Friday Night Lights
By Kevin Rogers
The Friday card in baseball brings bettors new matchups for the weekend, including several Cy Young Candidates taking the hill. The Yankees look to continue their dominance atop the AL East, as they try to avenge a series loss to the White Sox in the Bronx.
White Sox at Yankees (7:05 PM EST)
The Yankees avoided a four-game sweep at U.S. Cellular Field earlier this month, thanks to CC Sabathia beating Mark Buehrle. Those two southpaws take the mound Friday night at Yankee Stadium.
Sabathia (15-7, 3.59 ERA) is right in the mix of candidates for the AL Cy Young Award, winning five straight decisions, while striking out 34 his last four outings. Sabathia allowed five earned runs and ten hits in seven innings of work against Chicago on August 2. That victory ended a three-game skid for the Yankees, and was the jump start to a seven-game winning streak by the Bombers.
Buehrle (11-7, 3.92 ERA) made headlines last month by tossing a perfect game against the Rays. Since that outstanding performance, the Sox ace is 0-4 in his last six starts, while allowing four earned runs or more five times. Even though Buehrle will not be favored against the Yankees, the lefty has lost three times since the perfect game as a $1.80 favorite or higher, something to look for as far as a 'fade' in the final month.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants has installed the Yankees as substantial home 'chalk,' at $2.20, with the total set at 9 (Bet $1.20 to win $1.00 on the 'over').
Braves at Phillies (7:05 PM EST)
The Braves continue to play inconsistent baseball, as they look to bounce back from a series loss to the lowly Padres. Atlanta has taken eight of 12 meetings from Philadelphia, but the Phillies grabbed two of three at Turner Field two weeks ago.
Pedro Martinez (2-0, 5.14 ERA) makes his fourth start in a Phillies uniform, and hasn't been super-impressive so far. Martinez has received outstanding run support so far, with Philadelphia averaging 8.67 runs/game, including nine in his last outing against the Mets. Martinez has made two substantial starts, while one is tough to count, when he was lifted after three innings against Arizona due to a lengthy rain delay. Martinez split a pair of late-season starts against Atlanta last season, allowing four runs each time, while striking out 13.
Tommy Hanson (9-2, 3.12 ERA) is living up to the billing as the next star in the Atlanta rotation. Hanson has won four straight starts, including a 4-3 victory over Florida his last time out. The righty has tossed at least six innings in seven straight outings, while producing a quality start six times in this span. This will be Hanson's first career start against the Phillies.
LVSC lists the Phillies as a $1.20 home favorite, with the total set at 9 (Bet $1.20 to win $1.00 on the 'over').
Rays at Tigers (7:05 PM EST)
Tampa Bay and Detroit meet up for the first time this season, as the Rays look to rebound after blowing a ninth-inning lead in a 3-2 loss at Toronto on Wednesday. The Tigers, meanwhile, return home after a 3-3 road trip at Oakland and Los Angeles.
Matt Garza (7-8, 3.74 ERA) has taken a step back this season, following an 11-9 campaign in 2008. The Rays righty has won only one decision since the start of July, and three decisions dating back to Memorial Day. Garza's lone consistent trend has been hitting plenty of 'unders' on the road, doing so in 10 of 11 away starts. Garza has dropped his last four starts against the Tigers, dating back to 2007.
Rick Porcello (10-8, 4.39 ERA) has won only one start this month, while lasting past the sixth inning just once in his last nine outings. Detroit is 8-3 in Porcello's 11 starts at Comerica Park this season, despite a 4.60 ERA and WHIP of 1.45 at home.
The Tigers have bounced back nicely after a low-scoring contest, going 8-1 their last nine following a game in which they scored two runs or less.
The Rays are listed as a $1.15 road favorite, with the total listed at 8½ (Bet $1.20 to win $1.00 on the 'over'), according to LVSC.
Rockies at Giants (10:15 PM EST)
The top two teams in the NL Wild Card race hook up for their second series this week, but the venue shifts to San Francisco. The Rockies took three of four last weekend at Coors Field, including a walk-off grand slam in extra-innings on Monday night.
Tim Lincecum (12-4, 2.43 ERA) looks to rebound after getting beat by Colorado on Sunday, 4-2. The reigning Cy Young Award winner owns a fantastic 7-1 record at AT&T Park, while the Giants are 9-4 in his 13 home outings. Lincecum has dropped four of his last five outings against the Rockies, dating back to last season. Six of Lincecum's last eight starts have finished 'under' the total, with six times the total listed at seven.
Ubaldo Jimenez (12-9, 3.36 ERA) has been on fire recently, winning five straight starts. The Colorado right-hander has also turned in great outings, pitching eight innings in four of his last five trips to the hill. Jimenez was on the winning side of that 4-2 victory over Lincecum and the Giants this past weekend, allowing six hits and two earned runs in eight innings.
LVSC has installed the Giants as a $1.45 home favorite, while the total is set at 6½.
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Atlanta (67-60) at Philadelphia (73-52)
Pedro Martinez (2-0, 5.14 ERA) toes the slab for the Phillies when they open a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park against the N.L. East rival Braves, who will counter with rookie Tommy Hanson (9-2, 3.12).
Philadelphia just dropped two of three at Pittsburgh, needing 10 innings to get a 4-1 win Wednesday before blowing a 2-1, eighth-inning lead in Thursday’s finale, losing 3-2. However, the Phillies remain one of the hottest teams in baseball, having won 12 of their last 16, and they are on further streaks of 36-18 overall, 5-1 against winning teams and 19-7 at home.
Atlanta dropped the first two games of its home series with the Padres before getting back on track with a 9-1 win Thursday. The Braves are just 2-8 in their last 10 series openers, but they are on upticks of 5-1 on the highway and 4-1 in division play. Also, in this rivalry, Atlanta is 8-4 this season against the Phillies, going 6-2 in the last eight overall and 6-2 in the last eight in Philly.
The Phillies are 3-0 since Martinez joined the rotation, despite the former Cy Young winner’s mediocre ERA. On Sunday against the Mets, the right-hander gave up four runs on seven hits (two homers), getting a 9-7 road victory. Both of Martinez’s wins have come on the road, as he gave up a run in three innings in his first home start (5-1 win over Arizona). The 37-year-old is 11-10 with a 3.70 ERA in 30 career outings (23 starts) against Atlanta.
Hanson, who turns 23 today, has won his last four starts, allowing eight runs in 25 2/3 innings for a 2.80 ERA, and he has 23 strikeouts over his last three outings, all at home (19 2/3 innings). On Saturday, he allowed three runs on four hits and three walks in seven innings of a 4-3 victory over Florida, striking out seven. Hanson is 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in six road starts this year, and this will be his first career start against Philadelphia.
With Hanson dealing, the Braves are on runs of 6-2 against winning teams and 5-2 in series openers.
The under for Philadelphia is on tears of 10-4 overall, 4-0 against wining teams, 6-1 in the N.L. East and 17-5 against righty starters, and in this rivalry, the total has stayed low in four straight games. However, with the Braves on the road, the over is on rolls of 7-2 overall and 5-1 against winning teams.
ATS ADVANTAGE: PHILADELPHIA
Colorado (72-56) at San Francisco (69-59)
The top two teams in the N.L. wild-card chase get together for the second time in a week, this time at AT&T Park, where the Giants will send ace Tim Lincecum (12-4, 2.43 ERA) against Ubaldo Jimenez (12-9, 3.36) and the Rockies to open a three-game series.
San Francisco bounced back from losing three of four at Colorado last weekend by taking two of three at home against Arizona, though it got hammered 11-0 last night in the series finale. The Giants are just 2-5 in their last seven outings against winning teams, but they are on streaks at home of 38-19 overall and 9-5 against winning squads.
Colorado lost two of three at home to the Dodgers, including a 3-2 setback Thursday that left the Rocks four games behind N.L. West-leading Los Angeles and three games ahead of San Francisco for the wild card. The Rockies are 52-25 in their last 77 games, and on the road, they are on upswings of 4-0 overall and 21-6 against righty starters, but they’ve lost five straight as a road pup.
The Rockies have won five of the last six in this rivalry and are on further runs against the Giants of 4-1 behind Jimenez and 4-1 facing Lincecum. The same two pitchers squared off Sunday, with Jimenez allowing two runs in eight innings to outduel Lincecum (three runs in seven innings) in a 4-2 Colorado victory.
San Francisco has won four of its last six behind Lincecum, but the 25-year-old has allowed eight runs in 13 innings over his last two starts (5.53 ERA). In Sunday’s 4-2 setback at Colorado, he held the Rockies hitless for 5 1/3 innings and ended up allowing three runs on three hits – including the decisive two-run homer -- with five walks and seven strikeouts.
Lincecum is 7-1 with a sterling 1.98 ERA in 13 home starts this season, but he’s just 3-3 with a 4.33 ERA in nine career starts against Colorado. The Giants are on runs behind the right-hander of 5-1 at home and 8-2 with the right-hander favored.
Jimenez has won his last five starts, allowing just seven runs over 38 2/3 innings for a 1.62 ERA, and he’s gone eight innings in four of those outings, including the last three in a row. Against the Giants on Sunday, he scattered six hits and two walks over his eight innings, striking out nine.
Jimenez is 5-5 with a 3.48 ERA in 14 road starts this year, and he’s 3-2 with a 2.41 ERA in eight career starts against San Francisco. Still, the Rockies are on slides behind Jimenez of 10-23 on the highway and 1-5 in roadies against winning teams.
The under for San Francisco is on a bundle of rolls, including 27-11-2 with the Giants favored, 6-2 behind Lincecum and 4-0 with the reigning Cy Young winner facing a winning team. For Colorado, the under is on a 7-2-1 overall stretch, and with Jimenez throwing, the under is on runs of 5-0 overall, 5-0 against winning teams and 10-3 on the road against winning units.
Finally, in this rivalry, the total has stayed low in four straight meetings at AT&T Park, and the under is 6-2 in Jimenez’s last eight starts against the Giants.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
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Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Friday, Aug. 28
Colorado at San Francisco (10:15 p.m. EDT). Giants ace Tim Lincecum and Ubaldo Jimenez face off again in the opener of a three-game series between the NL West rivals. Jimenez beat Lincecum with eight strong innings in a 4-2 win Sunday.
STARS
Thursday
-Andy Marte, Indians, hit a two-run homer on a full-count pitch with two outs in the ninth inning, giving Cleveland a 5-4 victory over Baltimore.
-Garrett Jones, Pirates, hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to help Pittsburgh rally for a 3-2 victory over Philadelphia.
-Ian Kinsler, Rangers, homered twice, and Texas became the first visitor to win a series at Yankee Stadium since mid-June, beating New York 7-2.
-Matt Kemp, Dodgers, hit his career-high 19th homer and Los Angeles beat Colorado 3-2.
-Jeff Keppinger, Astros, hit a tiebreaking homer with two outs in the ninth inning to lead Houston to a 4-3 victory at St. Louis.
-Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn, Nationals, each homered to power Washington past the Chicago Cubs 5-4 at Wrigley Field.
INFIELDER IS A PITCHER
Red Sox infielder Nick Green pitched two scoreless innings for Boston in a 9-5 loss to the White Sox. Green, who started 78 games at shortstop this season, threw 90 mph fastballs on his first two pitches and walked three in two hitless innings. His last pitch was an 88 mph fastball.
WELCOME BACK
Mark Reynolds homered and drove in two runs in his return to Arizona's lineup in an 11-0 win over the Giants. Reynolds missed Arizona's three previous games with the flu and received an IV treatment in San Francisco on Tuesday. The veteran slugger didn't play in the first two games of the series against the Giants but returned Thursday to lead the Diamondbacks to their third-highest run total since the All-Star break.
HIT IT
Through 7 1/2 innings of the Rangers' 7-2 lead over the Yankees, only 33 of 66 batters overall managed to put the ball in play. By the end, the teams combined for 25 strikeouts and 11 walks. A.J. Burnett struck out a season-high 12 in six innings. Texas' Dustin Nippert was pulled after walking seven in 3 2-3 innings.
HALO HALL
Chuck Finley and Brian Downing, teammates on the Angels' 1986 AL West championship team, were inducted into the franchise's Hall of Fame. Finley spent his first 14 seasons with the Angels, going 165-140 with a 3.72 ERA, 57 complete games and 14 shutouts. Downing hit .271 with 222 homers and 846 RBIs in 1,661 games over 13 seasons with the Angels.
OUCH
Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury sustained a high sprain of his left ankle in the bottom of the fifth inning of Boston's 9-5 loss to the White Sox sliding into home as he tried to score from second base on a wild pitch. Manager Terry Francona said the injury doesn't appear to be serious.
LEGAL TROUBLE
Dodgers relief pitcher Ronald Belisario pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor drunken driving. He was arrested in Pasadena early on June 27 after California Highway Patrol officers said they saw him talking on his cell phone while driving and arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was released on $5,000 bail. The 26-year-old rookie right-hander is with the team in Colorado and did not appear in court.
LITTLE SUPPORT
Less than 5,000 spectators turned out for the Mets 10-3 win at the Marlins, but there were enough transplanted New Yorkers to muster an occasional chant of "Let's go Mets.''
HUDSON STARTS
Braves pitcher Tim Hudson will make his first big league appearance in more than a year on Monday, replacing Kenshin Kawakami for a start against the Florida Marlins. Hudson was the ace of the Atlanta staff before his season-ending elbow ligament-replacement surgery on Aug. 8, 2008.
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS
The Cubs have gone 6-15 since Aug. 5 to fall nine games behind St. Louis in the NL Central. Before that skid, they had won 14 of 19 and were tied for first place. The Nationals are 20-21 under interim manager Jim Riggleman after going 26-61 for Manny Acta, who was fired last month. They are 14-11 in August.
BAD BREAK
Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan is expected to miss the rest of the season after breaking a bone in his left hand while sliding headfirst into third base during their 5-4 victory over the Cubs. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Morgan broke the second metacarpal bone and will fly back to Washington to visit a hand specialist. Rizzo called it a "six-week injury.''
POWER SURGE
Yuniesky Betancourt, Brayan Pena, Alberto Callaspo and David DeJesus homered for the Royals in their first four-homer game this season, an 8-4 win over the Mariners. The last time they hit four was May 23, 2007, against Cleveland.
SPEAKING
"I didn't really want to do it, but because of the situation today I had to do it. When he told me Manny (Delcarmen) was going to work two, Ramon (Ramirez) one, I said, `I'm going in in the eighth inning? Who's going to pitch the ninth?''' - Red Sox shortstop Nick Green after pitching two hitless innings in a 9-5 loss to the White Sox. Green reached 90 mph with his fastball.
Streaking and Slumping Pitchers
Streaking
Ubaldo Jimenez (12-9, 3.36 ERA), Colorado Rockies
This righty is one of many Colorado players who have been playing outstanding during the club’s hot streak. Jimenez bested Tim Linecum in his last outing, allowing just two runs in eight innings of work.
It was the third consecutive start he pitched eight innings and pushed his six-inning start streak to 22 games.
He’s 5-0, owns 34-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio along with a 1.63 ERA in the month of August. The under is also 8-2 in his last 10 trips to the mound.
C.C. Sabathia (15-7, 3.59), New York Yankees
Here’s another pitcher who’s enjoying the late summer. Sabathia is 5-0 with a 39-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 2.65 ERA in his last five starts. The boom pushes his record in August to 20-2 since 2005.
He delivered two peak performances against the Red Sox helping his club build its lead in the AL East.
The big lefty doesn’t come cheap for N.Y. backers, especially at Yankee Stadium. Still, pinstripe supporters have cashed out in seven of Sabathia’s last eight starts.
Slumping
Josh Beckett (14-5, 3.65), Boston Red Sox
The flame-throwing righty was one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball this season, but in his last two starts he has given up 15 earned runs.
The big fly is the root problem. The former World Series MVP has been taken out of the park 10 times in his last three outings.
The Yanks clubbed out five big flies in Beckett’s last start.
“These are humbling deals,” the hurler told reporters after the game. “That was a whupping I got today. That’s the only words I’ve got to sum it up.”
Under bettors are also taking a whooping with Beckett toeing the rubber. The under is 0-3 in his last three starts.
Mark Buehrle (11-7, 3.92), Chicago White Sox
It’s been over a month since this lefty threw a perfect game. Things aren’t going so well for Buehrle since that magical day. He carries a 6.22 ERA over his last six starts and his team is just 1-5 in those contests.
“I’m making some pitches and they’re finding some holes and then when you make a mistake they’re hitting the ball hard,” Buehrle said after his latest setback. “It’s just one of those funks I’m in and I need to come out of it sooner than later.”
Fading the 30 year old until he returns to form might be the best strategy.
Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants Series Preview
By SportsPic
The San Francisco Giants begin a huge home series Friday night with the Colorado Rockies, one with Wild Card implications.
Three games back heading into action the Giants man-handled 3-1 at Coors Field last weekend can't afford a second series stumble vs Rockies.
The series opener featuring Tim Lincecum (12-4, 2.43) and Ubaldo Jimenez (12-9, 3.36) on respective mounds is an interesting one. Rockies are 4-1 last five vs Giants with Jimenez touching toe to rubber including 3-0 hooked up against Lincecum.
In Saturday's contest Barry Zito (8-11, 4.09) enters with his teams (SF, OAK) 6-3 vs Colorado while Jason Marquis (14-8, 3.47) brings to the bump a 7-2 TSR vs Giants.
The finale will see Matt Cain with a 9-7 life-time TSR vs Colorado hooked up against Jason Hammel going to the mound 0-2 vs Giants. It is well to note that although Cain is winless in his last six starts the righty has a 2.72 ERA over the span and comes in 6-2 at AT&T Park with Giants 11-2 over the thirteen starts.
Last stand for San Fran?
By Brobury Sports
The San Francisco Giants could be making their last stand as they host the Colorado Rockies.
The first of a three-game series is tonight with San Francisco -135 home favorites and an Over/Under of just 6.5 runs.
This is the last weekend before September which means teams like the Giants have one month to make up ground.
San Fran (69-59) won the first two games of their home series against Arizona before losing 11-0 yesterday. They sit three games back of Colorado in the NL Wild Card and look to make amends after dropping three of four at the Rockies last weekend.
Colorado (72-56) still has dreams of finishing an incredible comeback in the NL West race. They trailed the Dodgers by 15.5 games back on June 3rd, but have cut the lead to four games even after just losing two of three at home to L.A.
If the Giants are making their last stand, they have to feel good that they have the best home record in the NL (41-21).
San Fran is also fortunate to be sending three big guns to the mound in the series. Aces Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain will be sandwiched between Barry Zito, and Zito is pitching much better with a 2.06 ERA in his last eight starts.
Tim Lincecum (San Francisco) vs. Ubaldo Jimenez (Colorado)
San Francisco is happy to have Lincecum (12-4, 2.43 ERA) starting the opener, but he’s been more hittable of late and hasn’t gotten a win in his last four starts (0-1, 3.78 ERA).
The most recent of those games was at Colorado last Saturday, and he allowed three runs in seven innings in a 4-2 loss. Getting out-pitched in that contest by Ubaldo Jimenez doesn’t sit well with Lincecum, and bettors will lean on the fact he’s 7-1 with a 1.98 ERA at home.
Jimenez (12-9, 2.25 ERA) is on an incredible streak right now just like the Colorado team. He is 5-0 in August with a 1.63 ERA. Three of those games were at home and the two road tilts were at lowly Washington and Cincinnati.
For the year, Jimenez is 5-5 with a 3.48 ERA on the road. He’s made one start in San Fran this year and gave up three runs in seven innings in a 3-2 loss to Randy Johnson. He’ll have to pitch tremendous to beat Lincecum twice in a week.