Saturday's Fox Tip Sheet
By Chris David
Saturday’s pro baseball card features a solid pair of games to wager on, as the Cardinals and Cubs battle from Wrigley Field and the Yankees and Angels continue their series in Los Angeles. Both games will be televised regionally on Fox, with the first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. EDT.
Let’s take a closer look.
Cardinals at Cubs
The Cardinals look to finish up the first-half of the season strong when it meets the Cubs this afternoon. St. Louis has taken seven of the first 10 meetings, including an 8-3 white-washing yesterday. The combined 11 runs easily eclipsed the closing total of 8, which improved the ‘over’ to 4-0 in the four games played at Chicago this year.
The Cubs’ loss on Thursday to the Cards was their third straight at home. The offense has been held to five total runs during this stretch and hasn’t had the pop from last year. Chicago hopes Ted Lilly (8-6, 3.32 ERA) can stop the bleeding today when he takes the mound. Lilly has been lights out at home this year, going 5-1 in eight starts, surrendering just 12 earned runs over 55 innings. In his recent outing last Sunday, Lilly handcuffed the Brewers for nine hits and two runs over 6 2-3 innings in an 8-2 Cubs’ victory. Lilly pitched well against the Cards on May 19, but still came up short as the team was blanked 3-0 on the road. Despite the loss, the lefty owns a 6-3 career mark against St. Louis in 12 starts. Last year, he went 3-0 in five starts with a 3.06 ERA against St. Louis.
St. Louis counters with Brad Thompson (2-5, 4.92 ERA), who hopes to break out of a three-game losing skid on Saturday. The right-hander has been roughed up for 24 hits and 13 runs over 16 innings during this span. And, the damage has come against the Mets, Giants and Reds, three teams that really don’t scare you on paper. This will be Johnson’s first start against Chicago.
The Cardinals have posted 32 runs in the last five games but are averaging just 3.5 runs per game against lefties this year. The ‘over/under’ won’t be announced for this matchup until the weather updates are provided. Lilly has been listed as a $1.50 home favorite.
Yankees at Angels
Even though the Yankees captured two of three from the Angels this year, this head-to-head battle has been all about Los Angeles. Mike Scioscia’s team has won 14 of the last 19 versus the Yanks in Anaheim and they are 29-17 (63%) against them in their previous 46 encounters overall.
Los Angeles’ attack will need to find some pop from other hitters due to its latest injury bug. All-Star Torii Hunter (groin) and Vladimir Guerrero (knee) were both recently placed on the 15-day DL. While the Angels appear to be scrapping for support, the Yanks’ offense is on fire. The club has scored four-plus runs in 15 straight games and just tagged the Twins for 20 runs during their recent three-game road sweep.
New York looks to stay hot behind lefty Andy Pettitte (8-4, 4.53 ERA) on Saturday. He hasn’t been consistent all year but that might be a good thing for the Yankees. Pettitte has followed up good spots with bad ones and vice versa. In his last outing, the veteran was tagged for five hits and six runs over six innings in a 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays last Monday. Based on those rends, most would expect him to bounce back this afternoon. Also, Pettitte has gone 4-1 on the road this year and his 12-8 (60%) career record over the Angels is positive. Total players should note that the ‘under’ has gone 7-3 in his last 10 starts. L.A. has managed to average five runs per game against southpaws this year, which has helped the team go 14-10.
The Angels’ Jeff Weaver (9-3, 3.15 ERA) has gone 2-2 in last four starts after stringing together four consecutive victories. In his most recent victory, Weaver struck out nine and held the Rangers to three runs in the Angels’ 9-4 win last Monday. The right-handed hurler owns a 3-1 career mark versus the Yanks but he earned a no-decision on May 1 when New York topped Los Angeles, 10-9. Weaver gave up four runs in the first but settled down to throw five scoreless innings afterwards and put himself in line for the win. Unfortunately the bullpen folded, giving up six in the last two innings.
The Angels have only played five day games at home this year, yet they’ve produced a 4-1 mark. New York hasn’t been too shabby in daytime affairs, going 18-12.
vegasinsider.com
Saturday's streaking and slumping starting pitchers
By Covers.com
Streaking
Brad Bergesen (Baltimore Orioles)
The Orioles' 23 year old wasn’t regarded as one of the team’s top pitching prospects at the beginning of the season. But as manager Dave Trembley prepares to make good on his word to shake up the rotation after the All-Star break, Bergesen appears more than safe.
Bergesen (5-3, 3.59 ERA) has allowed more than two earned runs only twice in his past eight starts and no more than four in any outing since May 24. In his last start, Bergesen went six innings, striking out four and yielding just three earned runs opposite Seattle’s Jarrod Washburn, who finished with a complete-game one-hitter.
In his two starts before that he was even better, allowing a combined two earned runs over 14 innings.
"He just looks like he knows what he's doing,“ Trembley told the Associated Press. “He looks very comfortable on the mound. He works fast and he can locate."
Glen Perkins (Minnesota Twins)
The 26-year-old hurler appears to finally be putting it all together for the Twins as the race in the AL Central Division heats up.
Perkins (4-4, 4.38 ERA) has been nearly impossible to score runs off of in his past two outings. In wins over the Royals and Cardinals he combined to allow only two earned runs over 14 innings while walking none.
"It was just keeping the ball down and letting it move," Perkins told the Associated Press. "You get through the game quick and there's not a lot of pitches that you waste."
Slumping
Kevin Millwood (Texas Rangers)
The ace of the Texas Rangers staff has looked more like a joker his past two outings.
Millwood (8-6, 3.34 ERA) was tagged in consecutive outings against the Angles last week, allowing 13 earned runs in just 11 1-3 innings.
The outings were by far the worst of the season for Millwood, who followed up each of his previous poor performances with a solid outing until this point.
"I didn't hit my spots,” Millwood told the Associated Press. "When I tried to go away, it would drift over the middle of the plate. And when I didn't hit my spots, they hit those mistakes."
NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers (55-31) at Milwaukee (44-42)
Jeff Weaver (5-2, 3.32 ERA) is slated to make his fifth start of the season and his first in three weeks when he leads the Dodgers against the Brewers and rookie Mike Burns (1-2, 5.57) at Miller Park.
Los Angeles opened the three-game series Friday night with a 12-8, 10-inning victory, putting together a six-run 10th that featured a Matt Kemp grand slam, then it fended off Milwaukee after allowing two runs in the bottom of the inning. The Dodgers are 5-2 on their current nine-game road trip, and despite continuing to sport baseball’s best record, Joe Torre’s club is just 8-7 in its last 15 games (5-4 on the road). However, the Dodgers are still on positive runs of 6-1 against right-handed starters and 15-4 on Saturday.
Milwaukee has dropped seven of its last nine, scoring two runs or fewer in five of the seven defeats. The Brewers have also struggled with L.A. of late, losing 36 of the last 52 meetings.
Weaver has been consistent in a starting role for the Dodgers, going exactly five innings in all four of his starts while yielding a combined seven runs over those 20 innings (3.15 ERA). L.A. is 3-1 in Weaver’s four starts this season and 11-5 in his last 16 starts going back to his first stint with the club in 2005-06.
The veteran right-hander is 3-2 with a 5.51 ERA in seven appearances (one start) on the road, yielding 10 runs (all earned), 21 hits and nine walks in 16 1/3 innings. Also, the well-traveled Weaver has faced Milwaukee seven times in his career (six starts), going 3-3 with a 4.35 ERA.
Burns followed up his first career victory – a 6-3 home win over the Mets – with his worst start to date, getting clobbered in Sunday’s 8-2 loss at the Cubs as he surrendered seven runs in 4 2/3 innings. In his two starts at Miller Park, the right-hander is 1-1 with a 4.38 ERA, and this marks his first-ever appearance against Los Angeles.
Milwaukee carries “under” streaks of 4-1 at home, 8-3 against the N.L. West and 4-2 versus right-handed starters. Conversely, the Dodgers are on “over” runs of 6-1 overall, 8-1 on the road, 7-1 in Weaver’s last eight road starts and 10-2 in Weaver’s last 12 versus the N.L. Central. The over is also 3-0 in Burns’ first three big-league starts and 5-1 in the last six Brewers-Dodgers clashes.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
N.Y. Yankees (51-35) at L.A. Angels (47-37)
The streaking Yankees continue their three-game weekend series in Anaheim against the Angels, with veteran Andy Pettitte (8-4, 4.53) set to oppose Jared Weaver (9-3, 3.07).
New York finally cooled off a bit in Friday night’s opener, blowing a 4-0 second-inning lead and losing 10-6 after giving up three-run homers to Kendry Morales and Erick Aybar. The loss snapped the Yankees’ eight-game road win streak, but despite the setback, they’re still playing their best baseball of the season, winning six out of eight and 13 of its last 16 games. Also, Joe Girardi’s troops have won nine in a row against right-handed starters and are on additional runs of 36-18 overall, 10-5 against the A.L. West and 13-4 against winning teams.
Los Angeles halted a two-game hiccup with Friday’s win and is 18-8 in its last 26 games overall, including 7-3 at home. Mike Scioscia’s club is also 4-1 in its last five against southpaw starters.
The host has won 10 of the last 12 meetings in this rivalry, including three of four this season. Additionally, the Angels are 6-1 in the last seven series clashes in Anaheim.
Pettitte got roughed up Monday against Toronto, yielding six runs, five hits (two home runs) and five walks in six innings, losing 7-6, and he now has just three quality starts in his last 10 trips to the mound. Still, with Pettitte on the hill, New York is on streaks of 8-3 overall (3-1 last four), 4-0 on the road and 4-1 on Saturday.
Pettitte has been much better on the highway this season (4-1, 2.79 ERA in seven starts) than at Yankee Stadium (4-3, 5.72 ERA), but he’s struggled in day games (1-2, 5.29 ERA in five contests). Also, he opposed Weaver in the Bronx back on May 1 and gave up five runs on nine hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings, but the Yankees’ offense bailed him out and won 10-9. Including that no-decision, Pettitte is 12-8 with a 4.52 ERA in 26 career starts versus the Halos.
Weaver bounced back from his worst loss of the season – seven runs allowed in 5 1/3 innings at Texas – with a strong effort against the Rangers at home Monday, yielding three runs in seven innings of a 9-4 victory. The right-hander is now 6-1 with a sterling 1.91 ERA in nine home outings this season. As a team, L.A. is 7-2 in Weaver’s last nine starts overall, 9-2 in last 11 at home (7-2 this year) and 9-3 in his last 12 outings against A.L. East squads.
Weaver got a no-decision when he faced Pettitte in the Bronx on May 1, giving up four runs in six innings. He’s 3-1 in five career starts against New York despite a bloated 6.11 ERA, and in three daytime contests this year, he’s 2-1 with a 1.12 ERA.
With Pettitte pitching, the “under” is on stretches of 44-19-1 overall, 19-7 on the highway and 6-1 versus the A.L. West. The under is also 6-2 in Weaver’s last eight starts at home, but his last four starts overall have topped the total.
For Los Angeles, the “over” is on runs of 5-1 overall (all at home), 5-1-1 against the A.L. East and 5-2-1 versus lefty starters, while New York has hurdled the total in six of its last seven overall. Finally, in this rivalry, the “over” is on stretches of 14-4 overall, 11-3 in Anaheim and 4-0 with Weaver facing the Yankees.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. ANGELS and OVER
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Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Saturday, July 11
Atlanta at Colorado (8:10 p.m. EDT). First-time All-Star Jason Marquis (11-5) goes for his major league-leading 12th victory against the Braves' Jair Jurrjens (6-7).
STARS
Friday
-Jonathan Sanchez, Giants, pitched the majors' first no-hitter this season, recording a career-high 11 strikeouts in San Francisco's 8-0 win over the San Diego Padres.
-Albert Pujols, Cardinals, hit his 32nd homer and drove in two runs in St. Louis' 8-3 victory at the Chicago Cubs.
-Dan Haren, Diamondbacks, tossed a four-hitter for his second career shutout, leading Arizona to an 8-0 win over the Florida Marlins.
-Jon Lester, Red Sox, pitched eight sharp innings to lead Boston to a 1-0 win against the Kansas City Royals.
-Jeff Niemann, Rays, struck out six in his second shutout of the season, lifting Tampa Bay to a 6-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
-Matt Kemp, Dodgers, hit a 10th-inning grand slam and made a fantastic catch for the final out in Los Angeles' 12-8 victory at Milwaukee.
-Bronson Arroyo, Reds, pitched a four-hitter for his second career shutout, helping Cincinnati to a 3-0 win at the New York Mets.
-Joe Nathan, Twins, worked a perfect ninth inning to preserve Minnesota's 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox, earning his 23rd save and lowering his ERA to 1.31.
-Kendry Morales and Erick Aybar, Angels, each hit a three-run homer to help Los Angeles rally for a 10-6 victory over the New York Yankees.
THIS ONE'S FOR DAD
Jonathan Sanchez had quite the night in San Francisco's 8-0 victory over San Diego on Friday, pitching the majors' first no-hitter since Carlos Zambrano for the Chicago Cubs against Houston in Milwaukee on Sept. 14, 2008. Sanchez nearly tossed a perfect game - the only runner the Padres managed came on an error by third baseman Juan Uribe in the eighth. It was perfect timing, too; his father, Sirgfredo, was visiting from Puerto Rico and arrived in San Francisco on Thursday night.
PITCHING, PITCHING AND MORE GOOD PITCHING
Sanchez's no-hitter was just one in a slew of impressive pitching performances. Arizona's Dan Haren, Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo and Tampa Bay's Jeff Niemann each threw a shutout. Boston's Jon Lester outpitched Brian Bannister in a 1-0 victory over Kansas City at Fenway Park. Brett Cecil worked six innings in Toronto's 2-0 win at Baltimore. Atlanta's Derek Lowe, Detroit's Edwin Jackson and Philadelphia's Joe Blanton also turned in solid efforts.
QUITE THE CELEBRATION
Jayson Werth drove in two runs on the day he was named to his first All-Star team, helping the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Werth, picked by Phillies manager Charlie Manuel to replace injured New York outfielder Carlos Beltran on the NL roster, hit a two-run double in the third to give the Phillies a 3-1 lead.
WHEELING & DEALING
The New York Mets traded Ryan Church to the Atlanta Braves for Jeff Francoeur and cash in a swap of outfielders who had fallen out of favor with their teams. ... The Kansas City Royals shored up their infield, acquiring Yuniesky Betancourt from the Seattle Mariners for a pair of minor league pitchers.
QUITE A BONUS
It pays to be an All-Star. The initial 68 picks for Tuesday's game in St. Louis will receive $2.3 million in bonuses, with Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay leading the way at $125,000. Four players earned $100,000 each, and three of them were on the collapsing, injury-decimated New York Mets: center fielder Carlos Beltran, closer Francisco Rodriguez and pitcher Johan Santana.
HURTING
Roy Oswalt left Houston's 6-5 victory over Washington in the seventh inning with numbness in two fingers on his right hand. ... Center fielder Josh Anderson and reliever Joel Zumaya both left Detroit's 5-1 victory against Cleveland with injuries. Anderson had a bruised right triceps after being hit with a Cliff Lee pitch. Zumaya threw just two pitches in the eighth before leaving with a cut on the top of his right thumb.
SPEAKING
"On film he throws the ball hard, but it looks like he doesn't know where it's going. Today he looked exactly like he knew where it was going.'' - San Diego's Tony Gwynn Jr. after going 0 for 3 with two strikeouts against San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez in the majors' first no-hitter of the season, an 8-0 victory by the Giants.