesterday winning 9-2, the Angels look to bounce-back consequently as Lackey is 5-1 with a 2.36 era on the road and 9-2 with a 2.93 overall, Lackey is 5-0 over his last 7 starts, he has yet to face the Yankees this year and he comes off a complete game win at Boston giving up just 2 hits, so having a let down worries me a bit, note Rasner had a 6 era in his last start against Baltimore at home so he is likely to bounce-back today as well, thus, I favor the under here a bit but I just don't trust lackey despite being great this year as he could be in for a let down today, plus it is a road favorite and Rasner on the bounce-back, small lean on the under, but no thanks.
Oakland vs. Boston
Oakland got absolutely pummeled yesterday as this is not the veteran Angel pitching staff but rather the new guns for Oakland and they are getting hit on the road. Braden goes today and he had a 5.41 era last time so he is looking to bounce-back here, he did lose to KC at home, but had a great start at TB last time out at home, Dice-K had a 10.8 era last time out as he was roughed up at home, and he likely will bounce-back here today, he has had great luck against Oakland as he is 2-0 this year with a 3.6 and a 1.35 era both times out, but note they were each 1 run wins, so if you would have done Boston run-line both times you would have lost, or if you had done Oakland +1.5 both times against Dice-K you would have cashed, having said all this, lean on the under given Boston has never faced Braden and Dice-K on the bounce-back.
Detroit vs. Tampa Bay
Galarraga on the road today and has won back to back starts note that he typically does better on a bounce-back where he has over a 4.5 era but he won his last start despite having over a 5 era, he has not faced Tampa Bay this year and on the road he has a 7-2 record with a 2.6 era, Shields is a dominant 7-1 era with a 2.16 era, he pitched great at Toronto but still lost 1-3 and typically does not lose back to back ballgames, but Detroit comes off a spanking of 3-9 so they look to bounce-back, if anything a lean on Tampa bay run-line, but I hate run-lines.
Cleveland vs. Minny
Ginter is 0-2 in his last 2 starts and had a 9 era in his last start as he looks to bounce-back today, Liriano last pitched on 4/24 as he returns for the Twins today and he didn't last out of the 1st inning in that ballgame with a 81.82 era. He returns for his start today as he is 0-3 on the year and the Twins had sent him down because of his horrible starts, the question is if he shows up today and returns the faith the Twins have placed in him, if anything a lean on the over as I just don't know if Liriano will pitch well today given that he is back and a bit rusty to the Majors, also Minny scored just 1 run today so they will look to hit Ginter hard and bounce-back, if anything a lean on the over, but it all depends on Liriano, probably will just stay away.
Baltimore vs. Seattle
Now, here is an interesting game, Silva is at home facing Cabrera. The reason why the Orioles are favored today despite Seattle being on the bounce-back and losing 1-3 is that Cabrera has helped beat Seattle twice this year, he comes off a huge 3.38 era start at New York where the Orioles won as +155 dogs, he had a 6 era and a 2.25 era but the Orioles did beat the Mariners 5-4 and 3-2, Silva had a 12 era and a 23.18 era in his last 2 starts, and has given up 10 runs in less than 5 innings of late, but he typically does not have 3 horrible starts in a row and of course, note that Cabrera would have to beat the Mariners 3 times which it is tough to beat any team 3 times in one year for a pitcher. I wish I didn't have to pick the M's with Silva on the mound but will do so if I don't have a choice here.
Toronto vs. Texas
The total keeps rising and these 2 teams just keep exceeding it typically as runs come a flurry in Texas over and over again, Purcey came back with a quality start in his last start and ended up helping his team win 8-3, Texas is on the bounce-back today as I think Purcey likely gets hit hard today, Mendoza is 4-1 to the over and he had a 1.8 era last time against Toronto but he also gave up 8 hits and 3 walks in just 5 innings, so I expect Toronto to have success today, Purcey has pitched in 3 straight overs as well since pitching in his 3 starts for the Bluejays, and there are some ridiculous trends favoring the over in Texas and this might be the first game that I actually feel comfortable in taking the over in Texas.
Royals vs. Whitesox
Here is another interesting game, it features the Whitesox as a 66% road dog that is enjoyed by the public, which is a sign not to take them typically as whenever the public favors the dog, it is bad news, the Royals won 9-7 yesterday, Richard has had a 9 era in both of his starts this year, he has not lasted 5 innings in any of his 5 ballgames he has started, in fact, just over 4 innings in both, Greinke is on a bounce-back against the Whitesox as he has had in order, 12, 1.29 and a 21 era in his last start, his quality start came at home and of course, he looks to get that revenge today and remember, although Greinke's overall era is 3.98 at home he is 3-1 with a solid 2.95 era. I think Greinke and the Royals are likely to get it done again today.
Sunday's best MLB bets
Covers.com
Milwaukee at Atlanta (+134, 8)
Aside from the fact that the Brewers have won six out of the eight meetings in this series this season, I'll still take the Braves at home at this price. Atlanta is 32-23 at Turner Field this season and Jorge Campillo has been money against Milwaukee in his young career. In his two meetings with the Brewers, he's performed brilliantly and earned two big wins.
It's hard to bet against Ben Sheets but the Braves are a totally different team at home. They're hitting .281 in Atlanta and despite some recent losses, this is a good price for the home team.
Pick: Braves
Detroit at Tampa Bay (-155, 8½)
With Todd Jones on the DL and Joel Zumaya also on the shelf, the Detroit Tigers have been in trouble. Even the addition of Kyle Farnsworth to the bullpen hasn't helped the Tigers much as they've lost three straight games and slipped 6 1/2 out of the top spot in the AL Central. The normally solid Detroit pen has a 5.08 ERA over the last three games. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has one of the best bullpens in baseball and, along with their steady hitting, those relief pitchers have kept the Rays in first place.
Pick: Rays
Baseball Today
Cleveland at Minnesota (2:10 p.m. EDT). Nelson Liriano (0-3, 11.32 ERA) makes his first major league start since being sent to the minors on April 25. The left-hander was 10-0 with a 2.67 ERA in his last 11 starts for Triple-A Rochester. He will be opposed by the Indians' Matt Ginter (1-2, 4.20).
Monday, Aug. 4
Oakland at Toronto (6:07 p.m. EDT). Roy Halladay (12-8) goes to the mound on extra rest for the Blue Jays, who take on young left-hander Greg Smith (5-10) and the Athletics.
STARS
- Manny Ramirez, Dodgers, hit his first homer since getting traded by Boston, finishing 2-for-4 in a 4-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.
- Jose Molina, Yankees, went 3-for-3 with a homer, scoring three times in an 8-2 victory over the NL West-leading Angels.
- CC Sabathia, Brewers, gave up six hits and two runs in 8 1-3 innings, striking out nine in a 4-2 win over the Braves.
- Prince Fielder, Brewers, hit a pair of homers and drove in three runs in a 4-2 win over the Braves.
- Esteban German, Royals, finished a home run short of the cycle, driving in three runs in a 9-7 win over the White Sox.
- Evan Longoria, Rays, went 3-for-5 with a double and a home run, driving in three in a 9-3 victory over the Tigers.
- Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox, hit a pair of two-run homers in a 12-2 rout of the Athletics.
- Joe Blanton, Phillies, gave up four hits and a run in seven innings, winning his first game since getting traded to Philadelphia in a 2-1 win over the Cardinals.
- Barry Zito, Giants, finally looked like a former Cy Young winner, scattering three hits and four walks over eight innings in a 2-0 win over the Padres.
- Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles, allowed four hits and a run in a complete-game, 3-1 victory over the Mariners.
PARDON ME
The Astros' 5-4, 10-inning victory over the Mets featured a memorable play in the ninth inning. New York was leading 4-2 when Houston loaded the bases with one out. Pinch-hitter Geoff Blum then lined a single to left and Hunter Pence raced around third, right on Mark Loretta's heels. In an image reminiscent of a scene in the movie ``Major League,'' both players slid in safely in a three-player collision with catcher Ramon Castro, who lost the ball.
EVAN ALMIGHTY
Evan Longoria tied a club record for home runs by a rookie, hitting No. 21 and driving in three runs in Tampa Bay's 9-3 rout of Detroit. Longoria, who's hitting .280 with 67 RBIs after beginning the season in the minors, also homered in the Rays' 5-2 win over Detroit the previous night. He has five home runs and 14 RBIs in his last 14 games.
WALK OF FAME
Manny Ramirez hit his first home run since moving to Hollywood, a two-run shot that helped the Dodgers to a 4-2 win over Arizona. It was the 511th homer of his career, tying Mel Ott for 22nd place all-time and putting Ramirez one behind Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks.
JUST LIKE CY YOUNG
Barry Zito gave up three hits in a season-high eight innings to outpitch Jake Peavy and lead the Giants to a 2-0 win over San Diego. Zito (6-13) won the matchup of former Cy Young Award winners and avoided setting a career high for losses in a season. Each pitcher allowed just two hits through the first six innings.
LET HIM FINISH!
Ricky Nolasco pitched eight strong innings, striking out a career-high 13, when Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez pulled him from their game against Colorado. Sure, Kevin Gregg finished up for his 24th save, but he denied Nolasco his first complete game and extended this dubious distinction: Florida has gone 287 games since their last complete game on Sept. 16, 2006.
ONE FOR THE ROAD
CC Sabathia pitched 8 1-3 standout innings to help the Brewers equal a club record with their ninth straight road win, 4-2 over the Braves. Milwaukee stayed four games back of NL Central-leading Chicago, and has won two straight after being swept in four games by the Cubs.
SPEAKING
``It's the same game. Regardless of what jersey I'm wearing, it's the same game I've played my entire life.'' - Jason Bay, whose three-run homer helped spur the Red Sox to a 12-2 rout of the Athletics.