Monday's Tip Sheet
By Brad Young
There are just four games on Monday’s schedule, with two games involving National League teams and two interleague matchups. So here’s a closer look at every game on Monday’s Major League Baseball schedule.
**Cardinals (Wellemeyer) at Mets (Redding)**
-Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed New York as a $1.13 home ‘chalk’ over St. Louis, with the total set at 9 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.25). This National League matchup is slated to start at 7:10 p.m. ET.
-St. Louis hurler Todd Wellemeyer (6-6, 5.36 ERA) toppled Detroit in his latest effort Wednesday as a $1.13 home underdog, 4-3. The seven-year veteran went 5 1/3 innings, yielding two runs on six hits (two home runs) with two walks and five strikeouts.
-The combined seven runs failed to eclipse the 8 ½-run closing total, ending back-to-back ‘over’ outings for the right-hander.
-Wellemeyer recorded a no-decision against the Mets April 21, tossing five innings while surrendering four runs on 10 hits with two walks and a strikeout. The Cardinals eventually won that contest as a $1.10 home favorite, 6-4, while the combined 10 runs slithered ‘over’ the 9 ½-run closing total.
-New York’s Tim Redding (0-2, 6.27 ERA) heads to the hill after recording three consecutive no decisions. The 32-year-old lasted 5 1/3 innings against Baltimore, allowing four runs on seven hits (one home run) with four walks and two strikeouts.
-The Mets eventually dropped that affair as a $1.45 road underdog, 6-4, while the combined 10 runs landed directly on the closing total.
-Redding finagled a no-decision against the Cardinals last season as a member of the Washington Nationals. The righty was reached for six runs on nine hits (two home runs) with a walk and a strikeout over 5 2/3 innings. The Nats rallied to win that contest as a $1.35 home ‘chalk,’ 10-9, while the combined 19 runs soared ‘over’ the nine-run closing total.
**Cubs (Dempster) at Braves (Vazquez)**
-LVSC opened Atlanta as a $1.30 home favorite over Chicago, with the total listed at eight. This contest is scheduled to begin at 7:10 p.m. ET.
-Chicago gives the starting assignment to Ryan Dempster (4-4, 3.92 ERA), hoping the Canadian can get back on track. The veteran right-hander fell to the White Sox Wednesday as a $1.43 home ‘chalk,’ 4-1, tossing six innings while yielding three runs on four hits (one home run) with six walks and four strikeouts.
-The combined five runs failed to topple the 8 ½-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash his fourth straight start.
-Dempster beat the Braves last season as a $1.75 home favorite, 7-2, going the complete-game route while surrendering both runs on four hits (one home run) with no walks and 11 strikeouts. The combined nine runs went ‘under’ the 10-run closing total.
-Atlanta right-hander Javier Vazquez (4-6, 3.41 ERA) is gunning for his first victory in over a month after going 0-3 his last five starts. The Puerto Rico native fell to Cincinnati Wednesday as a $1.50 road ‘chalk,’ 4-3, pitching eight innings while allowing four runs on four hits (two home runs) with two walks and seven strikeouts.
-The combined seven runs did not eclipse the 8 ½-run closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to cash his fourth consecutive contest.
-Vazquez went 0-1 against the Cubs last season in two starts, tossing a combined 10 1/3 innings while yielding 10 runs (nine earned) on 14 hits (two home runs) with eight walks and 11 strikeouts. The Braves prevailed as a $1.40 home favorite, 6-5, while losing as a $1.20 road underdog, 7-1.
**Rockies (Cook) at Angels (Palmer)**
-LVSC lists Los Angeles as a $1.33 home ‘chalk’ over Colorado, with the total set at 8 ½ ‘over’ (minus $1.25). This interleague contest is slated to start at 10:05 p.m. ET.
-Colorado’s Aaron Cook (6-3, 4.23 ERA) is riding a personal three-game winning streak after Wednesday’s victory over Tampa Bay as a $1.10 home favorite, 5-3. The eight-year veteran was reached for three runs on eight hits (two home runs) with a walk and three strikeouts over seven innings.
-The combined eight runs failed to eclipse the 10-run closing total, ending back-to-back ‘over’ outings for the right-hander.
-Cook has not started against the Angels the previous few seasons.
-Los Angeles pitcher Matt Palmer (6-0, 4.04 ERA) is off Wednesday’s no-decision against San Francisco. The 30-year-old went 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits (one home run) with two walks and five strikeouts.
-The Angels eventually won that matchup as a $1.63 road underdog, 4-3, while the combined seven runs slithered ‘under’ the 7 ½-run closing total.
-Palmer fell to the Rockies last season as a member of the San Francisco Giants as a $1.20 home underdog, 7-2. The Southwest Missouri State product lasted 4 1/3 innings while being tagged for five runs (four earned) on four hits with six walks and a strikeout. The combined nine runs went ‘over’ the 8 ½-run closing total.
**Giants (Sanchez) at Athletics (Cahill)**
-LVSC opened Oakland as a $1.53 home favorite over San Francisco, with the total set at 8 ½ ‘over’ (minus $1.15). First pitch is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. ET.
-San Francisco southpaw Jonathan Sanchez (2-7, 5.52 ERA) toes the rubber mired in a personal three-game losing streak after Tuesday’s setback to the Los Angeles Angels as a $1.25 home ‘chalk,’ 8-1. The four-year veteran survived just 3 2/3 innings, yielding seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits (two home runs) with no walks and three strikeouts.
-The combined nine runs landed directly on the closing total.
-Sanchez beat the Athletics last season as a $1.25 road underdog, 11-1. The 27-year-old surrendered the lone run on four hits (one home run) with a walk and six strikeouts over seven innings. The combined 12 runs went ‘over’ the eight-run closing total.
-Oakland’s Trevor Cahill (4-5, 3.89 ERA) is coming off of Wednesday’s victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers as a $1.48 road underdog, 5-4. The rookie right-hander went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two unearned runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts.
-The combined nine runs toppled the 7 ½-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 2-1 his last three starts.
-Cahill has never started against the Giants in his brief major league career.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
St. Louis (39-31) at N.Y. Mets (34-33)
Fresh off a three-game interleague sweep of the Royals in Kansas City, the Cardinals head to Citi Field for a four-game series against the Mets, with Todd Wellemeyer (6-6, 5.36 ERA) scheduled to pitch for the visitors tonight opposite Tim Redding (0-2, 6.27).
The Cardinals’ offense exploded for 29 runs in Kansas City over the weekend, capped by Sunday’s 12-5 rout. St. Louis has won five of its last six and is on further hot streaks of 6-2 on the road, 7-1 against right-handed starters, 11-5 against the N.L. East and 11-4 when facing teams with a winning record. However, Tony LaRussa’s squad has dropped five straight games on Monday and six of eight series openers.
New York started its current homestand by losing two of three to Tampa Bay, including Sunday’s 10-6 setback. The Mets have dropped four of their last five overall 12 of their last 18, and they’re also 3-7 in their last 10 against N.L. Central opponents and 2-6 in their last eight against right-handed starters. On the bright side, New York is on runs of 13-7 at home, 12-5 as a home chalk and 16-8 as a favorite.
The Cardinals swept a three-game home series from New York from April 21-23, outscoring the Mets 23-14. The host has won four straight and five of six in this rivalry.
Wellemeyer gave up just two runs on six hits in Wednesday’s 4-3 home win over Detroit, but he lasted just 5 1/3 innings, meaning the right-hander has now had five straight non-quality starts while posting a 5.65 ERA during this stretch. Wellemeyer is 3-1 in four road starts despite a 5.16 ERA.
With Wellemeyer on the hill, St. Louis is on upticks of 4-1 on the road, 6-0 as a road ‘dog and 5-0 when facing N.L. East teams, including a 6-4 home win over the Mets on April 21. In that contest, Wellemeyer gave up four runs on 10 hits in five innings. He’s now 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA in six career appearances (three starts) against New York.
Redding has failed to record a decision in his last three starts despite posting a respectable 3.93 ERA. In his most recent outing Wednesday, the veteran right-hander gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings at Baltimore, with the Mets losing 6-4 to fall to 1-5 in Redding’s six starts this season. At home this year, Redding is 0-1 with an 8.18 ERA in two starts.
Redding is 3-5 with a 5.65 ERA in 13 career games (12 starts) against the Redbirds, surrendering six runs or more in three of the last four starts.
The over is 13-6-3 in the Mets’ last 22 games on Monday and 48-23-3 in the last 74 against N.L. Central opponents. On the flip side, St. Louis is on “under” streaks of 7-3-1 as an underdog, 7-3-2 in series openers, 6-1 on Monday, 7-3 with Wellemeyer starting, 7-1 with Wellemeyer working on the road and 5-1 when Wellemeyer pitches on Monday.
Lastly, the over is 7-1-1 in the last nine meetings between these clubs (2-1 this season), but the under is 6-2-1 in the last nine clashes in New York.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ST. LOUIS
Colorado (36-33) at L.A. Angels (36-31)
The red-hot Rockies resume interleague play when they visit Southern California for a three-game series against the Angels. Aaron Cook (6-3, 4.23) gets the call for Colorado against unbeaten rookie Matt Palmer (6-0, 4.13).
Colorado completed a three-game home sweep of the Pirates with Sunday’s 5-4 victory, improving to 16-1 in its last 17 games. The Rockies’ incredible surge began with an 11-game winning streak – including eight straight road wins – and after a 12-4 home loss to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, they’ve bounced back with five consecutive wins. Additionally, Colorado is on runs of 11-1 as an underdog and 7-1 in interleague play this season, including 4-0 versus the A.L. West.
Los Angeles is coming off Sunday night’s 5-3 loss to the crosstown rival Dodgers and has now followed up a seven-game winning streak with consecutive defeats. Still, the Angels are on impressive runs of 8-2 as a favorite, 5-2 at home, 4-1 on Monday and 5-0 in series openers. Additionally, despite losing to the Dodgers the last two days, the Halos carry positive interleague trends of 35-17 overall, 20-7 against winning teams and 19-8 against the N.L. West.
The Angels have handled Colorado recently, winning seven of the last nine head-to-head clashes.
Cook is 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA in his last three starts, all of them quality outings, and he’s given up four earned runs or fewer in 11 straight starts (three earned runs or less in nine of those games). On the road this season, the veteran right-hander is 3-2 with a 4.40 ERA, but 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA in the last four on the highway.
Although Cook has been pitching well recently, Colorado is 8-20 in his last 28 road starts against winning teams, 2-5 in his last seven interleague outings and 1-5 in his last six on Monday. However, in his only career start against the Angels back in 2006, Cook earned a 12-4 road win, giving up three runs in seven innings.
Palmer has delivered three straight quality starts (2.79 ERA), including Wednesday at San Francisco as he gave up three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He left trailing 3-1, but Los Angeles rallied for a 4-3 victory, improving to 8-1 with Palmer on the hill this season, including 4-1 at home. The right-hander is 4-0 with a 3.41 ERA in those five games at Angel Stadium.
Palmer made three starts with San Francisco last August, the final one being a 7-2 loss to Colorado as he yielded five runs (four earned) in 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits while walking six.
With Cook pitching, the “over” is on runs of 17-7-2 overall, 10-2-1 on the road and 6-1-1 as an underdog, but his last four interleague starts have stayed low. Meanwhile, the over is 6-3 in Palmer’s nine starts this year.
Colorado is on “under” stretches of 19-8-1 against American League opponents, 4-0 in interleague roadies, 4-1 as an underdog and 13-6-2 as a road pup. Conversely, for the Angels, the “over” is on runs of 7-3-1 overall (all against the N.L. West), 5-2 at home, 7-2-1 as a favorite and 5-2 against right-handed pitching. Finally, the over is 4-1-1 in the last six battles between these squads and 4-1-2 in the last seven meetings in Anaheim.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
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SCOREBOARD
Monday, June 22
Chicago Cubs at Atlanta (7:10 p.m. EDT). The Cubs' Ryan Dempster has gone at least six innings in all but one start this season. The Braves' Javier Vazquez is tied for the NL lead with 112 strikeouts.
STARS
Sunday
-Albert Pujols, Cardinals, hit two homers and drove in six runs, helping the Cardinals rout the Kansas City Royals 12-5 in win No. 2,500 for manager Tony La Russa.
-Nick Green, Red Sox, homered just inside the Pesky Pole in right field on the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth to give Boston a 6-5 win over Atlanta.
-Barry Zito, Giants, carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and helped lead San Francisco over Texas 3-2.
-Justin Verlander, Tigers, allowed two runs on five hits in 7 2-3 innings to lead Detroit to a 3-2 win over Milwaukee and improve to 8-1 since April 27.
-Lyle Overbay, Blue Jays, homered and drove in five as Toronto avoided a sweep by Washington with a 9-4 victory.
-Mark Buehrle, White Sox, pitched seven shutout innings as Chicago beat Cincinnati 4-1 and the left-hander improved to 19-6 in interleague play.
-Kevin Correia, Padres, carried a shutout into the seventh inning and combined with three relievers on a two-hitter, leading San Diego over Oakland 4-1.
POWERFUL PUJOLS
Albert Pujols hit three homers and drove in 10 runs in the St. Louis Cardinals' three-game sweep over their cross-state rivals, the Kansas City Royals. The two-time NL MVP had four hits Sunday and delivered the decisive blow in the Cardinals' eight-run fourth inning, pounding his club record-tying third grand slam of the season. He also had a run-scoring single in the first and added his major league-leading 26th homer in the fifth.
MANAGING MILESTONE
St. Louis' Tony La Russa joined Connie Mack (3,831) and John McGraw (2,763) as the only managers with 2,500 victories following a 12-5 win over Kansas City on Sunday. La Russa is 2,500-2,177 in 31 years as a big league manager with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland and St. Louis.
SLUMPING CHAMPS
The World Series champion Phillies have lost a season-worst six straight, getting swept at home in consecutive interleague series by Toronto and Baltimore, including a 2-1 loss Sunday. Philadelphia fell to 13-22 at home, but the Phillies are a major league-best 23-9 on the road.
ROCKIN' ROBERTS
Baltimore's Brian Roberts had the decisive hit for the second straight game, a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning Sunday that helped the Orioles to a three-game sweep of Philadelphia. Roberts hit an RBI single off Cole Hamels (4-3) that made it 2-1 and sent the Orioles to their fifth straight win. Roberts hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth off Ryan Madson in a 6-5 win Saturday night.
OOPS
Arizona's Tony Clark dropped a routine throw to first base Sunday, allowing Ronny Cedeno to score the winning run for Seattle with two outs in the ninth inning. Chad Qualls got Franklin Gutierrez to ground slowly toward third where Mark Reynolds charged, fielded cleanly and fired a perfect throw to Clark. The ball hit Clark's mitt in the palm and popped out for an error, giving Seattle a 3-2 win.
RED-HOT ROCKIES
Colorado completed a sweep of Pittsburgh on Sunday, beating the Pirates for their 16th victory in 17 games. Since having their 11-game winning streak snapped, the Rockies have won five straight. They improved to 18-5 under manager Jim Tracy, who took over when Clint Hurdle was fired.
OUTTA HERE ... AGAIN
Atlanta manager Bobby Cox was ejected for the 145th time - increasing his major league record - when J.D. Drew gave Boston a short-lived 5-4 lead Sunday with an RBI single in the seventh one pitch after he took a pitch that appeared to be over the plate for a third strike. Cox came out of the dugout, argued and was thrown out by plate umpire Bill Hohn. Pitcher Eric O'Flaherty and third baseman Chipper Jones were also tossed. Boston won 6-5.
WHO'S IN LEFT?
New York manager Joe Girardi protested the Yankees' 6-5 loss to Florida on Sunday because of a mixup with the Marlins lineup in the eighth inning. Chris Coghlan was removed in a double switch, but took his position in left field anyway. Leo Nunez threw a pitch, then Girardi came out to protest. After about a 5-minute delay, Coghlan was removed, Jeremy Hermida went to left field and the Yankees played the rest of the game under protest.
STREAKS STOPPED
Philadelphia's Ryan Howard sat out the Phillies' 2-1 loss to Baltimore on Sunday after spending another night in the hospital with flu symptoms, ending his streak of 343 straight games played since May 25, 2007. It was the longest active streak in the majors. ... Minnesota's Justin Morneau had his first day off since June 27, 2007, ending his streak of 319 consecutive games played that was second in the majors to Howard's. San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez played in his 275th consecutive game to take over the lead among active players.
SIDELINED
Struggling Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka went on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a mild shoulder strain and could be sidelined much longer. ... Plate umpire Jerry Crawford left the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets in the second inning because of lower back pain. Both teams were pulled off the field during a 14-minute delay while first-base umpire Scott Barry went inside to put on protective equipment. ... CC Sabathia left the New York Yankees' game against Florida in the second inning with tightness in his left biceps. The team said Sabathia is day to day and that no tests are planned. ... St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Khalil Greene limped off the field after being hit by a pitch on the right knee against the Kansas City Royals. Following the Cardinals' 12-5 victory, Greene said he'll be fine.
SPEAKING
"He does it over and over again and it's impossible to describe how great he is. Albert's amazing.'' - St. Louis manager Tony La Russa on Albert Pujols, who hit two homers and had six RBIs in the Cardinals' 12-5 rout of Kansas City on Sunday. Pujols hit three homers and drove in 10 runs in the Cardinals' three-game sweep of their cross-state rivals.
Cubs Dogs in Makeup Meeting
By Doug Upstone
It was a wild weekend for the Chicago Cubs to start the summer; nevertheless, the sweep of the Cleveland Indians moved them into third place in the National League. In fact, despite being 2.5 games behind the first place St. Louis Cardinals, the Cubs are tied with the same number of losses as the Redbirds at 31. Chicago has won four in a row and five of six and hopes to take rediscovered hitting shoes on the road.
The Cubs (34-31) trailed the Indians 7-0 last Friday, only to come back and win in extra innings 8-7. On Saturday, they trailed 5-4 in extra frames, but came up with two runs in the bottom of the 13th, the last coming on former Cub Kerry Wood's wild pitch. Sunday, the Chicago won in a more traditional manner, as rookie Randy Wells picked up his first career victory with 6-2 triumph.
This game opens a 10-game road trip for Chicago with the first a makeup game in Atlanta, from earlier this month. The Braves have been like Pig Pen from the Peanuts cartoon, with a cloud over their head. Atlanta hasn't been dirty, rather bad weather has followed them everywhere, with this being one of five makeup games, plus they have had 11 other contests delayed by rain.
After scoring 10 runs in previous six games, manager Lou Piniella's troops warmed up like the Chicago weather and have scored 26 runs in last four outings. The Cubs haven't minded trips to Atlanta, winning eight of last 12 and averaging 6.2 runs per game in visiting uniforms and they are 5-2 on Monday's.
The Braves (32-36) return home to start a rugged homestand, which has the Yankees, Boston and Philadelphia coming to town besides this makeup contest. Atlanta has lost eight of 11, including falling on Boston's Nick Green's walk-off home run yesterday. Manager Bobby Cox club is 15-17 at Turner Field this season and is 5-2 at home against teams with winning records.
Atlanta trots out Javier Vazquez (4-6, 3.41 ERA, 1.007 WHIP), who is winless in his last five starts, thanks in part to no runs support from his teammates, who have scored eight total runs in the period. Vazquez is 6-16 versus teams with winning records. (Team Record)
Ryan Dempster (4-4, 3.92, 1.282) has not pitched in much luck either for the Cubs. Dempster's allowed four total earned runs in last three starts, with Chicago scoring five runs. Dempster has found Atlanta hitters troublesome in the past and is 2-10, with 5.31 ERA against them. The Cubs have lost his last six road starts.
Betonline.com has the Braves as -135 money line favorites, with the total Un8. Atlanta has won four of last five as -150 or less favorites and is 27-16 UNDER playing under the lights. Chicago is just 3-11 as an underdog and they have are riding 11-4 UNDER streak on the road.
This makeup contest is scheduled for 7:10 Eastern in local markets and MLB.TV, with the Bravos 2-10 to start a new week.