Friday's Primetime Tilts
By Judd Hall
There are plenty of quality matchups on Friday’s card in baseball for us to take a look at to head into the weekend. Let’s take a look at three division leaders hitting the road against some quality opponents.
Dodgers at Braves – 7:35 p.m. EDT
The Dodgers have a comfortable lead in the National League West, but they have lost four straight games and five of their last six. Jason Schmidt (1-1, 7.88 ERA) will take to the mound on Friday night for his job most likely. He’s in the final year of his contract and has pitched a total of eight games since coming to Los Angeles in 2007.
Schmidt is coming off of a horrible effort versus Florida on July 26. He allowed four earned runs on five hits in just three innings of work.
Tommy Hanson (5-1, 2.95 ERA) has been the exact opposite of his opposite number. Atlanta’s latest pitching stud has had five quality starts out of the nine he’s made this season. Hanson was a hard luck loser in his latest outing. He gave up two earned runs on nine hits in seven innings of work to lose at Milwaukee 4-0 last Saturday.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened the Braves as $1.55 home favorites (risk $155 to win $100) with a total of nine. Offshore sportsbooks have listed Atlanta as a $1.80 “chalk” with the same total.
It’s hard to go against the Braves in this spot as they’re 12-4 on Friday this season, while LA is just 8-8. Although the Dodgers are 13-8 against the NL East; Atlanta is 10-11 against the West in 2009.
Angels at Twins – 8:10 p.m. EDT
Revenge will no doubt be on the minds of the Twins as they start this series on Friday night. Minnesota dropped three of its four games out in Orange County last week. They did salvage the final match of the series, which propelled them to a current four-game winning streak.
Nick Blackburn (8-5, 3.75 ERA) will no doubt be looking for a little retribution for how he pitched last week against the Halos. Blackburn lasted just 3.2 innings last Saturday in Anaheim. In that short period of time, the Angels got six hits and six earned runs en route to a 11-5 victory.
The Twinkies might have a good chance at striking first blood against Ervin Santana (3-6, 7.29 ERA). LA’s starter was tattooed for six earned runs on six hits in 3.2 innings against Minnesota last Sunday. The Twins wound up winning that contest 10-1 to avoid the series sweep.
Most betting shops have posted the Twins as $1.50 home faves with a total of 10 in Game 1 of this weekend battle.
You’re best bet for this tilt is taking the Twins here as the home team has won six of the seven head-to-head meetings this year.
Los Angeles is 9-11 against right-handed pitchers on the road this season. Minnesota, on the other hand, is 12-10 against righties in 2009.
Fridays have been a good day for both clubs this year as the Angels are 9-7, while the Twins are 12-4.
Yankees at White Sox – 8:10 p.m. EDT
There isn’t a hotter team in baseball the Yankees right now as they’re 11-2 since the All-Star break. They’ve been just as good in covering the run line during this streak with an 8-5 mark.
The Bronx Bombers will send Sergio Mitre (1-0, 5.91 ERA) out to the hill for the second game of this series. The former Marlin has been respectable in his two starts so far, lasting at least five innings, striking out five batters to just one walk. Of course it helps to have an offense behind you that leads the majors with 562 runs scored for the year.
Chicago has been less than perfect since Mark Buehrle pitched his masterpiece, going 1-6 in its last seven games. The White Sox will be sending Clayton Richard (4-3, 4.65 ERA) out to the mound for this game. There is some hope for the Pale Hose here as Richard is the last pitcher for them to win since el perfecto. The lefty actually had two straight outings where he lasted eight innings, giving up one earned run in each start.
LVSC has made the Yankees $1.20 road favorites with the total coming in at 10.
New York has had no problems in targeting left-handed pitching this year, hitting .292 with 44 homers. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Yanks are 21-12 for the season against southpaws, 6-4 in road night games versus them.
You’d probably think that the ‘over’ is the way to go here, but the numbers don’t suggest it. The Yankees have seen the ‘under’ go 20-15 this season in road games under the lights. Chicago has posted an 18-9 mark for the ‘under’ in 2009 when playing a home tilt at night.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Chicago Cubs (54-46) at Florida (52-49)
Two of the hottest teams in the National League open a three-game set at LandShark Stadium in Miami today as the Cubs send righty Rich Harden (7-6, 4.55 ERA) to the mound opposite Marlins’ right-hander Christopher Volstad (8-9, 4.44).
Chicago comes in having won seven of its last eight with an offense that has put up five runs or more in each of those eight contests. The Cubs took three of four over the Astros with Thursday’s 12-3 victory and outscored Houston 24-3 in the final two games. Chicago is on runs of 6-2 on the road, 5-2 against N.L. East teams and 5-1 on Fridays.
Florida fell 6-3 in 10 innings against the Braves on Thursday, but the Marlins have still won six of their last eight overall. They are riding additional positive streaks of 11-4 at home, 7-2 at home against right-handed starters and 4-1 in series openers, however they are just 3-12 in their last 15 as a home ‘dog and 1-5 in their last sis on Friday.
Chicago has taken four of the last five meetings with the Marlins, but the Fish have won seven of the last nine in Florida.
Harden has been nails for the Cubs lately, going 2-0 in his last three starts with a 0.95 ERA. He’s 4-1 on the road this season with a 2.03 ERA and he’s allowed a total of two earned runs in his last three roadies, covering 20 innings. He got roughed up by the Marlins back on May 1 when he gave up five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings, but his offense came back to win the game 8-6. With Harden on the mound, the Cubs are just 1-4 on the road against winning teams, but they are on runs of 4-0 when he’s a road chalk and 5-2 when he faces the N.L. East.
Volstad has been shaky at home for Florida, going 3-6 with a 5.24 ERA. In Los Angeles on Sunday, the Dodgers got him for four runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings and his offense pulled out the win, 8-6. He faced these Cubs back on April 30 and allowed two runs on three hits over seven innings of an 8-2 victory. He’s allowed just six earned runs in three starts against Chicago over the last two seasons. Florida is 4-0 when Volstad gets four days of rest, but just 1-5 when he starts on Friday, 1-4 in his last five at home and 0-4 when he opens a series.
It’s all “unders” for the Cubs when Harden pitches, including 5-2 overall, 4-0 on the road, 5-1-1 as a road favorite and 4-1 when he gets four days of rest. As a team, the Cubs have topped the total in four of five against the N.L. East and four of five on the road, but they’ve stayed under the number in 10 of 13 as a road favorite and 31 of 48 on Fridays.
With Volstad pitching, the Marlins are on “under” runs of 7-3-2 in series openers, 9-3-1 as an underdog and 11-3-1 against winning teams. As a team, Florida has topped the total in five straight on Friday, eight of 12 against the N.L. Central and 11 of 18 at home against right-handers. In this series, the over is 9-3 in the last 12 in Florida and 4-1 in the last five overall.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
AMERICAN LEAGUE
L.A. Angels (60-40) at Minnesota (52-50)
The Twins will try to make it five in a row when they send righty Nick Blackburn (8-5, 3.82 ERA) to the hill inside the Metrodome to welcome Angels’ right-hander Ervin Santana (3-6, 7.29) in the first game of this three-game set.
The Angels finished a seven-game homestand on Wednesday by beating the Indians 9-3. They went 5-2 in those seven, including 3-1 against these Twins in a four-game set last weekend. Los Angeles is on a plethora of positive runs, including 36-16 overall, 13-3 on the road, 13-3 in series openers, 9-2 as a ‘dog, 6-0 after an off-day and 6-2 on Fridays.
Minnesota swept the White Sox this week, winning all three games by two runs or less, including Wednesday’s 3-2 victory. The Twins are just 1-4 in their last five against A.L. West teams, but they are on streaks of 65-32 at home, 58-22 as home favorites, 24-7 on Fridays and 23-8 after an off-day.
Santana has won two of his last three starts, but his ERA is a whopping 6.11 in those three. He got blasted by these Twins on Sunday, allowing six runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 10-1 loss in the series finale in Anaheim. He’s allowed 11 runs in his last 9 2/3 innings and he’s yielded four runs or more in seven of his last 10 outings. Still, with Santana on the hill, the Angels are on runs of 10-2 in series openers, 4-1 when he’s a ‘dog, 5-2 on the road and 7-3 against the A.L. Central.
Blackburn is a perfect 5-0 at home with a 2.67 ERA, but he is just 1-1 with a 9.77 ERA in his last three outings overall. In Anaheim on Saturday, he allowed six runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings of an 11-5 Twins’ loss. In two outings this season against Los Angeles, he’s given up 10 runs in 10 innings.
With Blackburn throwing, the Twins are 0-5 against the A.L. West and just 5-11 when he faces a team with a winning record, but they are on positive runs of 12-1 when he’s a home favorite, 17-4 when he’s at home and 5-1 when he pitches on Friday.
Los Angeles is on several “under” streaks with Santana on the hill, including 9-2 on the road, 5-1-1 on Fridays, 13-6-1 when he gets four days of rest, 8-3 in series openers and 8-3-2 against A.L. Central teams. Conversely, as a squad, the Angels are on a host of “over” runs that include 36-15-3 overall, 11-0 against the A.L. Central, 21-5-2 following a win and 23-6-1 against right-handed starters.
With Blackburn pitching, the Twins have stayed under the total in eight of his last 11, seven of 11 when he’s a home favorite and four of five at home. However, as a team, Minnesota is on “over” runs of 39-19-2 on Fridays, 5-1 against right-handers, 4-1 after an off-day, 5-2 in series openers and 5-0 against the A.L. West. Finally, the over was a perfect 4-0 when these two met in Anaheim last weekend.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
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Staying Perfect!!
By SportsPic
The Atlanta Braves avoiding a sweep in Florida with a 6-3 victory yesterday return to Turner Field for a three game set against N.L. West leading Dodgers. Braves a profitable 8-2 (+$530) the past ten at home crossing 5.3 per game over home plate have a great opportunity handing the ball to Tommy Hanson (5-1, 2.95). The rookie right-hander sports a 6-3 team start record including a perfect 4-0 mark at home where Braves have given the hurler 6.3 runs per game of support. Hanson with a 1.16 WHIP, 10.4 ABRA, 16.58 BOR at home should have little trouble containing a Dodger team that is struggling offensively this road swing managing just 2 runs/game in losing 3-of-4 at St Louis. Expect Braves to remain perfect at home with Hanson, home favorites of -$1.50 and -$1.90 with a starter who gets guys out (Batter-Out-Rating >15) are 118-36 on the season outscoring visitors 5.1 to 2.6. Note: Braves are 6-2 last eight meetings, 6-1 last seven hosting Dodgers and 7-1 last eight facing a starter with a WHIP > 1.30 (Schmidt 1.75).
Friday's streaking and slumping starting pitchers
By Covers.com
Streaking
Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves
After a forgettable debut to his Major League career, Hanson is showing why the Braves label him as their best pitching prospect to come along in years. Hanson gave up five earned runs and took a no-decision in his debut; since, he is 5-1 with two no-decisions and has yielded just 12 earned runs in that span.
The 22-year-old right-hander (5-1, 2.95 ERA) lost his last outing against the Milwaukee Brewers despite giving up just two runs in seven innings. In his pervious start, he struck out 11 San Francisco Giants in earning the win.
Braden Looper, Milwaukee Brewers
The former reliever has been a valuable addition to the struggling rotation of the Brewers, posting a record of 4-1 with two no-decisions in his past seven outings.
The 34-year-old Looper (9-5, 4.79) has been reliable in his 21 starts this season. He has given up three or fewer earned runs in five of his past seven starts, and the right-hander has logged at least six innings in all but one of those starts.
Slumping
Fausto Carmona, Cleveland Indians
Carmona’s struggling ways followed him through a demotion to the minors, but the trade of Cliff Lee has given him another chance. Cleveland fans better hope he makes the most of it.
The former 19-game winner was sent to the minors after a June 4 start against the Minnesota Twins in which he was scorched for seven earned runs. In his past three starts in the majors, Carmona (2-6, 7.62 ERA) gave up 16 earned runs and secured his ticket out of town.
A Triple-A Columbus, the 25-year-old was 1-3 with a 3.55 ERA in five starts.
Ryan Sadowski, San Francisco Giants
While the rest of the Giants starting staff could qualify for the “streaking” category, Sadowski has struggled as they look for one more reliable starter.
Sadowski (2-3, 4.81 ERA) win his first two starts but has lost his past three in ugly fashion. The 27-year-old righty gave up eight earned runs to the Atlanta Braves, and followed it up with a loss to the Colorado Rockies in which he was yanked early after spotting them three runs. He has failed to make it past the fourth inning in each of his past two starts.
Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Friday, July 31
Philadelphia at San Francisco (10:15 p.m. EDT). Cliff Lee will make his National League debut for the Phillies after being acquired from Cleveland on Wednesday.
STARS
Thursday
-Derek Holland and Michael Young, Rangers. Holland took a one-hit shutout into the ninth inning and Young hit two of Texas' five home runs in a 7-1 win over Seattle.
-DeWayne Wise, White Sox, hit a game-ending RBI single in the ninth inning to give Chicago a 3-2 victory over the Yankees.
-Johan Santana, Mets, threw seven sharp innings, striking out eight, and New York beat the Rockies 7-0 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. The Mets dropped the second game, 4-2.
-Will Venable, Padres, hit a three-run homer among his four hits and had a career-high four RBIs, and San Diego romped to a 7-4 win over the Cincinnati.
-Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs, reached base five times and had four RBIs in a 12-3 win over Houston.
-Brian McCann, Braves, hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning, giving Atlanta a 6-3 victory over the Marlins.
-Matt Kemp, Dodgers, hit a two-run single in the 10th inning for his third hit, helping Los Angeles end a season-worst four-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Cardinals.
TESTING POSITIVE
Red Sox slugger David Ortiz became the latest star implicated in baseball's ever-growing drug scandal, acknowledging that the players' union confirmed he tested positive in 2003. Shortly after hitting the go-ahead home run that beat Oakland 8-5, Ortiz responded to a story on The New York Times' Web site that he and former teammate Manny Ramirez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs six years ago. Ramirez, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, recently served a 50-game suspension for violating baseball's drug policy. In 2003, 104 major leaguers tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs; the results were supposed to be anonymous and are now under court seal.
SWAPPED
Looking to add a big arm to their bullpen, the NL West-leading Dodgers acquired former All-Star closer George Sherrill from the Baltimore. The rebuilding Orioles received third baseman Josh Bell and right-hander Steve Johnson, both of whom were at Double-A Chattanooga. ... The Chicago Cubs acquired left-hander John Grabow and lefty Tom Gorzelanny from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a five-player trade. Locked in a tight race atop the NL Central, the Cubs sent right-handers Kevin Hart, who got the win for the Cubs Thursday, and Jose Ascanio and minor league infielder Josh Harrison to the Pirates. ... The Royals have acquired outfielder Josh Anderson from the Detroit Tigers for cash.
I'M SORRY
Mets general manager Omar Minaya said he apologized to New York Daily News reporter Adam Rubin for questioning his motives and credibility during a bizarre press conference. But the GM didn't retract his remarks when asked repeatedly if he stood by his critical comments Monday while announcing the firing of executive Tony Bernazard. After announcing Bernazard's dismissal, Minaya said Rubin had "lobbied'' him and others in the front office, including Bernazard, for a job in player development. Rubin denied he had asked Minaya for a job and insisted he had merely sought career advice.
SETBACK
Arizona pitcher Brandon Webb has had another setback with his ailing right shoulder, raising the possibility the Diamondbacks ace may need surgery. Webb has consulted numerous doctors but has been unable to relieve stiffness and soreness in the shoulder. The 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner has not pitched since opening day and has been limited to throwing off flat ground.
SEASON OVER
Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya is scheduled to have season-ending shoulder surgery in August. Zumaya, who has had shoulder problems since an offseason injury in late 2007, last pitched on July 18 against the New York Yankees. The hard-throwing 24-year-old is 3-3 with a 4.94 ERA in 29 appearances this season. He has been on the disabled list in each of the last three seasons.
SEVEN UP
Colorado's Jorge De La Rosa set a franchise record by winning his seventh consecutive start, a 4-2 win over the Mets in the second game of a day-night doubleheader. The left-hander allowed three hits to improve to 9-1 in his last 10 starts, the only loss coming on June 16 against Tampa Bay. He is 5-0 with a 2.50 ERA in six games this month, including his only relief appearance of the year on July 12 against Atlanta.
SCORED ON
Yankees reliever Phil Hughes had his scoreless innings streak stopped at 25 1-3 innings in the 3-2 loss to the White Sox. Hughes came in to the game having not given up a run in his last 16 appearances. ... Guillermo Mota's scoreless stretch ended at 20 1-3 innings when he gave up a leadoff homer to Rick Ankiel in the eighth inning of the Dodgers' 5-3 win over St. Louis.
OUCH
Orioles rookie Brad Bergesen allowed one run in seven innings, then hobbled off the mound after being hit with a line drive on his final pitch of Baltimore's 7-3 win over Kansas City. Bergesen was struck in the shin by Butler's sharp hit. Catcher Matt Wieters picked up the loose ball and threw out Butler to end the inning. X-rays were negative.
STAYING POWER
Umpire Joe West, worked his 4,000th game, the Brewers' 7-3 win over Washington. West is the 19th man to work 4,000 games and fifth among active umpires.
SPEAKING
"I've just been told that the report is true. Based on the way I lived my life I'm surprised to learn I tested positive.'' - Red Sox slugger David Ortiz after learning he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.