Saturday's Interleague Battles
By Judd Hall
Interleague play will be going strong on this weekend that will officially usher in summer. We’ve got 15 games on tap for Saturday’s betting pleasure. Let’s take a look at one tilt between a pair of underachievers, a World Series rematch and another battle out west.
Rays at Mets – 4:10 p.m. EDT
The Rays are your perfect example of a team that is taking three steps forward and two steps back. Tampa Bay rolled off five straight wins to get them back above .500 for the season, but have dropped two straight on the road to the Rockies.
You can’t blame Tampa Bay’s offense for the problem as they rank fourth in team batting average (.275), fourth in home runs (92) and have scored the most runs (385) of any team in major league baseball.
What hasn’t been so consistent for the Rays is their pitching. Their starters have combined for an earned run average of 4.75. And Tampa’s bullpen has been a crapshoot at best, showcasing a 3.48 ERA, but have blown eight of their 25 save opportunities.
Things could be looking up for the Rays on Saturday though with James Shields (5-5, 3.52 ERA) getting the starting nod. He’s 2-1 in his last four starts, while the team is 3-1 in those contests. There wasn’t too much value in those matches as bettors would only be up $165 for that stretch.
The Mets can appreciate how Tampa Bay is feeling right now. They sit just three games behind Philly for the lead in the National League’s East. That’s actually a pretty impressive feat when you consider that New York has dumped six of its last eight games this season.
As if the losing isn’t bad enough, New York also has to figure out what is going on with Saturday’s starter, Johan Santana (8-4, 3.29 ERA). There has to be some worry for Mets fans with what’s going on with their ace. Santana lasted only three innings after giving up nine earned runs against the Yankees on June 14. And he’s surrendered 17 runs total in his three starts this month.
You’d want to believe that Santana will have his way against the Rays at Citi Field, but the numbers don’t support it. He’s just 3-2 with a 2.79 ERA in seven career starts versus Tampa Bay. Plus, Joe Maddon’s crew is hitting .286 against southpaws this year with 29 home runs and 124 RBI.
Something else to take into consideration is that Tampa has won three of the last four head-to-head meetings with the Mets. The ‘over’ is 3-1 in those contests. Also, the Rays are 6-3 in interleague play this year and 18-9 over the last two seasons. New York, on the other hand, is 4-5 versus the AL in 2009 and 13-11 since last year.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants have opened the Mets up as $1.30 home faves (risk $130 to win $100) with the total standing still at 7 ½.
Yankees at Marlins – 7:10 p.m. EDT
It seems to me that the natives are getting a little restless in the Bronx. The Yankees come to South Florida after dropping two of three at home to Washington. New York’s issues stem from some lackluster starting pitching, which is sad when you consider who they faced in this series. The Nationals got 14.2 innings and two earned runs allowed out of Craig Stammen and John Lannan. The Yanks saw Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain throw 11 total innings and surrender six earned runs in the last two outings of that series.
New York shouldn’t have many worries when they send A.J. Burnett (5-3, 4.46 ERA) out to start against the Fish. The former Marlin and Blue Jay has gone 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA in his last four starts. Even better for Joe Girardi is that Burnett has pitched less than six innings just three times in his 13 total starts in 2009.
Burnett is 3-3 in his last six starts outside of Yankee Stadium with the ‘over’ going 3-2-1.
The Marlins haven’t been a slouch recently as they’ve gone 6-4 in their last 10 games. But they did need some help from Mother Nature to avoid a sweep in Boston to the Red Sox. Florida can’t complain with its spot as it’s just five games out of the NL East lead.
Florida will hand the ball over to Josh Johnson (6-1, 2.76 ERA) for Game 2 of its three-game set with the Yanks. Johnson has not only helped out the Marlins with his play, but bettors have profited with him starting as well. The Fish have won five straight contests that Johnson was the starter. Three of those starts saw bettors make a decent profit as Florida was closed as an underdog.
Johnson has gone 3-1 with a 2.02 ERA in eight starts at Landshark Stadium this season. Burnett is fairly comfortable in his old digs, posting a 28-17 record with an ERA of 3.20 in 62 starts in South Florida.
Burnett’s familiarity with the stadium has no doubt influenced LVSC in making the Yanks $1.20 road favorites with a total of 8 ½.
It’s not a stretch to see the Fish pull this one out as they’re 5-2 in their last seven meetings in Miami against New York…that includes the 2003 World Series. The ‘over’ has gone 7-2 in the last nine home tilts for the Marlins against the Yanks since 1999.
Rangers at Giants – 9:05 p.m. EDT
Texas couldn’t have picked a worse time to cool down. The Rangers have gone 7-8 during June, which has helped Los Angeles pull within 1 ½ games of them in the AL West. We could point to the offense going into a little slump for this problem as Texas has scored more three or fewer runs in eight of those 15 matches.
It doesn’t appear things will get much better for the Rangers on Saturday night with Derek Holland (1-4, 6.63) making his fifth start of the year. The rookie southpaw has lasted just five innings twice in his last five starts. Holland is 0-5 with a robust 8.50 ERA. Despite the high ERA, Holland has seen the ‘under’ go 3-1-1 in those recent appearances.
The Rangers will have their work cut out for them as San Francisco will send Matt Cain (9-1, 2.39 ERA) to start for them. Cain has practically been an automatic win machine for the Giants as they’ve won his last eight starts. He’s coming off of a complete game performance where he gave up one run on four hits in a 7-1 win as a $1.45 home favorite against the Athletics on June 14.
You can understand why LVSC installed the Giants as $1.65 home favorites with a total of eight when you consider the information on both pitchers.
All the signs point to San Fran getting the upper hand in this contest, including the fact that they have won all six head-to-head meetings with the Rangers in Northern California. The ‘under’ is 5-1 in that stretch as well.
vegasinsider.com
Milwaukee (37-30) at Detroit (36-31)
The Brewers send struggling right-hander Dave Bush back to the mound as they continue a three-game interleague series at Comerica Park against the Tigers, who are scheduled to hand the ball to Alfredo Figaro for his first big-league game.
Detroit pounded out a 10-4 victory in Friday’s opener, with the game shortened to seven innings because of rain. The Tigers have followed up a four-game slide with consecutive wins, scoring 16 runs along the way after failing to produce more than three runs in the previous eight contests. Jim Leyland’s club carries positive streaks of 46-21 in interleague action, 37-14 when hosting National League squads and 9-2 when playing on Saturday, but it still just 3-6 in its last nine at home.
Milwaukee’s modest three-game win streak came to a halt with Friday’s setback, but the Brewers have now scored 34 runs in their last four contests after tallying just 20 runs in the previous six (all at home). They’ve have won five of their last seven on the road overall and 20 of 27 against winning teams, but in interleague play, the Brew Crew is mired in slumps of 4-10 on the highway and 1-6 against right-handed starters.
These teams split six total meetings in 2006 and 2007, with the visitor going 4-2.
Bush is coming off by far his worst start of the season, as he gave up eight runs (all earned) in just 3 1/3 innings at Cleveland on Monday. He left trailing 8-3, but Milwaukee rallied back and prevailed 14-12. Bush has given up four runs or more in four of his last five starts, none of them quality outings. The veteran right-hander is 2-2 with a 5.89 ERA in six road starts this season.
The Brewers are now 8-3 in Bush’s last 11 starts overall and 5-1 in his last six Saturday outings, but they’re just 17-35 in his last 52 road starts. Also, Bush faced Detroit twice in 2005 when with Toronto, allowing a combined 11 runs (nine earned) in 7 1/3 innings (13.50 ERA), and the Tigers won both games.
Figaro makes his big-league debut after being recalled from Double-A Erie, where he went 5-2 with a 4.10 ERA in 11 games. With Erie, the right-hander recorded 59 strikeouts against just 17 walks in 68 innings.
For Milwaukee, the “over” is on runs of 4-0 overall (all against the A.L. Central) and 4-1 with Bush facing American League opponents. However, the under is 5-1 in Bush’s last six on the highway. Meanwhile, the Tigers sport nothing but “under” trends, including 21-9 overall, 10-2 at home, 22-8 against right-handed starters and 7-3 in interleague play. Finally, four of the last six clashes in this infrequent rivalry have stayed low.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
L.A. Dodgers (44-24) at L.A. Angels (36-29)
The Dodgers and Angels resume their three-game Freeway Series at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, where a unique pitching matchup will be on display with brothers Jeff Weaver (4-1, 3.72) and Jered Weaver (7-2, 2.08) slated to square off for the first time in their major-league careers.
The Angels extended their winning streak to seven in a row – all against N.L. West clubs – with Friday’s come-from-behind 5-4 victory. The Halos, who have scored a total of 52 runs during their win streak, are now 8-1 in interleague play this season (all against the N.L. West). Mike Scioscia’s club is on further interleague hot streaks of 39-17 overall, 19-5 versus the West, 5-1 at home and 7-0 against right-handed starters.
The Dodgers continue to be dismal against the American League, as they’re now mired in interleague slumps of 20-44 overall, 14-38 in A.L. ballparks and 6-22 when facing right-handed starters on the road in interleague action. On the bright side, overall, Joe Torre’s troops remain on upticks of 42-21 overall, 11-5 on the road, 16-5 on Saturday and 5-2 against right-handed starters.
The Angels, who took two of three at Dodger Stadium last month, are 3-1 against their crosstown rivals this season, 13-5 in the last 18 meetings overall and 21-7 in the last 28 clashes in Anaheim.
Jeff Weaver has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen since his last start on May 20, when he held the Mets to a run on four hits in five innings, getting a no-decision as the Dodgers won, 2-1. Weaver is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts – going exactly five innings in each outing – and he’s 1-1 with an 11.12 ERA in four road appearances (one start), surrendering seven runs in 5 2/3 innings. Finally, he’s 5-8 with a 4.05 ERA in 16 career appearances (14 starts) against the Angels.
Jered Weaver continued to make a case for his first All-Star appearance as he tossed a complete-game shutout against the Padres on Sunday, allowing five hits and a walk in a 6-0 victory. The right-hander has given up exactly five runs in his last five starts covering 35 innings (1.29 ERA), going 4-0 with a no-decision that the Angels also won.
In addition to prevailing in each of Weaver’s last five starts overall, the Angels are 21-8 in his last 29 at home and 4-1 in his five starts against the Dodgers. This year at Angel Stadium, Weaver is 5-0 with a paltry 1.01 ERA (six earned runs allowed in 53 2/3 innings). He’s also 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA in those five career starts against the Dodgers, allowing two runs or fewer in all five games. That includes a 3-1 win at Dodger Stadium on May 22 when he yielded just one run and four hits in eight innings.
With Jeff Weaver starting, the “under” is on stretches of 5-2 overall and 5-0 in interleague play, while the under is 7-0-1 in his brother’s last eight starts overall, 6-0 in his last six at home, 4-0 in his last four interleague contests and 5-1 in his last six on Saturday.
The Dodgers are on “under” runs of 6-2 on the highway, 6-1 on Saturday, 12-5 in interleague action, 38-16-3 in American League parks and 13-7 versus the N.L. West. Also, the under is 11-6 in the Angels’ last 17 at home. Finally, the total has stayed low in nine of the last 14 meetings overall in this rivalry and is 9-4-1 in the last 14 battles in Anaheim.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. ANGELS and UNDER
GAMETIMEPICKS.COM
Game of the day: Braves at Red Sox
By Alex Smart
Atlanta Braves at Boston Red Sox (-163, 8.5)
Braves battle BoSox
The Atlanta Braves try and salvage an America- League road schedule that has been less than kind this month. After a three-game sweep of Toronto at Turner Field, the Braves traveled to Baltimore to meet the Orioles, who weren't impressed by Atlanta's success against their fellow AL East counterparts.
In a three game series at Camden Yards, the Braves went 1-2 and were outscored 19-6 in both losses combined. With the pair of loses, Atlanta is now 1-4 in its last five interleague road games. It is also 1-4 in its last five overall.
For the Red Sox, National League opponents started to bring trouble as the Mets took two of three from Boston at Fenway as interleague play began this season. Since, Boston's won back-to-back interleague series, first taking two of three in Philly and then taking two of three from Florida in Boston (Game 3 of the Florida series was called in the sixth inning due to rain. It was Florida's only win, 2-1). Coming off of a loss, the Red Sox are undefeated in their last four contests, they are also 7-1 in their last eight after scoring two runs or less in their previous game.
On the Lowe down
The return of longtime Atlanta Braves pitcher and first-year member of the Red Sox, John Smoltz, absolutely looms over Boston. Though Smoltz is slated to return next week against the Nationals, he was considered for a weekend start against his former club.
Instead, the intrigue falls onto Derek Lowe, who will be playing in Boston for the first time since 2004 when he helped the Red Sox win their first World Series in 86 years. Lowe finished 3-0 in the 2004 post season, recording an ERA of only 1.86. He remains the only pitcher in major league history to record wins in the final game of each series (beating the Angles in the ALDS, the Yankees in the ALCS and St. Louis in the World Series).
Lowe comes into Fenway with a 7-4 record in 2009, registering just one win in his last four outings. He was roughed up by Baltimore his last time out, being tagged for eight hits and seven earned runs over 2 1-3 innings. The right-handed Lowe could be troublesome on the mound as Boston's 4-1 in its last five games when facing a right-handed starter. The Braves are also 2-8 in their last 10 against Boston.
Book it Beckett
You can dwell on Josh Beckett's last start in Philadelphia all you want, but save yourself the aggravation and simply throw it out. Before the Boston right-hander was slammed for six earned runs on 11 hits, Beckett strung together an impressive streak of seven consecutive quality starts.
Though Beckett enters Saturday's start with a lifetime record of 6-7 against the Braves, he's 3-0 currently on the season when he starts at Fenway. Hitters are only swinging for a .245 BA when he takes the mound in Boston as well. Considering that Atlanta is 1-4 in its last five when facing a right-handed starter, Beckett and the BoSox seem to be the easy choice here.
The under is 10-1-2 in Boston's last 13 home games. The under is also 7-1-2 in Boston's last 10 interleague home games. The under favors Atlanta as well, going 6-1-1 in the last eight interleague road games against a team with a winning record (Boston's well over 10 games above .500).
Three strikes
Head to head, the under is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings in Boston.
Under is 4-1-1 in Red Sox last six interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Braves are 4-1 in their last five interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Baseball Today
Saturday, June 20
Atlanta at Boston (7:10 p.m. EDT). Derek Lowe gets the start against his former team as the Braves face Josh Beckett and the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Lowe helped Boston win the World Series in 2004, winning the clinching game of all three postseason series.
STARS
Friday
-Brad Hawpe, Rockies, had three hits including a homer and drove in three runs in a 7-3 victory over the Pirates.
-Ken Griffey Jr., Mariners, hit a pinch-hit two-run homer in four-run eighth inning that sent Seattle to a 4-3 victory over Arizona.
-Marcus Thames, Tigers, hit a pair of two-run homers in a 10-4 victory over the Brewers that was stopped in the seventh inning by rain.
-Garret Anderson, Braves, went 3 for 3 with four RBIs in an 8-2 win over the Red Sox.
-Derek Lee, Cubs, hit a pair of solo homers and finish with three hits in an 8-7, come-from-behind victory over the Indians.
-Adam Dunn, Nationals, had a pair of hits and drove in the winning run in the 11th inning of a 2-1 victory over the Blue Jays.
-Colby Rasmus, Cardinals, had four hits and drove in two runs in a 10-5 rout of Kansas City.
-Andy Pettitte, Yankees, went seven innings and allowed three hits and a run, striking out seven in a 5-1 win over the Marlins.
-Joe Nathan, Twins, retired four batters for his 16th save in a 5-2 win over Houston.
HOME SWEET BENCH
Alex Rodriguez was benched Friday for two games by the New York Yankees for what he and the team called "fatigue.'' The three-time AL MVP had been set to play his first regular-season games in his hometown of Miami against the Marlins. Rodriguez said he had reserved about 100 tickets for family and friends. A-Rod's in an 0 for 15 slump and is hitting .145 in June.
MILLER OVERFLOWING
The Brewers' ballpark sustained significant flood damage during a strong storm early Friday morning, but team officials expect cleanup to be completed in time for the team's homestand next week. Brewers spokesman Tyler Barnes said Miller Park's service level was flooded with water up to knee-deep in some places and the ballpark was functioning on backup power Friday afternoon.
ABANDONING TUCSON
A year after the Chicago White Sox left Tucson for the Phoenix area, the Diamondbacks and Rockies announced Friday they would also abandon the Sonoran Desert for spring training. All other teams that participate in the Cactus League play near Phoenix, which made for two- to three-hour bus drives for spring training contests.
BOY OF SUMMER
Tom Glavine said Friday he plans to "hang out'' the rest of the summer but is not announcing his retirement. The Braves released the 43-year-old Glavine on June 3 after rehabilitation from offseason surgery on his left elbow and shoulder. Glavine sent a text message to The Associated Press on Friday saying he won't pitch this year but will evaluate things at season's end.
TAKING PICTURES
Rockies setup man Manny Corpas arrived at Coors Field with a swollen right elbow and has been sent for an MRI exam. The team did not announce results. ... Erik Bedard has checked out fine in an MRI exam on his pitching shoulder and the Mariners expect him back to their rotation in about two weeks.
DANDY NEWS FOR JIM
Jim Leyland will be sticking around Detroit for awhile after the Tigers gave their manager a two-year contract extension through the 2011 season. Financial terms were not announced. The 64-year-old Leyland is in his fourth season with the Tigers, and this was the last year on his deal. Detroit was leading the AL Central with a 35-31 record entering Friday night.
CIVIL RIGHTS
Hall of Fame slugger Hank Aaron called on Major League Baseball on Friday to do more to increase participation by blacks in the game. Aaron attended a panel discussion at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Ohio with former athletes, civil rights scholars and activists as part of baseball's Civil Rights Game weekend. Aaron said progress has been made, but he'd like to see MLB do more to promote black involvement and opportunities in the game.
SPEAKING
"Have to tell her to save the gas money. She's going to be disappointed.'' -Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, who had 100 tickets lined up for family and friends - including her mother - to see him play when the Yankees took on the Marlins in his hometown of Miami. That is, until Yankees skipper Joe Girardi decided to bench his slumping star.
Saturday's streaking and slumping starting pitchers
By Covers.com
Streaking
Ted Lilly (Chicago Cubs)
While the Indians have hit the ball well, they'll be in for a challenge against Ted Lilly (7-4, 2.94 ERA).
Lilly allowed two runs and nine hits while striking out six in 7 2-3 innings of a 3-2 victory over Minnesota on Sunday. He is 2-0 with a 1.27 ERA in his last four starts, and 4-1 with an NL-best 1.48 home ERA in six at Wrigley.
Chris Carpenter (St. Louis Cardinals)
St. Louis will turn to ace Chris Carpenter (4-1, 1.59), who looks to bounce back from his first loss. He gave up three runs over seven innings Sunday, getting outpitched by reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee in a 3-0 loss at Cleveland.
The right-hander fell to 2-4 with a 5.10 ERA in seven career interleague starts with St. Louis. That includes a 9-6 win over the Royals on May 19, 2006, in which he allowed six runs over six innings.
That was Carpenter's only start against Kansas City since 2002.
Slumping
David Bush (Milwaukee Brewers)
Milwaukee, which had its three-game winning streak snapped, sends right-hander Dave Bush (3-3, 5.31 ERA) to the mound. Bush will try to bounce back from his worst outing of the season after matching a career high with eight runs allowed in 3 1-3 innings of a 14-12 win at Cleveland on Monday.
"Somehow mechanically I'm out of sync," said Bush, 0-3 with an 8.64 ERA in his last five starts.
Bush is 0-1 with an 11.05 ERA in two career starts against Detroit. He last faced the Tigers in 2005 when pitching for Toronto.
Johan Santana (New York Mets)
New York Mets manager Jerry Manuel says he's not really concerned about ace Johan Santana, but it's safe to say he'll be looking for improvement Saturday.
Coming off the worst start of his brilliant career, so will Santana.
The star left-hander will return to Citi Field to face the streaky Tampa Bay Rays, who will be hoping to put a stop to their latest three-game skid.
Santana was almost untouchable through the first two months of the season, going 7-2 with a 1.77 ERA and striking out 86 in 66 innings.
The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner has looked like a different pitcher lately, losing two of his last three starts. None was worse than Sunday's outing at Yankee Stadium, when he gave up a career-high nine runs in three-plus innings of a 15-0 loss.
"Everyone hits a bump in the road every now and then," Manuel said.
Debuting
Alfredo Figaro (Detroit Tigers)
In 11 starts at Double-A Erie, Figaro was 5-2 with a 4.10 ERA. The 24-year-old right-hander, a cousin of Tigers closer Fernando Rodney, had 59 strikeouts in 68 innings for the SeaWolves.
"He's a talented kid," Leyland told the team's official Web site. "Is he ready? I don't know."
Returning
Charlie Morton (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Pittsburgh's Charlie Morton (0-0, 0.00) is looking to bounce back from an injury suffered in his debut with his new team. Morton, who was acquired from Atlanta in a four-player deal for Nate McLouth on June 3, left after one scoreless inning one week later against his former team because of a strained left hamstring.
"I was disappointed," the right-hander told the team's official Web site. "All I can do now is try to get better."
The Pirates (31-36) are trying to avoid their sixth straight loss in Denver and longest road skid since the series began in 1993.