Monday's MLB Tip Sheet
By Brad Young
Baseball begins its second week, and there are new series across baseball after Sunday’s travel day. One of the biggest games on Monday’s card involves the opening of the New York Met’s Citi Field. It will take some time to see whether this park will favor the pitchers or hitters. Now let’s break down four of Monday’s matchups.
**Padres at Mets**
-Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed New York as a decided $1.90 home ‘chalk’ over San Diego, with the total set at nine ‘over’ (minus $1.25). This contest from Citi Field begins at 7:10 p.m. ET.
-San Diego’s Walter Silva is still searching for his first major league victory after picking up Wednesday’s no-decision against Los Angeles. The rookie right-hander went five innings, yielding two runs on five hits (one home run) with four walks and a strikeout.
-The Padres ended up dropping that affair as a $1.60 home underdog, 5-2, while the combined seven runs went ‘under’ the 7 ½-run closing total.
-Silva, a Mexico native, has never started against the Mets in his brief major league career.
-San Diego begins a nine-game road trip with this contest.
-New York right-hander Michael Pelfrey started the 2009 campaign by beating Cincinnati Wednesday as a $1.05 road selection, 9-7. The combined 16 runs soared ‘over’ the eight-run closing total.
-The Wichita State product was reached for four runs on five hits (one home run) with four walks and two strikeouts over five innings.
-Pelfrey went 1-0 versus the Padres last season in two starts, going a combined 12 2/3 innings while surrendering three runs on 17 hits (two home runs) with four walks and four strikeouts.
-The 25-year-old went 8-7 last year in 18 home starts last season with a 3.02 ERA over 119 1/3 innings.
-The Mets begin a six-game homestand with this matchup.
**Cardinals at Diamondbacks**
-LVSC opened this contest as a ‘pick,’ with the total listed at 10 ‘over’ (minus $1.15). This contest is slated to start at 9:40 p.m. ET.
-St. Louis gives the starting nod to Todd Wellemeyer (0-1, 9.00 ERA) hoping he can improve on his opening effort. The seven-year veteran fell to Pittsburgh Wednesday as a $1.65 home favorite, 7-4. The combined 11 runs eclipsed the 8 ½-run closing total.
-The right-hander lasted five innings, allowing five runs on 12 hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
-The 30-year-old fell to the D’backs last year in his lone start against them last year as a $1.10 home ‘chalk,’ 4-2. Wellemeyer surrendered three runs on nine hits (one home run) with four walks and seven strikeouts over six innings. The combined six runs went ‘under’ the 7 ½-run closing total.
-Arizona southpaw Doug Davis (0-1, 7.20 ERA) is also searching for his first win of the young season after falling to Colorado Wednesday as a $1.35 home favorite, 9-2. The combined 11 runs eclipsed the 10-run closing total.
-The 6-foot-4 hurler went five innings, allowing four runs on four hits (one home run) with four walks and four strikeouts.
-Davis picked up two no decisions against the Cardinals last year, going a combined 10 innings while surrendering six runs on 15 hits (one home run) with six walks and six strikeouts. The D’backs prevailed as a home ‘pick,’ 4-3, while losing as a $1.00 road selection, 12-3.
**Yankees at Rays**
-LVSC lists Tampa Bay as a $1.25 home favorite over New York, with the total set at nine ‘under’ (minus $1.15). This American League East matchup is scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET.
-New York pitcher Chien-Ming Wang (0-1, 17.18 ERA) hopes to rebound from Wednesday’s setback to Baltimore as a $1.55 road ‘chalk,’ 7-5. The combined 12 runs toppled the 9 ½-run closing total.
-The Taiwan native lasted just 3 2/3 innings, yielding seven runs on nine hits (one home run) with three walks and no strikeouts.
-The 28-year-old went 1-0 versus the Rays last year in two starts, tossing a combined 13 innings while surrendering one run on 11 hits with five walks and eight strikeouts. The Yankees won as a $1.90 home favorite, 2-0, while losing as a $1.15 road underdog, 2-1. The ‘under’ cashed both times.
-Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir (1-0, 1.50 ERA) knocked off Boston Wednesday as a $1.35 road underdog, 7-2. The combined nine runs slithered ‘over’ the 8 ½-run closing total.
-The Texas native tossed six innings, yielding one run on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.
-Kazmir went 2-1 against the Yankees last year in three starts, going a combined 17 innings while surrendering just two runs on nine hits with nine walks and 19 strikeouts. The Rays triumphed as a $1.50 home ‘chalk,’ 5-2, and as a $1.70 home favorite, 7-5, while losing as a road ‘pick,’ 5-0. The ‘under’ went 2-1 during those three games.
**Red Sox at Athletics**
-LVSC installed Boston as a $1.23 road ‘chalk’ over Oakland, with the total set at eight ‘over’ (minus $1.30). First pitch is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. ET.
-Boston pitcher Jon Lester (0-1, 9.00 ERA) was on the losing end of Wednesday’s matchup with Kazmir and the Rays. Lester was reached for five runs on eight hits with two walks and five strikeouts over five innings.
-The 6-foot-2 lefty went 2-2 against the Athletics last year in four starts, tossing a combined 22 2/3 innings while yielding 10 runs (nine earned) on 22 hits (two home runs) with nine walks and 15 strikeouts. The Red Sox won as a $1.30 road underdog, 5-0, and as a $2.20 home ‘chalk,’ 12-2, while losing as a road ‘pick,’ 5-1, and as a $1.02 road ‘dog, 6-3.
-Oakland Dallas Braden (0-1, 4.50 ERA) fell to Los Angeles last Monday as a $1.20 road underdog, 3-0. The three runs never seriously threatened the 8 ½-run closing total.
-The Texas Tech product went six innings, allowing three runs on nine hits (one home run) with a walk and three strikeouts.
-The three-year veteran dropped his lone effort against the Red Sox last season, 5-2, lasting just 3 1/3 innings while yielding four runs on six hits with no walks and a strikeout. The combined seven runs went ‘under’ the nine-run closing total.
vegasinsider.com
SCOREBOARD
Monday, April 13
New York Yankees at Tampa Bay (7:08 p.m. EDT). The Yankees travel to Tampa Bay for their first three-game series against the defending AL East champs. New York’s Chien-Ming Wang is scheduled to face All-Star left-hander Scott Kazmir.
STARS
Sunday
— Aaron Harang, Reds, pitched a three-hitter for his sixth career shutout, striking out nine without issuing a walk, in leading Cincinnati to a 2-0 win over Pittsburgh.
— Evan Longoria, Rays, went 3-for-5 with a double and his fifth home run of the season in Tampa Bay’s 11-3 rout of Baltimore.
— Josh Johnson, Marlins, tossed a five-hitter, giving up one walk while striking out seven, in Florida’s 2-1 victory over the New York Mets.
— John Buck, Royals, homered and finished with three hits and three RBIs as Kansas City rallied for a 6-4 victory over the New York Yankees.
— Kyle Lohse, Cardinals, pitched a three-hitter with four strikeouts and no walks in St. Louis’ 3-0 victory over Houston.
— Erik Bedard, Mariners, went 8 1-3 innings and allowed only three hits and a walk in Seattle’s 1-0 win over Oakland. Bedard struck out seven and didn’t allow a runner past second.
— Jim Thome, White Sox, hit a two-run homer to help Chicago beat Minnesota 6-1.
— Vladimir Guerrero, Angels, hit his first home run of the season to lead Los Angeles to a 5-4 victory over Boston.
— Nick Hundley, Padres, went 4-for-4 with an RBI, finishing a home run shy of the cycle in a San Diego’s 6-1 victory over San Francisco.
BEEN A WHILE
Pittsburgh pulled off its first triple play in 16 years in the eighth inning of a 2-0 loss at Cincinnati. With Brandon Phillips on second base and Jay Bruce on first, Edwin Encarnacion hit a blooper into short left field that was easily caught by shortstop Jack Wilson. Phillips was out when Wilson threw to Freddy Sanchez at second. Sanchez then threw to first to complete the Pirates’ first triple play since Aug. 10, 1993, at St. Louis. It was the first time the Reds had hit into a triple play since April 21, 2007, against Philadelphia.
NICE CATCH
Reed Johnson leaped to rob Prince Fielder of a grand slam in the fifth inning of the Chicago Cubs’ 8-5 win over Milwaukee on Sunday night. Johnson, who entered to replace injured Milton Bradley in right field, timed a perfect jump to put his glove on the deep fly, and Fielder tipped his helmet to Johnson as he walked back to the dugout.
ON THE BOARD
Anthony Reyes pitched six innings and the Cleveland Indians beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 to earn their first victory of the season. Travis Hafner and Mark DeRosa each hit a two-run homer and Trevor Crowe doubled in two runs for the Indians, who avoided their worst start in 95 years. Cleveland lost its first six games in 1914. Reyes gave up four runs and three hits.
CY UGH
Tim Lincecum had another rough outing, allowing four runs and a career-high 10 hits over 5 1-3 innings in the San Francisco Giants’ 6-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner tied his career low by lasting just three innings in last Monday’s season-opening 10-6 win over Milwaukee.
SLUMPING
Washington is the only winless team in the majors. The Nationals lost 8-5 to the Atlanta Braves to drop to 0-6. … St. Louis beat Houston 3-0 to complete a three-game sweep. The Astros have lost four in a row and are off to a 1-5 start while totaling 16 runs. … The Texas Rangers lost 6-4 to the Tigers and were swept in a three-game series at Detroit.
SPEAKING
“It’s the same approach as in batting practice. I try to hit every ball as far as I can.”—Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs after he connected for a tiebreaking two-run homer in the ninth inning of the Philadelphia Phillies’ 7-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
SPEAKING II
“That’s the first one I’ve seen in person. There was one when I was with the Dodgers, but I was in the bathroom. I came out and asked what happened, and they told me there was a triple play.”—Reds manager Dusty Baker after the Pittsburgh Pirates turned a triple play in the eighth inning of Cincinnati’s 2-0 victory.
CHI WHITE SOX vs. DETROIT
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Chi White Sox's last 9 games
Chi White Sox are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games on the road
Detroit is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing Chi White Sox
Detroit is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Chi White Sox
HOUSTON vs. PITTSBURGH
Houston is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Pittsburgh's last 16 games when playing at home against Houston
Pittsburgh is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing Houston
COLORADO vs. CHI CUBS
Colorado is 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Colorado's last 9 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs
Chi Cubs are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games
Chi Cubs are 4-9 SU in their last 13 games at home
PHILADELPHIA vs. WASHINGTON
Philadelphia is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 7 games
SAN FRANCISCO vs. LA DODGERS
San Francisco is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Francisco's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Dodgers's last 8 games
LA Dodgers are 12-5 SU in their last 17 games at home
NY YANKEES vs. TAMPA BAY
NY Yankees are 15-6 SU in their last 21 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 6 games
Tampa Bay is 2-6 SU in their last 8 games when playing NY Yankees
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing NY Yankees
SAN DIEGO vs. NY METS
San Diego is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against NY Mets
The total has gone OVER in 6 of San Diego's last 7 games when playing on the road against NY Mets
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of NY Mets's last 9 games
NY Mets are 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing San Diego
BALTIMORE vs. TEXAS
Baltimore is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Baltimore is 5-13 SU in its last 18 games
Texas is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Baltimore
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Texas's last 10 games when playing at home against Baltimore
CINCINNATI vs. MILWAUKEE
Cincinnati is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games on the road
Milwaukee is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cincinnati
Milwaukee is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Cincinnati
CLEVELAND vs. KANSAS CITY
Cleveland is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
Kansas City is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
TORONTO vs. MINNESOTA
Toronto is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games on the road
Minnesota is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games at home
ST. LOUIS vs. ARIZONA
St. Louis is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games on the road
St. Louis is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Arizona
Arizona is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games at home
Arizona is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
BOSTON vs. OAKLAND
Boston is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Oakland
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Boston's last 10 games when playing on the road against Oakland
Oakland is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing Boston
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Oakland's last 9 games when playing Boston
Hot Pitchers
-- Jimenez is 3-0, 1.67 in his last four starts. Cubs won last five Lilly starts, scoring 33 runs.
-- Billingsley was 1-0, 1.80 in two starts against the Giants LY. Johnson has 3.27 RA in his last five starts.
-- WSilva allowed two runs in five IP in his major league debut.
-- Gallardo has 2.60 RA in his last six starts. Reds are 12-3 in last fifteen Volquez road starts.
-- Miner is 1-1, 3.75 in his last four starts.
-- Bronx won six of Wang's last eight road starts. Kazmir has 2.45 RA in his last four starts.
-- Uehara won his big league debut, allowing one run in five IP. Padilla is 3-1, 3.81 in his last five starts.
-- Greinke is 4-0, 1.04 in his last four starts; he has a 20-inning scoreless streak going on.
Cold Pitchers
-- Moehler is 0-3, 12.83 in his last four starts. Pirates lost six of Duke's last seven home starts.
-- Moyer is 0-3, 8.10 in his last four starts. Cabrera is 0-5, 8.10 in his last seven starts.
-- Pelfrey is 1-1, 4.97 in his last five starts.
-- Wellemeyer is 1-3, 5.08 in his last five starts. Davis is 0-1, 4.05 in his last six starts.
-- Floyd is 1-3, 5.46 in his last five starts.
-- Carmona is 0-3, 10.50 in his last five starts.
-- Slowey has 10.29 RA in his last three starts. Litsch is 1-2, 4.05 in his last three starts.
-- Lester is 0-3, 6.62 in his last three starts. Braden is 1-2, 5.57 in his last four starts.
Hot Teams
-- Pirates won three of their last four games.
-- Cubs won three of their last four games.
-- Phillies won three of their last four games.
-- Padres won last four games, allowing total of ten runs.
-- Cardinals won five of their last six games.
-- Tigers won four of their last five games. White Sox won last couple games by combined score of 14-1.
-- Bronx won three of its last four games.
-- Orioles won four of their first six games.
-- Blue Jays won five of their first seven games.
Cold Teams
-- Astros lost five of their first six games.
-- Rockies lost last two games, allowing 15 runs.
-- Washington lost its first six games, outscored 45-26. .
-- Giants lost four of their last five games.
-- Mets lost three of their last four games.
-- Brewers lost three of their last four games. Reds lost four of first five games, allowing 27 runs in last four.
-- Diamondbacks lost four of last five games.
-- Rangers lost last three games, allowing 25 runs; home team is 6-0 in their games this season.
-- Indians lost five of first six games, allowing 51 runs.
-- Twins lost three of their last four games.
-- Red Sox lost four of their last five games. Oakland lost last three.
Totals
-- Three of last four Houston games stayed under the total.
-- Five of first six Colorado games went over the total.
-- Four of five Washington games went over the total.
-- Over is 4-1-1 in San Francisco games this season.
-- Last three San Diego games went over the total.
-- Three of last four Cincinnati games went over the total.
-- Three of last four Arizona games went over the total.
-- Under is 4-1-1 in Detroit games this season, 5-1 in White Sox games. .
-- Four of first six Tampa Bay games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 4-1-1 in Texas games this season.
-- Five of six Kansas City games stayed under the total; five of the six Cleveland games went over.
-- Last three Toronto games went over the total.
-- Four of last five Oakland games went over the total.
Tips and Trends
San Diego Padres at New York Mets
Padres: Expected to be among the league’s worst teams this season, the Padres have surprised early by winning five of seven. “A lot of people out there don’t have high expectations for us,” pitcher Chris Young said. “It is a long season. We’ll temper the excitement. But I think it is good for us to get some confidence and really believe in ourselves.” Walter Silva looks to build off an effective major league debut for San Diego. The 32-year-old right-hander limited the Dodgers to 2 runs and 5 hits over 5 innings Wednesday before leaving without a decision in the Padres’ 5-2 loss.
The Padres are 3-9 in the last 12 meetings in New York.
The Padres are 15-44 in their last 59 games as a road underdog.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 3
Mets (-205, O/U 9): The Mets play the first meaningful game at Citi Field, their new $800 million home, tonight. “It has all the best new amenities you can put in a ballpark,” third baseman David Wright said. “That’s only going to help us. You feel comfortable, and guys start showing up a little earlier. You get more of that team chemistry. It’s going to make it a lot more fun coming to the ballpark every day.” Mike Pelfrey has been very good in two career starts against the Padres, going 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA. He held them to two runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 6-5 win at Shea on Aug. 5.
The Mets are 9-3 in Pelfrey's last 12 home starts.
The Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in New York.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 6 (Side Play of the Day)